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News from the Spanish speculative fiction

“The Best of Spanish Steampunk”, an anthology edited and translated by Marian & James Womack, took a first step in bringing some of the modern Spanish short speculative fiction to the English market and at the end of the year this attempt will be followed by two other such projects, two anthologies of Spanish genre short stories, that due to their successful crowdfunding campaigns are scheduled to be released around November 2016.

“Spanish Women of Wonder” edited by Cristina Jurado and Leticia Lara showcases some of the best and most talented female writers within the Spanish speaking borders. Initially published in Spanish under the title “Alucinadas” this anthology put Cristina Jurado and Leticia Lara to the difficult test of selecting 10 stories out of more than 200 received from 12 countries and these ten stories will also be available in the English edition of the anthology together with another from the excellent Angélica Gorodischer. However, a second collection of science fiction short stories written by women is scheduled to be released in Spain this year. “Alucinadas II” is edited by Sara Antuña and Ana Díaz Eiriz and features 10 new stories from other very talented female writers in a powerful line-up that makes this second anthology as appealing as the first is. And who knows, as it is the case with the first collection, perhaps “Alucinadas II” would manage to find its way into the English market as well. Fingers crossed for that to happen.

“Historia y cronología del universe” (The History and Chronology of the Universe) by Almijara Barbero Carvajal

“Wirik Es” (Wirik Es) by Alejandra Decurgez

“Las dos puertas de Tebas” (The Two Gates of Thebes) by MA Astrid

“Francine” (Francine) by María Antonia Martí Escayol

“El ídolo de Marte” (The Idol of Mars) by Júlia Sauleda Surís

“Seudo” (Pseudo) by Maielis González Fernández

“Informe de aprendizaje” (Learning Report) by Sofía Rhei

“¿Quieres jugar?” (Do You Want to Play?) by Verónica Barrasa Ramos

“¿Acaso soy una especie de monstruo, señor Pallcker?” (Am I Some Kind of Monster, Mister Pallcker?) by Laura Fernández

“Cuestión de tiempo” (A Matter of Time) by Susana Vallejo

“Castles in Spain” is the second project soon to be available in English. This time, the anthology edited by Mariano Villarreal and translated by Sue Burke, who also is behind the translation of “Spanish Women of Wonder”, aims to bring into the attention of the English speaking readers some of the best works of speculative fiction published recently in Spanish. Some of the stories have won prestigious awards, others garnered popularity, but all them offer a chance to taste a sample of what Spanish genre has best. “Castles in Spain” is scheduled to be released in English only at the end of the year, but for now we can admire the Spanish edition of the anthology, “Castillos en el Aire”, that hit the market in Spain recently and benefits from a very catchy cover. Here is the table of contents of the collection and the 10 stories that we’ll have the pleasure to read in English at the end of 2016.

“The Star” (La estrella) by Elia Barceló (published in 1991, winner of the Ignotus Award)

“The Flock” (El rebaño) by César Mallorquí (published in 1993)

“The Ice Forest” (El bosque de hielo) by Juan Miguel Aguilera (published in 1996, winner of the Alberto Magno and Ignotus Awards)

“My Wife, My Daughter” (Mi esposa, mi hija) by Domingo Santos (published in 1997, winner of the Ignotus Award)

“God’s Messenger” (Mensajero de dios) by Rodolfo Martínez (published in 1997)

“In the Martian Forges” (En las fraguas marcianas) by León Arsenal (published in 1999, winner of the Pablo Rido and Ignotus Awards)

“The Marble in the Palm Tree” (La canica en la palmera) by Rafael Marín (published in 2000, winner of the Ignotus Award)

“The Albatross Ship” (La nave de los albatros) by Félix J. Palma (published in 2002)

“The Sword of Fire” (La espada de fuego) by Javier Negrete (published in 2014)

“Victim and Executioner” (Víctima y verdugo) by Eduardo Vazquerizo (published in 2006)

Table of contents - "African Monsters" edited by Margrét Helgadóttir and Jo Thomas

Back in 2014 Fox Spirit Books launched an anthology series focused on giving new life to the scary creatures haunting the folklore, legends and myths of a certain region of the world and began this series with “European Monsters”, a collection edited by Margrét Helgadóttir and Jo Thomas. This year we are moving south of the European continent with the second anthology of the series, “African Monsters”, edited by the same Margrét Helgadóttir and Jo Thomas. Working with writers from or having strong connections with some of the countries of Africa, as well as African and European artists, “African Monsters” explores the frightening creatures of legend stalking around Africa. As I understand, the editors were unable to fill the anthology with 100% African talent, due to time and communication problems, therefore this volume covers only a small part of this wondrous and fascinating continent. But let’s not find fault into this aspect, instead let’s hope that “African Monsters” opens the road for other similar short story collections and someday soon we will be able to travel across the entire African continent with the help of works of fiction twisting its myths and legends into new shapes and forms.

If you wish to learn more about “African Monsters” and get an insight on this anthology you can find several blog entries on Fox Spirit Books’ website where some of the authors shade a light on the creation process behind their stories.

“On the Road” by Nnedi Okorafor
“Impundulu” by Joan de la Haye
“One Hundred and Twenty Days of Sunlight” by Tade Thompson
“Severed” by Jayne Bauling
“The Death of One” by Su Opperman
“Chikwambo” by T.L. Huchu
“Monwor” by Dilman Dila
“That Woman” by S. Lotz
“Sacrament of Tears” by Toby Bennett
“Bush Baby” by Chikodili Emelumadu
“After the Rain” by Joe Vaz
“Taraab and Terror in Zanzibar” by Dave-Brendon de Burgh
“A Whisper in the Reeds” by Nerine Dorman
“Acid Test” by Vianne Venter
“Thandiwe’s Tokoloshe” by Nick Wood
“A Divided Sun” by James Bennett (writer) and Dave Johnson (artist)

Happy 30th Appearance to Shimmer Magazine!

One of my favorite magazines, Shimmer, celebrates its 30^th appearance this month. Although I am more of a secret admirer rather than an active supporter of this wonderful magazine, meaning that some time ago I’ve set myself as goal reading and reviewing all of its issues only for different things to come bumping in and preventing the achievement of this resolution, I still find comfort and excellent reading material with each issue of Shimmer and I’m trying to affirm that however I can. Therefore, I would not render the said goal absolute yet, I just need to work with me more in reaching it. If I am successful or not with my resolution remains to be seen, but I still would very much like to wish Shimmer Magazine a happy 30^th appearance and may it reach 300 such events in the years to come!

The 30th issue contains the following stories:

“Red Mask” by Jessica May Lin (already available online)

“Blackpool” by Sarah Brooks (available online on March, 15^th)

“Indigo Blue” by Rachael K. Jones (available online on March, 29^th)

“All the Red Apples Have Withered to Gray” by Gwendolyn Kiste (available online on April, 12^th)

Cover art - "The Mountain of Kept Memory" by Rachel Neumeier & "Twelve Kings of Sharakhai" by Bradley P. Beaulieu (French edition)

I cannot conceal my admiration for Marc Simonetti’s talent and art, not that I am attempting such a thing. Each new artwork and book cover born from Marc Simonetti’s brushes tends to lose me in contemplation and each one manages to fascinate me in one way or another. I have two fresh examples to keep the fire of my appreciation for the work of this wonderful artist burn brighter, the covers for Rachel Neumeier’s “The Mountain of Kept Memory” (coming in November from Saga Press) and the French edition of Bradley P. Beaulieu’s “Twelve Kings in Sharakhai” (“Les Douze Rois de Sharakhaï” published by Bragelonne). Both share the same design, one that Marc Simonetti used before, the perspective over a city. In the case of “Twelve Kings in Sharakhai” Marc Simonetti’s artwork is similar to the US cover only to have an ampler vision and a more encompassing perspective. On both these covers the panorama envisioned by the artist and his playing on the light have the effect of stirring the viewer’s curiosity and the desire to visit these places, at least with the help of imagination until the books open further these worlds. There is one more thing stimulating the desire to discover more about these places, the characters. Not only do we see the cities from a distant witness point of view, but from the way the characters are positioned on the cover we share that vision with them too, moving us closer to the scene and creating an initial connection with the personages. And the characters, like the settings, remain to be discovered within the pages of the respective books.

In this gorgeous fantasy in the spirit of Guy Gavriel Kay and Robin McKinley, a prince and a princess must work together to save their kingdom from outside invaders…and dangers within.

Long ago the Kieba, last goddess in the world, raised up her mountain in the drylands of Carastind. Ever since then she has dwelled and protected the world from unending plagues and danger…

Gulien Madalin, heir to the throne of Carastind, finds himself more interested in ancient history than the tedious business of government and watching his father rule. But Gulien suspects that his father has offended the Kieba so seriously that she has withdrawn her protection from the kingdom. Worse, he fears that Carastind’s enemies suspect this as well.

Then he learns that he is right. And invasion is imminent.

Meanwhile Gulien’s sister Oressa has focused on what’s important: avoiding the attention of her royal father while keeping track of all the secrets at court. But when she overhears news about the threatened invasion, she’s shocked to discover what her father plans to give away in order to buy peace.

But Carastind’s enemies will not agree to peace at any price. They intend to not only conquer the kingdom, but also cast down the Kieba and steal her power. Now, Gulien and Oressa must decide where their most important loyalties lie, and what price they are willing to pay to protect the Kieba, their home, and the world.

Sharakhai, the great city of the desert, center of commerce and culture, has been ruled from time immemorial by twelve kings -- cruel, ruthless, powerful, and immortal. With their army of Silver Spears, their elite company of Blade Maidens and their holy defenders, the terrifying asirim, the Kings uphold their positions as undisputed, invincible lords of the desert. There is no hope of freedom for any under their rule.

Or so it seems, until Çeda, a brave young woman from the west end slums, defies the Kings' laws by going outside on the holy night of Beht Zha'ir. What she learns that night sets her on a path that winds through both the terrible truths of the Kings' mysterious history and the hidden riddles of her own heritage. Together, these secrets could finally break the iron grip of the Kings' power...if the nigh-omnipotent Kings don't find her first.

Cover art - "Year's Best Weird Fiction, Volume 3" edited by Simon Strantzas and Michael Kelly

When Undertow Publications began to publish a yearly collection of best weird fiction I welcomed this project with my arms opened wide. My previous experiences with the publisher and the approached niche of its “Year’s Best Weird Fiction” made this new yearly anthology very attractive from my point of view. Now, it can be argued that a year’s best of anything might not be the best for everyone, but I always try to remember that such selections are subjective to the editor’s tastes and they’re meant to be received with an opened mind. As it is meant for the genre within such projects lie. Because, after all, there is only one true category that matters in the end, that of good fiction, the one that helps us expand our horizons despite the genre in which we would like to catalogue it. Although “Year’s Best Weird Fiction” has only two volumes released so far it is a project I would certainly like to see filling my bookshelves for many years to come.

True, I liked some stories more than others, from my personal perspective I questioned a couple of selections, but like I’ve already said I accept completely the editor’s tastes and choices. And it is exactly here where this year’s best anthology scored good points, each year Michael Kelly, the series editor, works on this collection together with a different guest editor, the first was Laird Barron, the second Kathe Koja, this year Simon Strantzas and the next Helen Marshall. Such an approach makes me expect the unexpected, each volume offers something different from the others. There are other wonderful year’s best collections out there and although I love what their editors did with the entire series I feel that, more or less, a pattern surfaces over time. Nothing wrong with it, but by working with a different editor at each volume “Year’s Best Weird Fiction” acquires a unique flavor.

As it does through the cover artworks. There is something different about each one of them and I’ve become to anticipate the release of the next cover with excitement. This year’s selection didn’t disappoint at all. I was familiar with Beatriz Martin Vidal’s art for some time now and seeing her work on the cover of “Year’s Best Weird Fiction, Volume 3” brought me great joy. It shouldn’t be such a rare thing, Beatriz Martin Vidal is a very talented artist and looking over her website and Deviantart page you’ll see why. The vivid colors, the light and shadow, her imagination are marvelous traits and because of them and not only I am mesmerized by her art pieces. As is the case with this cover, a beautiful artwork that’s a feast for the eyes and that is, I admit, my favorite of the three covers of “Year’s Best Weird Fiction” so far.

Since we are at it, here is also the table of contents of “Year’s Best Weird Fiction” third volume, with the possibility of one more addition later on:

“The Strangers” by Robert Aickman (The Strangers and Other Writings)

“Rangel” by Matthew M. Bartlett (Rangel)

“Little Girls in Bone Museums” by Sadie Bruce (The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March/April 2015)

“Violet is the Color of Your Energy” by Nadia Bulkin (She Walks in Shadows edited by Silvia Moreno-Garcia & Paula R. Stiles)

“Fetched” by Ramsey Campbell (Horrorology edited by Stephen Jones, as “Nightmare”)

“Guest” by Brian Conn (The Bestiary edited by AnnVanderMeer)

“The Marking” by Kristi DeMeester (Three-lobed Burning Eye #27)

“Seaside Town” by Brian Evenson (Aickman’s Heirs edited by Simon Strantzas)

“Julie” by L.S. Johnson (Strange Tales V edited by Rosalie Parker)

“Rabbit, Cat, Girl” by Rebecca Kuder (XIII: Stories of Transformation edited by Mark Teppo)

“Strange Currents” by Tim Lebbon (Innsmouth Nightmares edited by Lois H. Gresh)

“The Rooms Are High” by Reggie Oliver (The Sea of Blood)

“The Seventh Wave” by Lynda E. Rucker (Terror Tales of the Ocean edited by Paul Finch)

“Blood” by Robert Shearman (Seize the Night edited by Christopher Golden)

“Loveliness Like a Shadow” by Christopher Slatsky (Alectryomancer and Other Weird Tales)

“Honey Moon” by D.P. Watt (A Soliloquy for Pan edited by Mark Beech)

“The Devil Under the Maison Blue” by Michael Wehunt (The Dark #10)

“Orange Dogs” by Marian Womack (WeirdFictionReview.com)

“Visit Lovely Cornwall on the Western Railway Line” by Genevieve Valentine (The Doll Collection edited by Ellen Datlow)

Table of contents - "Defying Doomsday" edited by Tsana Dolichva and Holly Kench

Last year, I had the pleasure to host a guest post, “What Flavour of Apocalypse”, by Tsana Dolichva during the crowdfunding campaign for “Defying Doomsday”, an anthology she was about to edit together with Holly Kench. After the success of the said crowdfunding campaign the reading and selection process started and now we are moving one step closer to the publication of “Defying Doomsday” as Tsana Dolichva and Holly Kench revealed the stories chosen out of the 177 submitted tales for this apocalypse-survival anthology. “Defying Doomsday” is due to be released by Twelfth Planet Press in mid 2016.

Teens form an all-girl band in the face of an impending comet.



A woman faces giant spiders to collect silk and protect her family.



New friends take their radio show on the road in search of plague survivors.

A man seeks love in a fading world.

How would you survive the apocalypse?

Defying Doomsday is an anthology of apocalypse fiction featuring disabled and chronically ill protagonists, proving it’s not always the “fittest” who survive - it’s the most tenacious, stubborn, enduring and innovative characters who have the best chance of adapting when everything is lost.

In stories of fear, hope and survival, this anthology gives new perspectives on the end of the world, from authors Corinne Duyvis, Janet Edwards, Seanan McGuire, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Stephanie Gunn, Elinor Caiman Sands, Rivqa Rafael, Bogi Takács, John Chu, Maree Kimberley, Octavia Cade, Lauren E Mitchell, Thoraiya Dyer, Samantha Rich, and K Evangelista.

“And the Rest of Us Wait” by Corinne Duyvis
“To Take Into the Air My Quiet Breath” by Stephanie Gunn
“Something in the Rain” by Seanan McGuire
“Did We Break the End of the World?” by Tansy Rayner Roberts
“In the Sky with Diamonds” by Elinor Caiman Sands
“Two Somebodies Go Hunting” by Rivqa Rafael
“Given Sufficient Desperation” by Bogi Takács
“Selected Afterimages of the Fading” by John Chu
“Five Thousand Squares” by Maree Kimberley
“Portobello Blind” by Octavia Cade
“Tea Party” by Lauren E Mitchell
“Giant” by Thoraiya Dyer
“Spider-Silk, Strong as Steel” by Samantha Rich
“No Shit” by K Evangelista
“I Will Remember You” by Janet Edwards