Byte Marks (vol. 1 / no. 1)

Welcome, travelers, to the premiere of Byte Marks... Sit back, have a smoke if you're so inclined, perhaps a nip of spirits to set the mood, and relax. Together we are about to embark on experiment of sorts, an exploration, if you will, of the best and worst that horror has to offer and how it is sifted through the dark recesses of my own gray matter. Sometimes you'll agree. Other times not. Be that as it may, herein lies my examination... Feel free to comment on the subject matter yourself. All opinions are welcome here... Now, are we comfy? Good. Let's get down to the business at hand...

Aegri Somnia (Apex Publications / edited by Jason Sizemore and Gill Ainsworth)

Aegri Somnia, Latin for "fevered dream", is a loose collection of horror shorts from the ambitious Jason Sizemore and his Apex Publications. Anthologies are often very hit and miss, especially when launched by small press publishing houses. I am happy to say that Aegri Somnia more than met my expectations of what a good horror anthology should be.

This is a varied assortment of writing styles from some of the brightest voices in small press. From Angeline Hawkes' mutant mayhem in Chernobyl to Steve Saville's super-hero prison opus, Mari Adkins' thrilling blend of science fiction and Celtic myth to Scott Nicholson's bold telling of plantation life through past life regression.

Aegri Somnia has something for everyone, and while some stories may outshine others, there isn't a bad tale in the bunch. I enjoyed it so much that I recommended it for a Stoker within hours after putting it down.

3.75 out 5

Doorways Magazine #0 (Published by Brian Yount via lulu.com)

Brian Yount's latest foray into publishing, hot on the ashes of Wicked Karnival, is Doorways, a schizophrenic magazine that focuses on horror, the paranormal, and genre-related reviews. Right out of the gate, this magazine has a lot going for it. There is a fascinating interview with Gary Baunbeck and the author provides a nice little tale to boot.

There's a lot to like about Doorways. It's blessed with good fiction, including an intriguing piece by Deborah LeBlanc, and some interesting, if not completely thorough articles on the paranormal investigation front (kudos to Marcy Italiano). As a dabbler in the fields of horror fiction and paranormal investigation, this magazine seems tailor made for someone like me and, though I give it high marks and freely recommend it, there seems to be something missing, something not quite definable.

I trust that this phantom will be reckoned with and that Doorways will find its stride and have a bright future ahead of it.

3 out of 5

All right, ghouls and boils, that's all for today. Upcoming reviews include The Lebo Coven by Stephen Mark Rainey, The Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill, Johnny Saturn by Scott and Benita Story, and much more...

Until next time,

~BF