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Reviewed by Bonnie Mercure When I received my copy of Nemonymous 1 I admit I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a more 'pulp-style' mag, where every story is a clear- cut SF/F/H. Stories that would entertain. Stories that would perhaps bring a smile or a shudder of fear. But Nemonymous 1 is much more than that. The cover, for starters, is a bit strange and captivating: A single eye, staring at you, inviting you to turn the page and come inside. And what is inside? Sixteen anonymous stories. Yes, anonymous. The authors are not mentioned; their identities will not be revealed until Nemonymous 2 is released. And what stories they are. All sixteen stories, though they range from horror, sf, surreal and mainstream, all have one thing in common: they are stories that need to be told. Each one leaves you with a sense that you've stumbled upon a wondrous secret... and, more times than not, it's a secret that will hold you in its grip and whisper to you long after the story is finished. Not to say I loved every single story. But the ones I did far out weighed the stories that didn't really captivate me. My two favorite stories would have to be "A Smile in the Sky," a simple yet profound vignette, which leaves you feeling as if you had stumbled onto a beautiful truth about life and death. And the clever, quirky tale "Arms Outstretched", with an ending that is so strange...yet fits so utterly well with the story...you can't help but be amazed. But those two are merely my personal favorites. There are other stories that deserve to be mentioned. "The Friends of Mike Santini" is a fascinating horror story about showbiz and its ultimate price. "All for Nothing" has a real literary style, and spoke of loneliness and grief. "The Gravedigger" is a dark but gentle story, where its horror lies in its atmosphere and the character's coming to terms with the strange place she finds herself in. "Gamlingay Churchyard" is a brief story where the names and dates on a headstone is the cause of pondering and speculation, and, like "A Smile in the Sky," gives you the impression that you have come across a beautiful truth about life and death. Perhaps the most unusual story would have to be "The Idiot Whistled Dead." What starts out as an innocent tale leads to walking corpses, their coffins on their backs like wings. It's the type of story that gives you pause...and you can't help but wonder Who wrote that? Without a name attached to the story, the words must speak for themselves. Nemonymous 1 accomplished that and then some. I believe the magazine Nemonymous will set a precedent for other literary magazines to strive for. Visit the Nemonymous website for information on ordering and updates.
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Nemonymous
- reviewed by Bonnie Mercure
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