The latest edition of the British Fantasy Society’s magazine of fiction and poetry, submitted by members and edited by Pete Sutton.
BFS Horizons is a bit of a hidden gem.Sent out to members of the society but also available to purchase in the usual places, it often contains some truly wonderful stories, and this issue is a good example – an eclectic mix of scifi, fantasy and horror, chosen with discernment.
The opening story, ‘The Last Shore’ by Matthew Owen Jones, is a bit of an enigma. A vignette piece exploring life cycles, tradition and duty through two characters who live on an unknown shore in an unnamed location. It leaves you wanting more, but not dissatisfied. A good taster to begin.
Poetry and flash fiction separate this and a dense, complex story by Emma Mary Currans called ‘What I know About the Visitor From Two Nights Ago’. This is set in a convent of magical ‘sisters’ who often take in unusual waifs and strays, even if they prove to be syphoned-off parts of another person’s soul. The world building is the most accomplished element, but the whole is held together by good dialogue and strong characters.
This is followed by two enjoyable SciFi tales, ‘Watching the Stars’ by Gustavo Bondoni and ‘Till Next Time’ by A.N. Myers, both of which deal with trapped and lonely characters in space. In the former a disembodied mind within a ship’s computer system manages to print a 3d version of itself, which it then watches descend into madness and death. Whereas the latter is a more hopeful romance between two people who only meet, virtually, for ten minutes every few months.
There isn’t space here to mention all the stories, which are solidly good fiction, but another standout for me was ‘The Camera Trapper’ by Alice Hughes. This is a creepy love triangle between man, woman, and aquatic revenant. It’s dark, sombre, and heavy with atmosphere, and you’ll find yourself wondering how on Earth it will end.
Arguably the best contribution to this edition is ‘A Rock and a Light’ by Anna Ziegelhof. Neri and Marieke are army deserters who encounter each other in an alien forest. Their relationship, the more-than-inanimate objects they brought with them, and a traumatic shared history are explored with deftness and originality. This tale is soft, flavoursome and lightly told yet full of meaning and emotion. If you only read one, then make it this one.
Two more stories really caught my eye: ‘When the White Peaks of Nuraghad Calls Them Home’ by Keira Reynolds, and ‘Stitches’ by David Calbert.
The Reynolds’ story is a simple and brief ditty about a dwarf and a goblin dying together on a battlefield, which despite its grim theme is life-affirming, charming and well done. I enjoyed spending time in the characters’ company.
And finally, Calbert gives us an understated horror fantasy about a mother’s attempt to reclaim her dying son from a pack of magical wolves. Gritty and quietly gruesome, it’s the kind of story that makes you shiver without quite knowing why.
So, definitely worth joining the BFS if this is the quality of fiction on offer. I look forward to the next one.
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