Black Static #44-45

This review might read like a repeat – that is a testament to the unflagging consistency of a great publication. Once again, for those who have forgotten about my reviews of the best international magazine of dark fiction, pay close attention. Very few magazines are worth the price of subscription – ever. This is the exception (other than Cemetery Dance, who I review for, obviously). Forget trying a single issue – go for the subscription. BLACK STATIC will make a great gift for those who prefer fine fiction, reviews, and columns. No other magazine in existence matches it in quality of fiction, columns, and visual appeal.

TTA Press is the real deal which produces a fine, slick, quality digest-sized product. In addition, they also publish INTERZONE(scifi), Crimewave (well, crime and suspense), and now, their own line of books.

As I usually write in reviewing this magazine without peer, it’s more than the British equivalent of Cemetery Dance – it’s much more. BLACK STATIC churns out regular issues at a steady clip – without fail – and never losing the high level of quality not found elsewhere.

#44 One of my favorite issues to date. From the opening column (How To Stay Insane, Pt 2) to the plethora of DVD and book reviews, it’s 96 pages of great darkness. Yet editor Andy Cox never stops at what is simply sufficient. He always continues to ensure that BLACK STATIC never is, packing each issue with top notch material from cover to cover. Stephen Volk and Lynda E. Rucker have consistently penned strong columns about the genre, and interesting, many times about writing and the business of horror. Both continually exceed the norm, often bringing a unique slant to the genre, both for fans and for authors. As mentioned above, Volk’s column is top notch and insights about writing horror resonate long after reading. Rucker tackles the World Fantasy Award and how horror fits into the argument. Peter Tennant and Tony Lee continue to cover books and movies in detailed fashion with keen eyes for novelty and innovation. Tennant typically spotlights authors or publishers. This time he spotlights Tim Waggoner along with an insightful interview, who in this reviewer’s opinion, always surprises with a intriguing story. Strong novellas by Simon Avery and Tyler Keevil are followed by short stories by Priya Sharma, E. Catherine Tobler, and Jackson Kuhl.

#45 is just as impressive with the Volk’s and Rucker’s columns, this time about the selling of souls and other commodities along with the female body and horror while Tennant focuses on the talented Helen Marshall, stories by S.P. Miskowski, Laura Mauro, Stephen Hargadon, Emily Cataneo, Andrew Hook, Cate Gardner, Danny Rhodes,and the always mesmerizing Steve Rasnic Tem. The countless reviews seem to expand with each issue and while many skewer the films and shows, the honesty behind the opinions ring true and have resulted in many added DVDs to queues and deleting several more..

Once again, the task is simple: pick up a subscription to this fine magazine or if you’re across the pond, get yourself to the store grab a copy. Not many things are worth the money these days and few are guaranteed to entertain consistently, but this is one that fulfills without fault every time. This review will without doubt read similarly each time as in the years I have read BLACK STATIC, the only difference in issues has been an improvement.