Review: Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense, Issue #9/ Winter 2021
Thrills and Chills abound in this issue of Cirsova....
Winter is a time of darkness, a time of cold. Finding light to scatter the gloom can be an effort. The ninth issue of Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense does the heavy lifting for readers while taking full advantage of the seasonal chill – for though it brings tales to warm the soul, it will also make one fear what goes bump in the night.
The story
“For We Are Many” is a tale that would make The Twilight Zone and Sliders proud. An experiment to see if travel to alternate universes is possible ends with a man coming face-to-face with his sins. Horrified by what he has become in the universes he sees, he seeks to end the terror the only way he can: by destroying himself in every world where he exists!
The tale of “Wychryst Tower” is written in an archaic style, but while one may need to adjust to read it, this episode would put the Pirates of the Caribbean series to shame. Searching through ruins in the Caribbean leads the protagonist to an old family house in Maine. Learn how dark rituals and unholy terrors from the Caribbean tie into the deadly secret of an apparently respectable New England family in this horror story of misbegotten desires!
Lisa’s grandmother is ill, so she and her mother go to live with her and take care of her. But something strange is in the old house – something strange and too horrible to name. Grandmother knows it, and admits that she has never looked it in the eyes. All summer long Lisa hears it moving about the house, and eventually, “She Saw It Creeping Up the Stairs….”
On a future, dying earth, an enforcer and deliveryman for a drug kingpin learns too much about his boss’ plans to avenge himself on a former friend and a former lover. For that, the enforcer is punished by being fed a drug none can resist, one which can kill man or woman in less than a week. With little time to live, he must decide if he can survive listening “To the Sound of a Silent Harp” or if there is another way out of his predicament.
Between laughter and horror, this issue of Cirsova Magazine will have a reader alternately amused and sitting on the edge of his seat as he follows tales that send chills up his spine or tickle his funny bone. Nothing is as it seems and darkness lurks around every corner. Whether the protagonists rise or fall depends entirely on if they listen to their better angels…or their all-too-human frailties.
The characters
The characters jump off the page and rent out rooms in a reader’s mind without so much as a by-your-leave. Whether or not these characters deserve to be cheered on, however, is the decision of the reader entirely. Some are heroes, some are villains, but all are human (even when they are actually alien) enough to be immensely interesting people.
The world
Every world is memorable and individual, bringing with it a sense of wonder or horror as the story requires. The episodes are self-contained and, while some feel like they are part of a wider world, none make the cardinal error of ending on a cliffhanger. Moreover, no two locations are alike, so there is always something new to discover in each tale.
The politics
“Thorwynn Stapledon and “The Mellifluous Phoenix” mentions some politics, but it is more humorous than serious and serves to make the story hilarious.
Content warning
“She Saw It Creeping Up the Stairs” is NOT for children, and if a reader dislikes harm coming to children, this would be a story to skim or avoid. Do not read it at night. Yes, you are welcome.
The rest of the stories are generally favorable for all audiences, but reader discretion is advised in the case of passing the issue on to younger readers.
Who is it for?
Those looking for good stories told well and with enthusiasm will enjoy this issue of Cirsova Magazine. It has everything from daring space battles with alien marines to robot maids cleaning house, with the Bogeyman and various devils appearing and disappearing at will. The more eclectic one’s tastes, the more likely one is to find an episode (or several episodes) in this issue that will satisfy the craving for a good story.
Why read it?
It is fun, and it is dark – perfect for winter reading. Why not pick it up and mix the laughter with the thrills and chills? Or are you scared?