Penumbra No. 4 - Edited by S. T. Joshi (2024)

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Published by our friends at Hippocampus Press! Edited by S. T. Joshi. Cover art by George C. Cotronis. Cover design by Dan Sauer. 6x9 Paperback, 312 pages.

The fourth issue of Penumbra, Hippocampus Press’s acclaimed journal of weird fiction, criticism, and poetry contains an abundance of short and powerful tales from such leading writers as Geoffrey Reiter, Michael Aronovitz, Joe Pan, and Scott J. Couturier. The issue also highlights the work of weird writers around the world, from Harris Coverley and Dmitri Akers (Australia) to Norbert Góra (Poland) to Arthur Staaz (Northern Ireland).

Among the articles in the issue, Deborah Bridle studies two stories by China Miéville for their probing of the fraught issue of climate change. Peter Straub’s work is analyzed by John C. Tibbetts; his article includes extracts of an interview with Straub. James Goho discusses the weird work of the Irish writer Dorothy Macardle, Marcos Legaria examines lesser-known writings by C. L. Moore, and David Rose illuminates the work of Brian McNaughton. Darrell Schweitzer presents a groundbreaking interview with leading contemporary weird writer John Langan. In a special section, the pulp writer Anthony M. Rud’s story of Australian terror, “Bunyips in the Mulga,” is reprinted, with analyses of that work by the Australian scholars Ellen J. Greenham and Duncan Norris.

This issue of Penumbra also features the verse of a dozen poets, including Ann K. Schwader, John Shirley, Leigh Blackmore, Wade German, and DJ Tyrer. All in all, the issue provides a rich and varied feast for the devotee of the weird.

Contents

Fiction
Adept / Geoffrey Reiter
Come Home, My Children, the Sun Is Gone Down / Arthur Staaz
Just Like Them / Norbert Góra
In Stone / Livia E. De Souza
Malevolence / Harris Coverley
Night of Pan / Scott J. Couturier
Ronin: The Combat Journal of Mark Bullet / Carl E. Reed
Azraelle, the Lich-Queen / Manuel Arenas
Beyond the Wall of Pain / Garrett Boatman
The Manger / Michael Aronovitz
Nightrider / Joe Pan
Those Kids Just Don’t Listen / Katherine Kerestman

Nonfiction
An Interview with John Langan / Darrell Schweitzer
The Weirding of Climate Change in China Miéville’s “Polynia” and “Covehithe” / Deborah Bridle
The Day of Domino: Capitalist Monstrosity in Thomas Ligotti’s My Work Is Not Yet Done / Christopher Brawley
McNaughton’s Witches / David Rose
Peter Straub and the Magic Taxi / John C. Tibbetts
Anthony M. Rud: Consummate Professional / S. T. Joshi
“Bunyips in the Mulga”: A Distant Appraisal / Duncan Norris
Frontiers and Fences: An Australian’s Rumination on Stereotype and Authenticity in Anthony M. Rud’s “Bunyips in the Mulga” / Ellen J. Greenham
C. L. Moore’s “To What Dim Goal” and Its Progeny / Marcos Legaria
Irish Cultural Hauntings in Dorothy Macardle’s Earth-Bound /James Goho

Classic Reprints
Bunyips in the Mulga / Anthony M. Rud

Poetry
Across the Wine-Dark Sea / DJ Tyrer
Through Enchantment / Geoffrey Reiter
The Dead Have Left a Wake-up Call / John Shirley
Mantic Moon / Leigh Blackmore
Ancient Teeth / Maxwell I. Gold
Cassilda, November / Ann K. Schwader
Scabrous Oak / Steven Withrow
Transcendence / Ngo Binh Anh Khoa
Lords of Halloween / K. A. Opperman
Revenants / Wade German
Slayer of Suns / Scott J. Couturier
Ysella / Oliver Smith
When Mount Pulag Awoke / Dmitri Akers