Issue 1 – Editorial

By Sharon Ring.

Hello, and welcome to the first episode of Dark Fiction Magazine. It’s October 31^st, it’s Halloween: what could be better than devoting this first episode to four tales of horror and despair.

We begin with Pumpkin Night by Gary McMahon, a timely tale of one family’s traditional Jack O’Lantern carving. Gary is the author of several short story collections, novellas and novels. His new novel, Pretty Little Dead Things, is published in November 2010 by Angry Robot Books.

Hot on Gary’s heels is the award-winning story Do You See by Sarah Pinborough, recipient of the British Fantasy Society Short Story Award in 2009. Sarah also won a British Fantasy Award in 2010 for her novella, The Language Of Dying. Sarah also writes young adult fiction under the pen name, Sarah Silverwood.

Our third tale is an exclusive from Joseph D’Lacey. Maybe Then I’ll Fade Away is a previously unpublished story, making its first appearance here at Dark Fiction Magazine. Joseph is the author of Meat, Garbage Man and The Kill Crew.

The last of our four tales is Perhaps the Last by award-winning author, Conrad Williams. Conrad is the recipient of the British Fantasy Society Award for Best Novel in 2010 for his novel, One. Conrad’s most recent novel is Blonde On A Stick, published in July 2010 by Max Crime Fiction.

Our brave readers on this inaugural excursion into the world of Dark Fiction Magazine are Abaddon and Solaris Editor David Moore, voice artist Marty Perrett, Hub Magazine Editor Alasdair Stuart and writer Jennifer Williams.

Both Del and I hope you enjoy listening to each of these stories as much as we’ve enjoyed putting them together for you. We’d love to hear what you think of them, so please do leave a comment once you’ve finished listening.

Thank you to all our first episode authors and readers. Thanks as well must go to Vincent Chong and Matt Scutt for helping to make the Dark Fiction Magazine site look so beautiful, and to musician Jordan Reyne for allowing us to use her music around the site.

One last thing, folks. Happy Halloween!

Artwork courtesy of: ~Rippah2