Not One of Us is a magazine interested in alienated characters, people bereaved of whatever qualities it takes to be a part of something, and that just about sums up every sordid soul in its latest issue. There’s an unrequited lover, a young girl bearing a burden within, a retired lieutenant accused of foul play, and much more. However, most of the stories dance between speculative fiction and something else.

Greek mythology set in modern times takes the stage in “Flotsam” by Caitlín R. Kiernan, an account of one man’s unyielding obsession with a woman of the sea. In other words, a Siren and her prey. Unfortunately, layout aesthetics make this hard to read, as the story is basically one large paragraph stretched across three-and-a-half pages. No pauses, no smoking breaks, nothing—so take a deep breath beforehand. The prose itself is lush and sultry, but because of how it’s presented, “Flotsam” has a stream-of-conscious feel to it versus being something more speculative.

“Pinion” by Amanda Downum is not a run-of-the-mill guardian angel story. For starters, Lilah, who is on a search for missing teenagers, has been at odds with her great champion all her life. He saved her from being stillborn, forcing his way into her breathless body, and together they will take on that which hunts from the shadows. Despite feeling like the beginning to something much larger, “Pinion” pleases. There’s a striking mix of mystery and action, darkness and light, and the monster that Lilah is up against is both sweet and nasty. This is the standout of the issue, and one can only hope that it is just the beginning to something much larger and that Lilah will turn up again down the road.

“One Man Home” by Shane Nelson has Bryce Cody, a man of legend and intrigue, wanting to return to the stars. See, he was one of three astronauts on the Venus 4 mission, a mission famous (or maybe that’s infamous) for Cody being the only person remaining onboard the shuttle upon its return to Earth. Theories blossomed; Cody struggled through the next few decades of his life dogged by accusations of murder, and now he’s ready to leave—whatever that means. Problem is, he’s a drunk, and it’s not entirely clear if everything he says is true.

“One Man Home” is a nicely written piece, although not without some problems. First, there’s the ending, which is a letdown, especially after heading in such a determinate direction. Answers are ultimately to be determined by the reader, and the story’s narrator is nothing but a throwaway, as Cody is the real focus. Yet Nelson does create a sympathetic character, making the eternal mystery of the Venus 4 mission and Cody’s inebriated ramblings all the more heartbreaking.

In Patricia Russo’s “Charlie,” people are getting lost between worlds. No worries, everyday folk barely even notice them despite all the brick-eating and pillowcase getups. The task of sending these bewildered souls back home is left in the hands of an unnamed narrator and the titular character, who is growing madder by the day. With a strong narrative voice, “Charlie” reveals the physical and mental tax these balances of restoration produce. In short, not healthy results. A quick read, with the only disappointing aspect being its vagueness: there are no answers, no explanations.

“Tales of Eaglesnest” by Jennifer Rachel Baumer is actually the name of a book that Josh and Jill’s grandmother reads to them every night before bed. It tells the origin story of their oddly named home, about their ancestors, and of the curse that has kept their family from marrying outside of their own. Grandmother is one mean geriatric, torturing the kids as they struggle for food and wait for their father to return. It’s an interesting piece of fiction, bearing a never-ending sense of foreboding and an eye for detail, as well as a fistful of the creeps, but the speculative element is anyone’s guess. Since neither the curse nor the things hinted at about Eaglesnest are examined, a lot of potential is missed. Still, with heady prose and the cruelty of a scorned lover, “Tales of Eaglesnest” makes its mark well enough.

“Blue Vervain Murder Ballad #2: Jack of Diamonds” by Erik Amundsen has, by its title alone, a lot to tell. For starters, Hector Brown is in love and has gone to see a devil-like woman—she might actually be Satan’s daughter—in the woods for help. He needs a new name and must, of course, give up his soul for it. But Brown loves this Rachel Rocket and is willing to do anything to win her over. Also, there’s a poker game to be played, and a special, white heart-inscribed chip up for grabs. Once all the pieces are in place, the story kicks up the pace, and Amundsen makes reading about a poker game a hundred times more exciting than how it’s portrayed on television. There’s a twist at the end, a dastardly turn of a knife, giving issue #40 of Not One of Us an effective and disquieting conclusion.