Withersin Magazine

published by M.L. Gersley/Withersin Magazine

ISSN: 1931-9258

review by Ty Schwamberger

04.20.2009

Withersin Magazine’s tagline is: ‘Dark, different; the pleasantly sinister.’ The stories, interviews and articles that packed this tightly constructed eighty page magazine where just that, and more.

There is something for everyone in Withersin Magazine. Not only will you get interviews with the likes of Edward Lee, in this issue, but other horror greats, as well.

You will also be able to experience strange but true? articles that delve into the human psyche, including; ‘The Most Haunted House in England’, ‘Anthropomancy’, ‘Strange & Scary Tourist Stops – New York’, ‘Fortean Showers’, ‘Diseases, Disorders and Death’, ‘Martyred Horror’ and several others including Larry L. Roberts article, ‘Why Horror Fiction’ which explained what horror is, in his eyes and where the genre is headed and several others. I also enjoyed, ‘Delectable’ by M. Awren Grey & K. Sumek, that did a review of Hot Lix, a company that specializes in delicacies, such as; Bacon and Cheese Crickets, Green Apple Candy Coated Scorpions, Banana Candy Coated Scorpions, Blueberry Candy Coated Scorpions and Cheddar Cheese Larvets. For you food critics out there – the blueberry scorpions were the staff favorite. Yummy! To finish it off was ‘Not Delilah’ by Aaron Gudmunson under the Demented Dreamscapes section, in which the author told about his reoccurring dreams and his fear that they may become reality.

Last but not least are the short stories that are contained in the magazine: David J. Sakmyster wrote a short, called, ‘Internal Affairs’ which dealt with a soldiers need to eviscerate fallen comrades, civilians and dead enemies right on the battlefield – and he ends up paying for his psychotic need. Ezekiel Clark’s short, called, ‘Squirming Eyes’ which dealt with a fear from his past of a huge bird swooping down from the sky and plucking out his eyes. Chet Gottfried wrote ‘The Perfect Foot’ which told the tale about a man with a seriously deadly foot fetish. Mark Allen Gunnells’, ‘Ours is a God of Anger’, about Chad, a magazine photographer and his need to check out a creepy old church off a country road and finally David Bain’s, ‘The Little Guy’, which was about an employee’s day.

Being a regular book reviewer for Withersin, I was a little hesitant at first to read and review one of their own works. But, I have to say, I was delighted to have done so. The articles were very well researched and written, the interviews had great questions and answers and the short stories were odd and marvelous. I can honestly say I enjoyed the entire magazine from front to back. Being a horror author myself, I would gladly recommend this magazine to colleagues and fans alike.

The only question that remains is when will I be worthy enough to grace the hallowed pages that are…Withersin! Perhaps, just perhaps, I need to look into my soul, to the other side, to the place that is…Dark, different and pleasantly sinister. Then again, maybe she is already watching me and knows I am not worthy…

Hey, what was that…someone in my house, watching me...