Weird Fiction Review is a terrific little magazine. In fact, it has a lot in common with the print version of Black Gate — it comes out once a year, the issues are huge (300+ pages), it’s crammed with art and pictures, and it contains a nice mix of fantasy fiction and articles.

It’s also more expensive than it probably should be. It is limited to 500 copies, and is priced as a limited-edition collectible: $35 per copy. That seems a lot for a magazine (and speaking as a publisher who used to charge 18 bucks for a small press magazine, that’s saying something.) I’m not sure I understand the business model behind a limited print run on a magazine, but the Centipede Press folks clearly know what they’re doing.

In any event, the issue looks terrific, with brand new short fiction from Brian Stableford, Darrell Schweitzer, Jason V Brock, Robert H. Waugh, and many others — plus a reprint from James Branch Cabell. There are also poems from Chad Hensley, Wade German, Charles Lovecraft, and many others.

The non-fiction includes Dennis Etchison’s 16-page photo essay on the collection and work of collector extraordinaire Forrest J Ackerman, “Presenting! The Amazing! Ackermonster!” (originally published in 1967), a 10-page color gallery by cover artist Travis Louie, a look at James Branch Cabell’s “Machen” story by Darrell Schweitzer, an article on — and interview with — MAD magazine editor Al Feldstein, Dennis Etchison’s interview with Ray Bradbury, Fifty Essential Comics by Danel Olson, Forgotten Masters of the Weird Tale by John Pelan, and tons more.

For whatever reason, the issue is not available through Amazon.com until September 15. But it’s for sale now at the Centipede Press website, and has been selling on eBay and other online outlets for a few months.

This issue’s fiction includes:

“A Further Experiment in the Effects of Mesmerism” by Brian Stableford
“The Land of Lonesomeness” by Sam Gafford
“Concerning Corinna” by James Branch Cabell (originally published in 1920)
“Shelf Life” by Donald R. Burleson
“Welcome Back” by Jonathan Thomas
“The Damnable Offsense” by Sherry Austin
“Hanged Man and Ghost” by Darrell Schweitzer
“Verlassen” by Jason V Brock
“The Nail” by Donald Tyson
“The Tugboat” by Robert H. Waugh

And the non-fiction contents are:

Presenting! The Amazing! Ackermonster! by Dennis Etchison (originally published in 1967)
Richard Matheson and His Impact by Jason V Brock
James Branch Cabell’s “Machen” Story by Darrell Schweitzer
An Interview with Michael Aronovitz, by Jonathan Johnson
Blame It On Feldstein by John Butler
MADly Yours, Al Feldstein: An interview with Al Feldstein, by Jason V Brock (originally published in 2010)
Travis Louie Gallery: artwork by Travis Louie
The Monstrous and the Fantastic by Jan Vander Laenen
Bradbury in Hollywood: An interview with Ray Bradbury, by Dennis Etchison
The Little Publisher That Could by Stefan Dziemianowicz
Caitlin R. Kiernan and the Folklore of Awe by James Goho
Casket Letters: Fifty Essential Comics by Danel Olson
Forgotten Masters of the Weird Tale by John Pelan

Here’s a few sample pages, including some great pics of Forrest J. Ackerman’s legendary science fiction collection.

Ackerman is my hero.

WFC makes great use of color, there’s no denying it.

We last covered Weird Fiction Review with Issue #4.

Weird Fiction Review 5 was edited by S.T. Joshi and published by Centipede Press; it is cover dated Winter 2014. The issue is printed on high quality paper with lots of color. It is 304 pages, priced at $35 for the sewn trade paperback, and limited to 500 copies. The cover is by Travis Louie. Get more detail and order copies at Centipede Press.

See all of our recent magazine coverage here.