ISLE OF THE THOUSAND-EYED STRANGLER, by Dariel R. A. Quiogue   Set in a fantastical version of the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Perfumed Isles are home to prince-turned-reiver, Pandara, who has set himself the task of vengeance against the might of the Wulongan Empire for ravaging his homeland of Zambail. But […]

THE THRID WAY, by Darrell Schweitzer   So we rode, by magic, across the wide ocean as if over a dusty plain, into the burning lands, into the country of sunset near the world’s edge; we rode, the two of us, Mazantes, greatest of all heroes, and I, his follower, as close behind him as […]

THE WITCH AWAKENS, by Julie Shiel   Rain lost its sound that day and the churning Autumn skies fell silent as I stood gazing into the dark facing that sulfurous breeze.   The harvest feast was upon us and the first frost kissed the grass when I felt her eyes searching across that dread dreamscape, […]

SELAPHESNE, by Kevin Sandefur, with artwork by Simon Walpole   The proud banners tremble and drift as they fall, Like a tapestry tumbling soft from the wall, But there aren’t any guards left to answer the call Of the palace bugle.   It sounds out so sprightly, so sweet, and so clear, With a luster […]

HAMELIN IN THE DISTANCE, by Maria Schrater, with audio by the writer     My fiddle will not tune right, and my bow is prone to breaking I am a poor musician whom all melody has forsaken I used to while away the hours telling lays of kings and towers, Dragons, rings, unearthly powers—enough to […]