dark horse /ˈdärk ˈˌhôrs/ noun 1. a candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds. "a dark-horse candidate" Join us for a monthly tour of writers who give as good as they get. From hard science-fiction to stark, melancholic apocalypses; from Lovecraftian horror to zombies and horror comedy; from whimsical interludes to tales of unlikely compassion--whatever it is, if it's weird, it's here. So grab a seat before the starting gun fires, pour yourself a glass of strange wine, and get ready for the running of the dark horses! In this issue: A CARTHAGINIAN PEACE Marcel Gabbett A HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE MAN David Sheskin A VERY THOUGHTFUL MAN Brian Hawkins A QUIET MIRACLE IN AN OBSCURE PLACE Cy Hill BEYOND THE BLACK CURTAIN: LIMINALIS Wayne Kyle Spitzer BEYOND EXTREME AJ Becker BOSSA NOVA ON PLUTO Kjetil Jansen BIFURCATION POINTS John W. Farrell DELIVERANCE Jennifer Kause THE SOUL SPRING OF ZAHBALOM Lee Clark Zumpe