If you subscribe or happen to buy issue 12 of BlackGate, you MUST READ the story by Todd McAulty. It is Superb!!! (Issue 12 was also offered as a free PDF download–it may still be availabe at the website–check to see!)

One of the things the magazine BlackGate allows is longer stories. The Soldiers of Serenity by McAulty read like a novel. In so many short stories, the payoff is quick, sometimes dirty. Just as you “get” the characters, the story is over. Not So Here. McAulty took his time. He introduced characters. He ran down corridors. He twisted a bit…he teased. It’s all ordinary, right? But you knew every character held a key, every detail mattered. I kept wanting to check to see how much story was left because I just KNEW the pay-off was a few pages away! I couldn’t read fast enough! WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, DAMMIT?????

I can’t even tell you what kind of story this is, because it would ruin one of the surprises–that’s part of the key. You’re reading along, wondering, “So what is this story? Where’s the speculative element?” Then you think you know…

Even if you don’t like short stories (and there are ever so many that I don’t–the short story isn’t my favorite form!) But anyway–this story was entertaining, smart, twisted.

An excellent read.

Update: 8/10/08
The story Knives Under Spring Moon by Ed Carmien is also very good. The first part is a little slow, but the payoff comes very nicely with the later action and mysterious buildup of certain characters and concludes very satisfactorily.