By Mike Griffiths
Jones, William, ed. The Anthology of Dark Wisdom – the Best of Dark Fiction. Elder Signs Press; (October 2009). ISBN-13: 978-1934501146
This collection of 25 stories is one of the best anthologies that I have read in years. The stories centre around darker themes, as one might guess from the title, but most of them are not what one would call “classic” horror. Many are in more of a dark fantasy vein, where heroes have come forth to actively fight against the creatures that haunt the night.
If one were to search for a common thread within this anthology, it would have to be that there is something out there in the darkness, something unknown and perhaps evil. More things lurk in the forgotten forests and lonely alleys than humans could ever hope to understand. The first story that gave me that feeling was “Please Stand By” written by Tim Curran. I was reading it on a sunny day, surrounded by people, and I still felt unnerved. In this tale, two friends find an old television that appears to only be showing one odd program, no matter what channel they switch to. This alien landscape goes far beyond some ancient, creature double-feature show. The scene is not only real, but the television is also a gateway into another world as well. The friends wonder if it is really safe to explore this dimension, especially after they spy the other world’s inhabitants.
Another great story: “Techno-Triptych” by John Shirley. This story was more inventive and odd, rather than scary. In the future, people design perfect androids for lovers. They meet all their needs, like no real person could, but what about the people that would still rather be with another real human? How could they ever hope to compete with perfection?
“A Talent For Trouble” was another tale that stood out. Rachel Gray’s Maya is no woman in distress. Instead, she is a warrior trained to fight the supernatural predators that hunt in the night. This gal could make Inanna proud and give Buffy a run for her money. Gray does a fantastic job setting up a complex and believable world of danger and mystery in such a short story.
No one could read this book and fail to mention the intense, almost novella-length, Sherlock Holmes story, “The Adventure Of The Solitary Grave”, by Christian Klaver. It is quite the treat, whether you are a Holmes fan or not. Where most modern Holmes’ authors fear to cross the line that leads into the supernatural, Klaver flings the reader over it. The tale takes its time drawing you into a dark horror by gaslight. Klaver continues to rush into places other authors would fear to tread and carries the reader with him. No spoilers for this one, you’ll have to check it out yourself.
Another story that I thought deserves a special shout-out is “If Mama Ain’t Happy” by Sam W. Anderson. This tale sprinkles a good deal of humor into one of the worst situations imaginable, namely, to be hogtied while a fat man with a shotgun tells you how you are about to become dinner for…well, some things should be mentioned in mixed company.
Dark Wisdom was a really good read. Jones obviously worked very hard to collect a strong assortment of stories and the Dark Wisdom magazine successfully transitioned into a new format; there were not any weak legs or filler added to this anthology. If you like speculative horror fiction and dark fantasy, this book is well worth grabbing.
You can find The Anthology of Dark Wisdom on Amazon.com.