From quaint southern towns in the shadow of a looming mountain, to hardy northern villages built atop one; from the depths of goblin caves to a suburb haunted by an eldritch horror, each story opens a window into the whimsical world of the unknown.

This curated issue of literary fantasy offers both exciting adventure and masterfully crafted prose and poetry. Some tales garner a laugh, while others beg introspection. The range of fantasy is vast, but a microcosm of it has been captured in these pages, like lightning in a bottle.

Highlights include: James Callan’s “Once is Never Enough,” a sword & sorcery featuring characters from his latest novel, Old Sorcery; Nino Bonura’s “The Golem of Cairo,” a chilling tale from the perspective of an autonomous construct; and Mike Wheet’s “Champion,” a familiar story concerning an unexpected hero who rises in an unexpected way.

Writers published in this issue: Nino Bonura, James Callan, Glenn Dungan, James D. Mills, Jennifer Oliver, Ryan Owen, Matias Travieso-Diaz, DJ Tyrer, Ian William Walker, and Mike Wheet.