#44 Released

Zombies. Vampires. Death squads. Hypersensitive homicidal alien workers. Half-cocked deities. And those are the lighter stories.

Don’t get us wrong. There’s certainly a leavening within the pages of ASIM 44, the wit and levity for which ASIM has become a byword (unless the Powers-that-Be decide that ‘byword’ status has not yet been attained, in which case we may need to edit this to reflect the absence of ‘byword’ credentials in this instance, and to point out what we actually think of the Powers-that-Be). But there’s a gathering darkness as well. Which is pretty much as you’d expect it, with rising-star-of-Australian-horror Felicity Dowker in the pilot’s chair for this flight.

Thus: zombies. Mysterious strangers. Succubi. Malevolent corporations. And zombies. (Did I mention ‘zombies’ already?) Felicity’s selection includes work by Team Zombie cohorts Chuck McKenzie and Jason Fischer, atmospheric and mesmerising tales by Janeen Samuel and Joanne Anderton, and a piece by Anna Tambour that – well, let’s just say, if you’re allergic to irreverence, keep your epi-pen close at hand while you’re reading Anna’s story (and speaking of which, you can read Anna’s story entirely free-of-charge, on this very website, in the ‘Passenger Entertainment’ section …)

Five striking stories, by five immensely talented local writers. But the overseas contributions are just as memorable: Ralph Benedetto’s comedy-of-felinoid-manners, Sarah Ann Watts’ tale of enforced maternal disaffection, Mike McMullen’s what’s-a-vampire-to-do sob story, Matthew Fryer’s searing story of vice and vigilantism, and the reality-checking poetry of Jason DeGray and Michael D. Turner. Plus all the genre commentary you could hope for.

Purchase it now. While you still have the choice. Because our zombie sales teams will be visiting your area shortly…