Black Gate

Keith West, mastermind behind the excellent Adventures Fantastic review site, took advantage of our Back Issue Sale to lay his hands on some of our rarer back issues — including the nearly-out-of-print Black Gate 3, a star-studded issue featuring Harry Connolly, Ellen Klages, Darrell Schweitzer, ElizaBeth Gilligan, Elaine Cunningham, Mike Resnick, Don Bassingthwaite, and the first published story by Todd McAulty. He covers the issue in detail in his review:

I decided to start this series with Black Gate 3, Winter 2002 because I like this publication.  It’s published some great fiction over the years by people who have gone on to have successful careers.  I can’t think of a single issue that hasn’t been a winner.  By the third issue, BG was beginning to hit its stride and had developed a clear editorial style… BG 3 clocks in at 224 pages, with approximately 150 pages of fiction and accompanying illustrations, the rest being devoted to reviews and articles, the ToC, an ad for subscriptions, and an editorial.

Keith calls out several stories for special attention, including the sequel to “The Whoremaster of Pald” (BG 2) by a new writer named Harry James Connolly:

Harry James Connolly, who has since gone on to publish several novels as Harry Connolly, returns from the second issue with another story set in the city of Pald.  “Another Man’s Burden” is a heartbreaking tale of what happens when we try to realize our dreams by any means possible.

Harry’s recent novels include Child of Fire, Game of Cages, and the just-released Circle of Enemies. Keith also had words of praise for another short story writer who has since gone on to considerable acclaim, including a Nebula Award, and the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction for her first novel, The Green Glass Sea:

In “A Taste of Summer,” Ellen Klages (Portable Childhoods) tells the story of a young girl and a very special ice cream shop.  This one was highly reminiscent of Ray Bradbury’s Green Town stories, and it took me back to the summers of my childhood, despite the fact they weren’t much like the one in the story.  Of all the stories in the issue, this one moved me the most.

He closes with:

All in all, BG 3 is a solid issue, with a great deal of exciting fiction to recommend it.  There’s something here for everyone.  From sword and sorcery to near contemporary to futuristic, from quiet and thoughtful to humorous to horrifying. You can’t go wrong.  And although they may disagree with me, it’s fun to see some of the early efforts of some of the rising stars of the genres.

You can read the complete review here. Keith’s previous review, of the Warrior Women fiction of Black Gate 15, is here.

Sherwood Smith continues her uninterrupted run of Black Gate reviews with a lengthy look at our latest issue at SF Site:

The previous issue, at nearly 400 pages, was so successful that the decision was made to stay at that length. For the amount, the price is quite reasonable, and the online subscription is half that. There are plans for issues compatible with Kindle and other e-readers. Judging by Black Gate‘s consistent quality, moving away from the pressure of seasonal publication has been a good one… here we’ve got a broad range of fantasy adventure fiction, from horror to comedy, at a variety of lengths. This spectrum, along with the regular columns, is another of Black Gate‘s strengths.

Sherwood seemed particularly taken with “A River Through Darkness and Light” by John C Hocking:

Lucella, a tough warrior woman, and the first-person narrator Archivist, have history together, as they travel in search of a hidden stash of ancient scrolls, accompanied by a scholar and an old soldier. Unfortunately, they are chased by bandits bent on vengeance… and then there’s the demon…

I think of Hocking’s stories as characteristic of Black Gate: a strong blend of the old sword and sorcery action and mood, but with modern attention to character development, especially of the women. Lucella, like Asdis in Hocking’s Norse tales, can hold her own in a world of heroes and demons. Dark and vivid, shot through with moments of humor, this story is a promising opening to the issue.

As well as “Into the Gathering Dark” by Darrell Schweitzer:

At first, when I saw that this was another tale of True Thomas, I settled in for a familiar ride. The story of Thomas has seen many versions, especially in the last thirty years. But Schweitzer does not inject this last tale of True Thomas with modern sensibilities. Exquisitely poignant, it is one of the best stories in the issue, beautifully rendering all that was best in the tales of Elfland, “neither of Heaven or of Hell,” of a century ago.

And “Dellith’s Child” by Nye Joell Hardy:

In this world, ship-owning families never set foot on land, and the female captains inherit the ability to see ley-lines, crucial on the vast oceans. The first person narrator, Grady, is visiting his sister Dellith on her ship. At first he’s delighted to learn that she has a son… until he sees the sea monster she calls by her son’s name. Then the whole world goes askew. Grady is a sympathetic hero in a fascinating world, the tension never flags, and the ending is unpredictable. This was one of my favorites.

The complete review is here. Sherwood’s previous review, of Black Gate 14, is here.