Imaginary Beasts: Book 06

[brigdh]

imaginarybeasts is "a bi-monthly webzine dedicated to original fiction of the oneshot variety". Anyone may participate, whether you would like to write, make visual art, volunteer to help with beta'ing, or, most importantly, read and review the stories. The authors and artists need love, people. I'm a bit behind with my reviewing, so first let me give you the link to the latest edition.

Each edition, or "book", has a theme; December's was "Fairy Tale". It produced some excellent stories and art. I particularly recommend:

The Path to Companionship by smallfeathers. This is a lovely feverdream of a story, with gorgeous imagery and details that make sense emotionally, if not in reality. It is, in part, a story about how cats come to fall in love, or at least friendship. "No," she says. "Cats belong to themselves and no one else. If you remember that, they will not ignore you quite so much."
Appetities by akavertigo. A fairytale which isn't so much a fairytale, which little magic. But it's about wolves and witches nonetheless, plus it has lots of awesome food porn. I adored this.
Borrowed Skin by bwinter. This absolute genius of a story is set not in a medieval kingdom, but an Eastern European country shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, which it refers to as the Great Change. This story is excellently written, moving and scary and amazing, but what I really love it how it takes the ordinary stuff of political movements and makes them into fairytale details.
Seafoam by scratchmist. Han Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid, as told by one of the mermaid's sisters. This is lovely and heartbreaking, and such a right take on the story.
Spindle's Worth by roselia grimm. A perfect little snowglobe of a story, rich with details and illusions to a world outside this piece, thick and complicated. I love all the references to other fairytales here, both famous ones and new. Gorgeous.

These are just my favorites. All of the stories and art are worth taking a look at, which you can do here.

Comments

[gen50.livejournal.com]

you entice readers very well.
i wish i could contribute but perhaps there will be a time for that.

thank you for your lures

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

*grins* I'm glad you liked them! And be sure to tell the authors you enjoy the stories, too.

I've never managed to find enough time to contribute either, but I really enjoy supporting the zine, nonetheless.

[torenheksje.livejournal.com]

These are all lovely. I'm going to add this community so I can read more. Thanks for posting these. :c)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad! But you should be sure to tell the authors too; I bet they'd appreciate the feedback.