Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #251

by Scott H. Andrews (Editor), Jonathan Edelstein (Contributor), Maria Haskins (Contributor)

Issue #251 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies online magazine, featuring stories by Jonathan Edelstein and Maria Haskins.

Genres: Fantasy

14 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2018

About the author

Scott H. Andrews is a writer of science fiction. He teaches college chemistry. He is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the fantasy magazine Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

Andrews's short stories have appeared in Weird Tales, Space and Time, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, On Spec, Crossed Genres, and M-Brane SF.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two very short stories make up this issue of the venerable bi-weekly zine: Jonathan Edelstein’s refined “The Examination Cloth”, and Maria Haskins’ memorably grisly “The Root Cellar”. Haskins’ bizarre, bone-chilling tale of siblings suffering at the hands of their malevolent grandmother sneaks under your skin with shocking and gruesome imagery and a beautifully sustained atmosphere of creeping menace. Edelstein’s story is about a man hoping to pass an examination that will see his family’s fortune raised, if he can avoid succumbing to the spells woven into its tapestry. It’s a sturdy, well written tale.

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Examination Cloth by Jonathan Edelstein 5 stars

I really really liked this very short story. It totally left me wanting to know a whole lot more about not only Ukeme but also about his culture. The moral dilemma he faces is done very well.

The Root Cellar by Maria Haskins 5 stars

This story is of the type to give me nightmares. It is beyond creepy and definitely grotesque, despite that I could not do anything but love it. The writing put pictures in my head I could have done without but am glad I didn't.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Examination Cloth by Jonathan Edelstein ★★★☆☆
This read like a snapshot of citizen taking an exam in Wakanda.

The Root Cellar by Maria Haskins ★★★★★
"Every life has power, girl, and children most of all,” she told me as she took me apart...
Ooh damn that was good. A freaky mashup of Hansel & Gretel with Frankenstein. Unputdownable.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Examination Cloth' by Jonathan Edelstein has an African feel to it. Feels like the introduction to a very interesting setting, but stops just before we learn the outcome.

'The Root Cellar' by Maria Haskins is a very dark fairy tale. 4 stars just for the creepiness.

[Sarah Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially loved The Root Cellar by Maria Haskins, creepy and entracing.

The Examination Cloth by Jonathan Edelstein was also a solid read.

[Blogul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both stories are very good, though the first one i found somewhat lacking (a proper ending). The second is perfect (even though not fantasy, but pure horror)