Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 97, October 2014

by Neil Clarke (Editor), Maria Dahvana Headley, Helena Bell

FICTION
“Taxidermist in the Underworld” by Maria Dahvana Headley
“Lovecraft” by Helena Bell
“Seeking boarder for rm w/ attached bathroom, must be willing to live with ghosts ($500 / Berkeley)” by Rahul Kanakia
“Pithing Needle” by E. Catherine Tobler
“A Rich, Full Week” by K.J. Parker
“Wizard's Six” by Alex Irvine

NON-FICTION
“I Sing the Lady Electric” by Brian Francis Slattery
“Science Fiction Writers Wear Disguises: A Conversation with Robert Reed” by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
“Another Word: What You Know” by Daniel Abraham
“Editor's Desk: Eight is a Good Number” by Neil Clarke

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Science Fiction

114 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Neil Clarke is best known as the editor and publisher of the Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning Clarkesworld Magazine. Launched in October 2006, the online magazine has been a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Semiprozine four times (winning three times), the World Fantasy Award four times (winning once), and the British Fantasy Award once (winning once). Neil is also a ten-time finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Editor Short Form (winning once in 2022), three-time winner of the Chesley Award for Best Art Director, and a recipient of the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award. In the fifteen years since Clarkesworld Magazine launched, numerous stories that he has published have been nominated for or won the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Sturgeon, Locus, BSFA, Shirley Jackson, WSFA Small Press, and Stoker Awards.

Additionally, Neil edits  Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us,  The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.

He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Headley's Taxidermist in the Underworld.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original fiction:
This issue is heavier with fantasy than seems usual for Clarkesworld. Not that I mind!
"Taxidermist in the Underworld" by Maria Dahvana Headley - title character is forced to work for the Devil. Problem is, ghosts don't make good taxidermy subjects! Darkly funny.
"Lovecraft" by Helena Bell - a story that involves a pet cthulhu? SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.
"Seeking boarder for rm w/ attached bathroom, must be willing to live with ghosts ($500 / Berkeley)" by Rahul Kanakia - more dark funny. Story is a series of ads by a guy who stores captured ghosts. Naturally it's hard to keep a roommate.
"Pithing Needle" by E. Catherine Tobler - the only SF story among the original fiction. Great, too short military/alien invasion story.

Non-fiction:
Brian Francis Slattery contributes an article on the connections between SF and black music. Lots of stuff I didn't know.
Nice interview with Robert Reed and Daniel Abraham in the Another Word column talks about what "writing what you know" really means for us SF/fantasy people. Awesome.

[Karl]

ISSUE 97, OCTOBER 2014

FICTION

Taxidermist in the Underworld by MARIA DAHVANA HEADLEY
Lovecraft by HELENA BELL
Seeking boarder for rm w/ attached bathroom, must be willing to live with ghosts ($500 / Berkeley) by RAHUL KANAKIA
Pithing Needle by E. CATHERINE TOBLER
A Rich, Full Week by K.J. PARKER
Wizard’s Six by ALEX IRVINE

NON-FICTION

I Sing the Lady Electric by BRIAN FRANCIS SLATTERY
Science Fiction Writers Wear Disguises: A Conversation with Robert Reed by ALVARO ZINOS-AMARO
Another Word: What You Know by DANIEL ABRAHAM
Editor's Desk: Eight is a Good Number by NEIL CLARKE

ART

The Haunting by SANDEEP KARUNAKARAN

[Yossarianxxi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taxidermist in the Underworld - ****
Lovecraft - DNR
Seeking Border for Room w/ attached bathroom - ** Pretty sure I missed something in this story, though
Pithing Needle - ** - I found this story short and still boring. Didn't get the point, really.
Rich Full Week - **** - I liked this one a lot. Really interesting magic concept
Wizard's Six - ***** - Great, Great story. Loved it.

[Kristina Wojtaszek · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wizard's Six by Alex Irvine was on par with Stephen King's The Gunslinger. It was that good, maybe better! A Rich, Full Week by K.J. Parker was amazing as well. A couple of the stories I found confusing, but beautifully written in their own right. Wonderful collection.

[Heather Pagano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just plain fun. Exciting, adventurous stories- even the articles were great. I discovered P-Funk thanks to this issue.