dark horse /ˈdärk ˈˌhôrs/ noun 1. 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: A RESPONSIBLE MAN Carol Willis BOTTLENECK Douglas Gwilym CORNPLANTER O'BAIL Gary Every INTO THE POT Ron J. Cruz PECK Wayne Kyle Spitzer PRETTY ON THE INSIDE Diana Olney WHERE FASNET MET SPACE NET Mary Jo Rabe SORRY, WRONG ARTIFACT Mark Mellon THE BURDEN OF DAMASCUS James B. Pepe THE TROUBLE WITH AI-Nine Chad Gayle