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jeffhall's review
3.0
Spectral Realms continues to shine as the premier contemporary journal of weird verse, and although issue 14 is not a standout installment in the series, it still features a number of poems that are well worth reading.
Not surprisingly, the best verse in these pages comes from the same group of poets who have excelled in past issues of Spectral Realms, including Darrell Schweitzer ("Odysseus May Have Been a Scoundrel"), Christina Sng ("Mother of All Things"), and Steven Withrow ("Caged Animals" and "A Means of Summoning").
On the surprising side, the usually outstanding poet Wade German only contributes a couple of make-work verses in this issue. Here's hoping he'll come back stronger in the near future!
Other notable works come from Allan Rozinski ("His Dark Light Shines") and Scott J. Couturier ("Under a Sun Long-Estranged"). The latter manages something impressive, which is to inject new life into the shopworn figure of the vampire. Much of the unremarkable verse in each issue of Spectral Realms fails specifically because of the overuse of hackneyed supernatural commonplaces, and Couturier breaks out of that tired mold with fresh energy and an original slant on his material.
The brief section of "Classic Reprints" is always a highlight of each issue of Spectral Realms, and that holds true for issue 14 as Walter de la Mare's "The Dark Château" closes out the selection of poetry with elegance and style.
Not surprisingly, the best verse in these pages comes from the same group of poets who have excelled in past issues of Spectral Realms, including Darrell Schweitzer ("Odysseus May Have Been a Scoundrel"), Christina Sng ("Mother of All Things"), and Steven Withrow ("Caged Animals" and "A Means of Summoning").
On the surprising side, the usually outstanding poet Wade German only contributes a couple of make-work verses in this issue. Here's hoping he'll come back stronger in the near future!
Other notable works come from Allan Rozinski ("His Dark Light Shines") and Scott J. Couturier ("Under a Sun Long-Estranged"). The latter manages something impressive, which is to inject new life into the shopworn figure of the vampire. Much of the unremarkable verse in each issue of Spectral Realms fails specifically because of the overuse of hackneyed supernatural commonplaces, and Couturier breaks out of that tired mold with fresh energy and an original slant on his material.
The brief section of "Classic Reprints" is always a highlight of each issue of Spectral Realms, and that holds true for issue 14 as Walter de la Mare's "The Dark Château" closes out the selection of poetry with elegance and style.
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