Grimdark Magazine Issue #36

As always with my GdM reviews I will focus on the stories. This issue has four stories, all of which I enjoyed very much:

That Old Time Religion - Ken Scholes

A darkly comic take on religion and idol worship. It works as a fantastic parable to selfishness, playing on human beings innate Nietzschean desire to look after themselves before anyone else along with themes of religious control. Very enjoyable!

Death At The Pass - Michael Fletcher

First of a double bill of Fletcher. Khraen is a familiar character to readers of The Obsidian Path. I have read only the first two books, so this iteration of Khraen is a bit different from the one I am familiar with but the same base character is there. All of the characters here are shades of evil. We are thrust straight into a battle between Necromancers and Mages, Khraen raised from the dead as part of this army, but able to push against the necromantic control. This certainly illustrates the indomitable willpower of Khraen and definitely adds some more flavour to the larger world that Fletcher has built. I love Fletcher's writing so this was always going to be a win with me! Dark, gritty and morally ambiguous. Perfect grimdark story telling.

Death and Dignity - Michael Fletcher

The second part of the double bill, actually following on quite closely after the first, with the stories acting as a fun diptych. Khraen is now being pursued across an icy wasteland by a mage and a sorcerer. Again, all the characters here are definitely morally dubious, but Fletcher has brilliant way of making us sympathize with them, from the Sorcerer being used unthinkingly by the mage to Khraen himself being chased for some ancient vendetta. The denouement here is very satisfying, working well with the first story and the wider Obsidian Path lore.

A Marked Man - T.R. Napper

A novella length story! This one is an interesting, steampunkish take on bounty hunting and vigilantism. A world of magic tattoos and a thin boundary towards rebellion. This is very much a character driven piece, with our MC definitely on the morally dubious end of the spectrum, working for a mafiosa style lord. A fascinating blend of different cultural references and playing on themes of honor and patriotism. Fun stuff