I’ve been a fan of the stories of Robert Aickman since I first discovered them in the pages to F&SF in the 1976 and then went on to savor his collections Cold Hand in Mine, The Wine Dark Sea, and others.
Strange, surreal, and imbued the essence of dreams — his tales helped kindle my interest in quiet horror.
Now, decades after I first discovered them, Aickman’s stories remain among the most haunting stories I have ever read.
Last November at the World Fantasy Convention, I had the opportunity to take part in a panel discussion of Aickman’s stories. Along the way, I shared my thoughts on the Freudian and Jungian aspects of “The Swords” and “The Inner Room” –tales that roil with undercurrents of sexual tension and painful longing.
Following the panel, I was approached by Dark Discoveries editor Aaron J. French, who asked if I would be interested in expanding the comments for an edition of his magazine to center on the theme “Sinister Appetites.” I didn’t need to think twice about that one.
A copy of that “Sinister Appetites” issue arrived today, and it’s a beauty, with fiction by Scott Edelman and Storm Constantine, features by John Palisano and Joe McKinney, columns by Yvonne Navarro and Gary A. Braunbeck — and lots more great stuff by some of the top names in the field. I’m delighted to be a part of it all.
Print and digital copies of the magazine are available from the good people at JournalStone Publishing, who also produce an impressive line of books.
You can order the “Sinister Appetites” issue at the Dark Discoveries website.
Go ahead. Check it out . . . satisfy your appetite . . . and scop on!
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