Issue 26

NewMyths.com

A quarterly ezine by a community of writers, poets and artists.

Issue 26, March 1, 2014

Dear Readers,

As always in New Myths we try to cover the spectrum between fantasy and science fiction with prose serious, humorous, and dark. Like a piano that receives new strings each quarter from the traveling peddler, when it all tunes up perfectly then the music is beautiful, but we can’t hit every note with every issue. Extending the metaphor beyond all reasonableness I would say this issue is a veritable fugue. The tone ranges from poignant (The Perfect Instrument) to humorous (Nick Thumb) to dread (The Mermaid’s Share), while the genres of fantasy and science fiction are both well represented. Our nonfiction is scholarly, as usual, and the poetry shines.

I hope you enjoy reading this first 2014 issue as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Do have a look at the full illustration Eshell by Fiona Meng, one of the brightest new stars of speculative art and a winner of the Illustrators of the Future Award.

Enjoy,

Scott T. Barnes, Editor

Table of Contents

Fiction

The Perfect Instrument by Barbara A. Barnett

Eshell settled himself at Tallis's bedside, the lyre on his lap, its u-shaped frame resting against the misshapen fingers of his left hand. With his good hand, Eshell caressed the instrument's unfamiliar strings, saddened that he would be the last person to ever pluck them.

How Shasa Became a Priestess by Brianna Gielow

Before she became a woman, and before she became a priestess, Shasa’s father tried to kill her.

The Mermaid’s Share by Adam Beau McFarlane

The Shadow was far from Hispaniola when Old Abe was in the last moments of his life. The old, beloved sailor had looked out for me like a dear old uncle ever since I snuck aboard the pirate ship and joined the gentlemen of fortune. And in his final hours I, Peter Benbow, watched over Abraham in the master surgeon’s quarters.

Hoppers by Steve Rodgers

It’s beyond me why anyone would voluntarily spawn an inter-thread detective agency. Try it some time. You’ll find that your clients will occasionally hop out before the first credit shows up in your account, while the bad guy and all his analog-duplicates happily flip you off from an infinite array of universes.

Choose Death by Shannon Waller

The Grim Reaper drummed skeletal fingers against his jawbone. He was bored. Still.

Flash Fiction

Nick Thumb, Monster Doctor by Curtis James McConnell

Tyger, Tyger by Lynette Mejia

NonFiction

Beacon of the Night Sky by Peter Jekel

Human Sacrifice by Tala Bar

Poetry

Before the Gloaming by Lee Beavington

Piano Waterfall by Gary Every

Encounter While Waiting for Transport by David C. Kopaska-Merkel and W. Gregory