Black Static #6

The sixth issue of Black Static offers up six short stories for readers’ enjoyment this month, alongside a selection of in-depth reviews, interviews with Scott Sigler and Jon Oliver, and features by regulars Stephen Volk, Christopher Fowler, and Mike O’Driscoll. After only five instalments, Andy Cox’s magazine of dark fiction is already receiving a lot of positive attention, and issue six does not disappoint.

The opening story of this issue sees the return to these pages of Simon Avery with “The Better Part of You.” This is an emotional and believable portrayal of mental illness and its impact on the people closest to the sufferer.

Chelsea has spent her entire life struggling with self-doubt, fear, and an overwhelming desire for something she can’t define. Repeated suicide attempts and time spent in numerous mental institutions see the destruction of relationship after relationship. Chelsea’s story is told through extracts of letters she writes herself before each birthday and by a work colleague who becomes inextricably tied up in Chelsea’s life as events force her to confront her past. Written with sympathy and a remarkable understanding of the difficulties suffered by Chelsea and those around her, this gentle tale is both memorable and haunting.

Next up is “Back on the Road” by Melanie Fazi. This is a skilfully written story about a woman who finds herself stranded at a motorway service station after her coach leaves her behind. Disappointingly, the story is somewhat predictable, with the truth of the situation obvious almost from the outset. This needn’t deter potential readers however, as the adept writing and vivid descriptions mean this tale is highly atmospheric and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

“Special Needs” by Peter Tennant is arguably the most memorable story of the issue. Dealing with death, disability, sexual desire, and prostitution, Tennant confronts taboos without compunction and creates an eerily touching story about a man dealing with the pain and guilt of his wife’s death.

Nina Allan’s “En Saga” is a disjointed story bringing together a series of seemingly unrelated threads to create an obscure snapshot of life. Depressing, gritty, and decidedly creepy, this story about the transient nature of human relationships and the effect each person has on the lives they come in contact with exhibit’s a great deal of craft and skill. Allan combines elements of the supernatural and the mundane to create a sense of fear and discomfort that remains long after the initial reading.

You may want to read the final two stories of this issue while it’s still light outside. Both Paul Meloy’s “All Mouth” and Ray Cluley’s “Viva Las Vegas” are written with a certain amount of tongue in cheek, but that doesn’t mean they don’t inspire a little tingling in the spine all the same.

“All Mouth” teaches the reader that fear of the unknown is not only healthy, but sensible. From the chilling first line:

“Bridgeman could hear the roaring the moment he walked in through the front door.”

To the fantastic closer, Meloy packs this tale full of atmosphere.

Starting out as a typical gangster story set in the Nevada desert, “Viva Las Vegas” quickly becomes a gory zombie story which may prompt the more faint-hearted reader to check under the bed before going to sleep. The best thing about Cluley’s writing is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Despite the subject matter, the tone is distinctly lighthearted. A fun and enjoyable final story for this issue, as well as an impressive debut by Cluley.

[Disclosure notice: The Fix is brought to you by TTA Press, publisher of Black Static.]