dark horse /ˈdärk ˈˌhôrs/ noun 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: HYPERPHAGIA James Callan BEFORE YOU MICRODOSE … J. Rizzo CEMETERY RUNWAY LIGHTS Rasmenia Massoud CLEAN-UP IN AISLE FOUR-MILLION LIGHT YEARS FROM EARTH DC Merryweather 72 HOURS TO ANIMAL Wayne Kyle Spitzer MIRRORS Katrin Hessa TERROR SLEEPS OVER Wendy Maxon THE NEXT ROOM Robert Thomas THE SURVIVALIST MANIFESTO Shahbaz Khayambashi THE VISITOR FROM MARKAB Rick M. Clausen