We haven't covered magazines in a while, and I can't allow Fear Zone to pass without revisiting the two best magazines keeping horror fiction alive in that medium, CEMETERY DANCE and BLACK STATIC.

CEMETERY DANCE has undergone a startling transformation in the last year, at least in regards to its publication schedule. I believe I bought a four year subscription to this periodical, which had either a quarterly or bi-monthly schedule, eight years ago - and it's still going strong because only one or two issues have appeared per year for the last few years. But that all seems to be over now, and under the guidance of Cemetery Dance Publications founder Richard Chizmar and Managing Editor Brian Freeman, the last several issues have appeared with almost astonishing frequency. As CEMETERY DANCE has long been one of the finest fright fiction mags around, this is only good news.

Issue #61 was a spectacular Peter Straub theme issue, and #62 is devoted primarily to William Peter Blatty. For those unfamiliar with CD, the magazine features glossy full colors (typically beautiful) with interior B & w illustrations and short fiction printed on cheap newsprint, which has kept the magazine at an extraordinarily affordable five bucks U.S. The latest issue features an interview with Blatty, "lost" script pages from THE EXORCIST and EXORCIST III, an essay on EIII by Kealan Patrick Burke, and fiction by David Morrell, Cody Goodfellow, Nate Southard, and Gary Raisor. Welcome back, CD!

While the mag is back on schedule in terms of frequency, it's still got a lot of catching up to do in terms of backdated material. For instance, the next issue will have a Halloween theme, and Bev Vincent's Stephen King column mentions that King was nominated for a pair of Bram Stoker Awards - which he actually won six months ago! But I enjoy CD's nonfiction, particularly Michael Marano's MEDIADROME. And I love CD's latest additions, columns by Leisure Books' Dan D'Auria and renowned editor Ellen Datlow. CD is back with a vengeance!

BLACK STATIC has never had a troubled publication history, and it's very similar to CD in terms of the quality of its fiction and columns. I've reviewed it several times in the past, and I always take pains to acknowledge the amazing artwork and overall layout, which is printed on slick b & w paper. I stopped reviewing the mag because I felt I was repeating myself ever time" "Great stories, excellent interview, amazing design..." but excellence deserves continued recognition. I find this magazine extra interesting because it's from the UK, and I like to read the opinions of overseas writers from time to time. BLACK STATIC #13 is now available.

Support both of these excellent magazines!