Check out the latest issue of Beneath Ceaseless Skies magazine. It’s an ezine for some of the best in short fantasy fiction, and they publish two new stories every two weeks or so. Best of all, you can read the stories for free!
There are two great stories in the Jan 28th issue, but my favorite is Paul Daly’s Shatterach Gates. There are several things I liked immediately upon reading this story; first, the first person present tense. This happens to be a particular favorite writing style of mine and one which I think is challenging to do well. It’s also unique in fantasy fiction, having more of a literary following, so it makes a work like this really stand out from the pack.
The next thing I liked about Daly’s story was the building tension. Daly draws you into the story with worries for his lost battalion as they march toward an unknown fate – which is also a fate he knowingly sent them toward; slowly, you begin to realize that although the main character mourns the certain loss of his men, there is something more sinister he has yet to face. Daly does an excellent job of maintaining the tension all the way through the story and even as you near the end, you find your pulse still running away from you.
This story really shines, however, in it’s ideas. The themes it addresses are complex and interesting. It’s a tale of a bitter lordling who realizes how powerless he truly is when his liege-king takes his wife away on a whim. It’s a story of two lovers who are brave even as they face a certain end; the woman is condemned to rot away in a cell after being raped and tortured, yet her love and memory are preserved in her husband, who – forsaken by his country – decides to forsake them in return. It’s an interesting look at a warrior’s respect – both in terms of strength and ability – for his enemy. And it’s a reminder that people are not powerless to act, that sacrifice is a noble and honored option, and that sometimes our greatest fear can be our best ally.
This is an incredible story that I instantly fell in love with. Although the story lingers occasionally over the telling of details, it’s an engaging read full of depth. I think Mr. Daly is definitely an author to keep an eye out for!
