Editorial

Welcome to the ninth issue of Baffling Magazine.

Love and terror exist side by side in this issue. Love and the terror of impending war circle around each other in “The Blade, The Hammer.” Love and terror are in the murky waters of “From The Mothers That Swam Before.” What lies behind the magic door in “What Are We If I Stay”?  “With Open Eyes” and “How The Wolf Domesticated Herself” shows that love and terror can sometimes be the same thing. 

(“How The Wolf Domesticated Herself” is also the inspiration for our cover by Mx. Morgan Robles.)

These brief stories and vignettes mix wonder with horror in yes, Baffling ways.  The other through-line in this collection is the autumnal ambiance that enrobes even the lightest of the stories. After all, autumn means both comfort and darkness, often in equal measure—the spookiness of Halloween and the solace of pumpkin spice lattes. This issue of Baffling is like clove, a warming spice, overpowering and even poisonous if consumed too much.

Wrap yourself in a blanket and lose yourself in stories of alien lovers, impossible rivers, sensual gods of despair, and yearning stars.

Enjoy!

Craig L. Gidney
Co-Editor, Baffling Magazine

PS. We're coming up on a transition period. I'll be stepping down as co-editor after working on the remaining issues in Year Three, culminating in the July 2023 fashion theme issue. I'm pleased to welcome writer and editor Kel Coleman to the masthead, who'll be reading stories with dave, Gabriella, and the associate editors beginning with this upcoming December submissions round. It's been a pleasure sharing these stories with you, and I’m looking forward to what comes next for Baffling.