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 ROMAN PLAGUE Alexander Zelenyj YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND James C. Clar WE RAN TO THE GYRE Rhen Wilson WALKING MARY Paul Stansbury THE PIERCED VEIL Wayne Kyle Spitzer AND 'TWILL PROVE SO Stephen R. Wilk TO DRIVE WITH FIRE Marco Etheridge and Felicia Strangeways THERE IS A SATANIC TEMPLE BENEATH BUC-EE'S Nicholas Christian THE TRUE DEATHS OF DARIK Garret Stirland THE NEWLING Paul Stansbury