Small press mags

Dr. Zirk

Dr. Zirk

Mystic
I read a few small press horror magazines on a regular basis, and am curious if other TLO members have favorite titles that I ought to be checking out. Given that TL built his reputation in titles like Nyctalops and Grue, I try to keep my eyes open for other talented writers who may be sneaking up through the same channels.

I actively follow the current incarnation of Weird Tales, but my favorite small press title has got to be Wicked Hollow, which just put out a new issue after a long delay (and it's probably the best issue to date). I also subscribe to Talebones, which is published in my corner of the planet, and I used to follow Flesh & Blood, but had some subscription difficulties and let that one go.

If any of you have favorite small press magazines, let me hear from you! Given that these titles are easy to get through Shocklines, Project Pulp, etc. I'm always willing to risk a few bucks on a mag that may have great potential.
 
I would also love to hear some recommendations for quality mags. I'm pretty ignorant of that side of things, but I would be interested in pursuing publication in the small press, in addition to being on the lookout for good reading. I want my fiction in print at least once before I shuffle off the planet. 😉
 
I'm a fan of both ALL HALLOWS and SUPERNATURAL TALES, though they may be a little light on the Ligottian story.

That said, I too have received and can recommend the latest WIKCED HOLLOW, though that's primarily because I'm in it ;-)
 
nomis, if I'm not mistaken, your story in Wicked Hollow #9 was "The Autumnal City"? If so, congrats - I thought that was the best story in the issue. Definitely recommended for other TLO members who may be curious...
 
In addition to this, may I ask where you guys obtain you're weird fiction magazines? I've found one-ONE-Weird Tales in a Border's like a year ago that Ligotti happened to be in. Where may I come across such publications? I'm guessing my only option is the internet
 
Project Pulp and Shocklines are the best sources I've found for small press mags, especially those of the horror variety. Both of those sites have comprehensive search functions, so you can search by an author's name and find what small press mags he or she has contributed to.

I haven't checked out Clarkesworld too much, but other TLO members have mentioned that one, so it's probably worth checking out as well.
 
Dr. Zirk";p="3240 said:
nomis, if I'm not mistaken, your story in Wicked Hollow #9 was "The Autumnal City"? If so, congrats - I thought that was the best story in the issue. Definitely recommended for other TLO members who may be curious...
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Yes, indeed, Dr Zirk, that's my tale. I appreciate the kind words tremendously.

I also agree that ProjectPulp and Shocklines are the best places to find good quality small press fiction, but it's a challenge... especially since these projects fall dormant so often.
 
Over the past year or so, I've helped bring out a small press magazine, Filthy Creations. When I found Vault of Evil I became involved with the writers workshop, The Workshop of Filthy Creation. The magazine, printed the old-fashioned way at my home, is something that I see as a kind of workshop showcase and a reaction to the growing tide of PDF ezines. Worthy as some of these are, personally, I dislike reading fiction on a computer screen.

The first issue received favourable comments from editor and author Michel Parry. The second included an interview with Ian Strachan, a former contributor to the well-known Pan books of horror.

Several contributors to Filthy Creations also have stories in the recent anthology edited by Charles Black, which is mentioned here: The Black Book of Horror Stories.

I'm now working on issues 3 and 4 of the magazine - working on both together as the number of suitable stories appearing in the workshop recently has increased. The illustration below is for The Mound by Daniel McGachey, a Jamesian story which will appear in the third issue. My present avatar shows another illustration. Frankly it's the illustrations which take most of the time, so the magazine really needs an illustrator. I'm also wondering if it could become print-on demand.

1248217341_407d9bccc9.jpg
Available from:
Rog Pile
46 Trenoweth Estate
North Country
Redruth
Cornwall
TR16 4AH
England, UK

Or contact: haunteddollshouse@yahoo.co.uk

Available for postage to cover a 48 (approx) page A5 mag or a swap (you guessed I'm not in this for the money!)​
 
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I've seen the last 5 or so issues of Weird Tales. They're kind of...spotty, I'd say.
The Brian Stableford story from a few issues ago was a high point, in my opinion. A nice old fashioned conte cruel. All Hallows is generally good for both fiction and news/reviews.

Wicked Hollow is just a great name for anything (there has to be metal band somewhere named Wicked Hollow and they probably rule), and so I'll probably end up ordering one.
 
Ever since the discussion of Weirdbook and Whispers in the William Scott Home thread, I've been increasingly interested in fiction and poetry magazines. Been buying a bunch and hoping I haven't made a mistake but some of the art is great. I like how they seem more stylistically specific than anthologies generally are. I'm also intrigued that some people who don't like the Year's Best anthologies somehow find more to enjoy in certain magazines.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on magazines you've read over the years.
 
I did not stay with Weirdbook very long. I thought it was poorly assembled and the text was sometimes a pain to read.
Whispers was extremely professional, especially by the end.
Coye provided a lot of artwork for early issues, Fabian for later.
I think Schiff over-extended himself into limited edition hardbacks as well as the mass publishers, Playboy and Doubleday.
Nyctalops was more experimental and artistic.
This where I first read Ligotti and saw Potter's images.
Editor Harry O Morris was no slouch, either.
Both Whispers and Nyctalops (earlier issues) had excellent "Letters" sections with comments from old timers.
All three can be found. Harry is still active as an artist by the way.
He was Richard Matheson's preferred illustrator at Gauntlet.
 
Also been having a look at Salmonson's magazines like Fantasy Macabre and Fantasy & Terror. New ones like revived Weirdbook, Spectral Realms, Skelos, Lackingtons, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Shimmer, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly and others.
 
Nyctalops issues are more expensive than most of the others. Not many stories in them either but I'd like to get at least one because a lot of the names are unfamiliar.
 
Robert Adam Gilmour said:
Ever since the discussion of Weirdbook and Whispers in the William Scott Home thread, I've been increasingly interested in fiction and poetry magazines. Been buying a bunch and hoping I haven't made a mistake but some of the art is great. I like how they seem more stylistically specific than anthologies generally are. I'm also intrigued that some people who don't like the Year's Best anthologies somehow find more to enjoy in certain magazines.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on magazines you've read over the years.
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There used to be a website called ProjectPulp that was a dedicated market place for more experimental horror and science fiction magazines/zines - the owner/operator mentioned health problems, and then the website sadly disappeared without a trace. I pretty much ignore periodicals/zines now, but some of my favorite were Brutarian (which I know we've discussed before), City Slab Urban Horror, Nyctalops, Not One of Us, Electric Velocipede (the first self-consciously "steampunk" fiction I saw, albeit it predated the label), Book of Dark Wisdom, and Horror Carousel. There were also a few like Lovecraft's Vault of Weird Horror which were - no better way to put it - terrible fan fiction - but I enjoyed them much as I enjoy schlock slasher/monster movies. I've also forgotten quite a few titles where I only read an issue or two. In comics, there was also Grave Tales,which I'm glad to still see going despite not having picked up a copy in years.

I've never liked any of the "Year's Best" I've picked up in Horror or Dark Fantasy (I don't read Science Fiction outside of occasionally picking up Analog) - but my tastes are highly idiosyncratic and skew towards older fiction.
 
Robert Adam Gilmour said:
Nyctalops issues are more expensive than most of the others. Not many stories in them either but I'd like to get at least one because a lot of the names are unfamiliar.
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I think they have some prestige. Back issues are something of collector's items due to containing early work from some current big names (like Ligotti)...
 
Back in the '90s I subscribed to SF Eye, and I bought all the back issues I had missed before I subscribed. The last issue was published 20 years ago, and I've missed it ever since. If you ever run across any issues, snatch them up.
 
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