Review

The theme for Issue 2 is “secrets” and you have to say the Authors contributing really hit that idea through the posts for a major. I was expecting a bunch of lycanthrope style stories but Craig Bezant isn't noted for taking the easy path with his eclectic magazine. Though maybe a cool ghost story would have been a welcome addition, horror fans over here Bezant, we do need our bones tossed from time to time. Regardless I actually had a good time between the covers as once again what constitutes the dark genre was given a new paint job and taken in new directions.

Brian G Ross gets things underway with the slow moving and emotion demanding Wet Secrets. The story has it's own secrets, how did it work? - and is definitely not going to be what you expect going into Issue Two. A sort of Stephen King style coming of age yarn where the harshness of the world is exposed. I was impressed with The Intruder by regular contributor Mark McAuliffe that takes a pretty universal racist joke and puts it into the glaring light of day. Craig Bezant highlights the nature of the plot by having the story unfold on a notepad background, now how cool is that. Bezant getting jiggy with the art side of things. Slight digression, the story highlights the quiet racism most societies, Western and other, seemingly accept without question. And finally Laurel Springs by Janet Beard has a haunting quality that will stick with the reader long after they have finished the tale. It's backwoods Americana and is totally unapologetic in what it does. I actually read in a sort of Lake Mungo twist to things, but hey that could have been because I was after a more traditional style ghost outing.

As normal there's a fair swag of poetry for those into that form, is there actually much of an audience for poetry anymore outside the University pseudo intellectual crowd?

Rodrigo Schnieder was the featured artist for the Issue but our resident art critic, yes we do have one – she doesn't have a lot to do, was more taken with the art of kiwi Talulah Belle Lautrec-Nunes (great freaking name). I've included Lautrec-Nunes piece in the review as apparently the perspective and feel of inherent flow and movement is stunning. Hey I liked it okay! For those after more of Talulah's work you'll have to do a google as the web address in Issue two isn't coming up, or at least I couldn't find it.

Not content with featuring artwork from a number of Artists Editor Bezant also goes to town with the look and feel of the actual magazine. Dubbed “the big red one” around the office, Issue Two is awash with interesting backgrounds and stunning representations of what the themes and plots of individual stories and poems are trying to convey. The magazine continues to surprise with the presentation of it's content, don't expect the normal approach here and you'll be right. Clearly Craig Bezant spends a lot of time with the layout and presentation of each issue, and I'm more than grateful for the exacting detail the Editor demands from each page.

Overall then you get a magazine that is more than easy on the eye, that will keep you entertained, and above all that will perhaps make you broaden your opinion on what constitutes dark genre works. Eclecticism is like nothing I've ever seen before, and Issue 2 shows a steady improvement toward the finding of an individual voice all publications need. I'm not too sure if the magazine can as yet be said to have it's own unique flavour but it's certainly brewing one up with an expectation of each issue being meet. Hey have read much later Issues already, catch up over here. I was rocking to the beat laid down in Issue 2 and am now more than excited to work through the backlog before tackling more recent Issues. If you haven't dialled into Eclecticism yet then Issue 2 is a good place to start, just leave your expectations at the door.

Issue 2 of Eclecticism is a free download, you can get your copy right here. Actually all fifteen Issues of the magazine are available, check the official site for information.

An Eclectic Slice of Life story nomination, Janet Beard's Laurel Springs.