Jay Barnson

Proof that short fiction can still be exciting. StoryHack is a magazine focusing on action and adventure fiction in a wide variety of genres. In this issue, you'll read: Claws of the Puma by Paul R. McNamee - In the rainforests of Brazil, poaching loggers and traditional rubber tree tappers are at war. Journalist Sarah Stoughton gets more than she bargained for when she is caught up in the violence, and comes face to face with the legendary man of the jungle, the Puma. Shoot First by Jay Barnson - Flint and another agent are assigned to confiscate a dangerous cursed magical artifact from a street gang, only to find that the entire operation was a set-up by a local crime boss and an analyst from within the Order. Inside the Demon's Eye by JD Cowan - A young adventurer searches the Black Lands for a lifesaving treasure. He may not get the chance to find it, as he is being stalked by a malevolent force. Get to the River by Luke Foster - A park ranger plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with a gang of killers on the scorching hot floor of the Grand Canyon in July. Scourges, Spells, and Serenades by Joanna Maciejewska - An archanist must work alongside a high mage to find her missing cousin. The trail leads them to the arena of a secret demon cult, where their skill will be put to a deadly test. Showdown at Stone Ridge by Jason J. McCuiston - by - A military deserter is spared the noose if he will travel to the mining town of Stone Ridge and stop the desperados. What he finds in Stone Ridge is not bandits, but a land baron with an army, led by a Djinn. How can he possibly stand against such paramilitary might and magic? Master of Thieves by Aaron Zimmerman - For years Alex has admiringly followed the exploits of the two greatest thieves of her generation. Tonight, she wants to settle the question once and for all: who is the greatest thief of all? The Dealer's Tale by Jon Mollison - A pregnant blackjack dealer walks a deadly line as she prepares to betray her mafia-owned boss to the feds.

In the modern world, paranormal dangers lurk all around. When there is no chosen one to be found, no altruistic half-vampire around, and no superheros flying overhead, it's up to average people to do the business of defeating evil. They have no powers, no prophecies, and all the odds are stacked against them. In this short story collection, regular folk find themselves up against nightmare creatures, conniving warlocks, and all manner of supernatural dangers. All set in contemporary environments. Read these nine new tales of magic and adventure today. This anthology contains the following stories: Flight Response by Jay Barnson An army helicopter pilot has a harrowing experience with a mind-controlling sorcerer in Vietnam. Several years later, the sorcerer has resurfaced, but will this wild chance at revenge end in tragedy? Small Town Sorcery by Bryce Beattie Supernatural terrors plague a child at night, and her father doesn't seem to be concerned. What nightmare is he trying to hide? In The Forests Of The Night by Misha Burnett Politics. Power always brought out the politicians, looking for an angle to drive in a wedge and gain some leverage. Magic was power, money was power, and this case was dripping with both. From the case files of Erik Rugar comes another tale of magic, mystery, and a detective who is always over his head. La Bruja by Carlos Carrasco A New Orleans Police Detective and an Exorcist join forces to rescue a young girl from the clutches of a demonic cult. The trail leads them into the bullet-riddled inner-city streets of the Big Easy where lives and souls are held cheap and rival gang-bangers wage a bloody race war. Living Land by JD Cowan After the show, a rockabilly drummer follows a girl who looks like she might be in trouble. The two are swept away into an unexplainable land, where existence turns in on itself. Under a Mango Sun by Michael DeCarolis An agent of Thailand's supernatural crime division must infiltrate Bangkok's seedy underbelly to get to the bottom of an enchanted animal smuggling ring, where she finds herself in over her head. The Undying Past by Dale W. Glaser A private investigator is coerced into tracking down the cause of a curse on an ancient manor. Will he find the answer before the curse claims his life? Green Shadow by Jason J. McCuiston Some New Age cults are fads. Some are nefarious. A rare few actually worship dark gods. When an Afghanistan vet is hired to bring back a runaway girl, he comes face-to-face with the latter. Prey of the Hamadame by Mark J. Schultis A mysterious beast is preying on factory workers. A pregnant woman's husband has disappeared. Can an outcast detective find him before it is too late?

Have you ever wanted to go to magic school? To cast spells and brew potions and fly on broomsticks and - perhaps - battle threats both common and supernatural? Come with us into worlds of magic, where students become magicians and teachers do everything in their power to ensure the kids survive long enough to graduate. Welcome to ... Fantastic Schools. Follow the daughter of a witch who wants to learn white-not black-magic, a trio of students sent on a mysterious task, a kidnapped student trying to escape, a troll who wants to study among the humans, and a magic-less boy with a chance to learn magic, if he survives his first month at a magical university. Follow us into worlds different, magical ...... And very human. Includes stories by: Christopher NuttallRoger D. StrahanDenton SalleKarina FabianFrank B. LukeGeorge PhilliesAaron Van TreeckBecky R. JonesJay BarnsonEmily Sorensen Peter Rhodan Rhys HughsJ. F. PosthumusBarb Caffey

Spring 2017 special Eldritch Earth issue. Burroughsian adventure on a prehistoric Lovecraftian Earth. NovellaThe First American, by Schuyler HernstromShort StoriesWar of the Ruby/Shapes In the Fog, by Brian K. LoweDarla of Deodanth, by Louise SorensenIn the Gloaming O My Darling, by Misha BurnettThe Queen of Shadows, by Jay BarnsonBeyond the Great Divide, by S. H. MansouriThrough the Star-Thorn Maze, by Lynn RushlauThe Bears of 1812, by Michael TierneyA Killing in Karkesh, by Adrian ColePoetryMy Name is John Carter (Pt. 4), by James Hutchings