Grimdark Magazine Issue #44 is here!
Last Updated on October 2, 2025
Hello, lovers of all things morally gray. In Grimdark Magazine Issue #44, October has arrived, bringing with it a sense of duality, transformation, and endings. The line between beauty and the grotesque is always at its thinnest, leaving us uncertain about what lies beyond the fireline. Our fiction lineup for October draws its cues directly from the season—haunting and uncompromising. October’s issue will be headlined by Zamil Akhtar, known for his “Gunmetal Gods” series. Additionally, inside you’ll find a wealth of premier talent from the speculative fiction world, including Miles Cameron, Emma Burnett, Ryan Cole, Hûw Steer, Yudhanjaya Wijeratne, Rich Larson, and Max Gladstone.
We’re thrilled to feature an interview with Senlinyu, whose Alchemised delves into ruthless characterization and the Gothic heart of modern fantasy. Mary Robinette Kowal and Sam J. Miller discuss their upcoming Saga Doubles called Red Star Hustle / Apprehension—two very different stories in one universe. John Mauro had the opportunity to interview the legend, Glen Cook, and to round out the discussion, we have a great interview with Anton Hur on the importance of translation.
As always, our non-fiction is stellar. We have an article by Aaron Jones on grief in speculative fiction, as well as a new Project Starship article by Dr. Kristi Charish, which explores gene degradation in space. Angela Slatter has written an interesting article about subverting the Women as a Victim trope, as well as author Krystle Matar discussing grimdark as a genre.
Every page this month lingers like smoke, heavy with atmosphere and sharp with consequence. Draw closer to the fire, let the cold edge of October seep into your reading, put your feet up, and drink something warm. Join us as we embrace the strange beauty of the dark.
Cover artCarlos Diaz of Kamyu Digital Arts has brought headliner Zamil Akhtar’s The Salt Apostle to life this issue.
Grimdark Magazine presents the darker, grittier side of fantasy and science fiction. Each quarterly issue features established and new authors to take you through their hard-bitten worlds alongside articles, reviews and interviews. Our stories are grim, our worlds are dark and our morally grey protagonists and anti-heroes light the way with bloody stories of war, betrayal and action.
FICTION
Ten Times Dead from the Goddess in the Womb by Ryan ColeReconnaissance Notes, Episode 1 by Miles Cameron and Emma BurnettContagion’s Eve by Rich LarsonThe Bull Beneath by Hûw SteerThe Slow Sad Suicide of Rohan Wijeratne by Yudhanjaya WijeratneThe Salt Apostle by Zamil AkhtarThe Iron Man by Max GladstoneNON-FICTION
All Systems Grimdark by Krystle MatarAn Interview with Mary Robinette Kowal and Sam J. Miller by Rai Furniss-Greasley and Beth TablerReview: Red Star Hustle/Apprehension by Mary Robinette Kowal and Sam J. Miller (review by Rai Furniss-Greasley)The Power of Fantasy and Sci-fi when Dealing with Grief by Aaron S JonesAn Interview with SenLinYu by Beth TablerProject Starship: Space: We’re Probably All Going to Die by Dr. Kristi CharishAn Interview with Glen Cook by John MauroReview: Lies Weeping by Glen Cook (review by John Mauro)Review: Alchemised by SenLinYu (review by Beth Tabler)An Interview with Christopher Ruocchio by Z.B. Steele and William McclellandAn Interview with Anton Hur by William McclellandSome Ways of Subverting the “Women as a Victim” Trope by Angela SlatterRead Grimdark Magazine Issue #44The post Grimdark Magazine Issue #44 is here! appeared first on Grimdark Magazine.
