Thaneros Online Magazine

It is with great regret that the following must be written. I only wish I could see better to type it up.

Ethan Thomas, the editor of Thaneros Online Magazine, has always been a group entity, one comprised of two writers sharing a pseudonym as well as intimate living space. One of those writers--namely myself--has received serious health news over the last week. I have learned that I need far more than a change in prescription to fix my recent eye difficulties; I am in the second stage of diabetic retinopathy, and the sight that has been lost may not return. This means that I must prioritize time spent on the computer, and at present the magazine takes up the majority of that time, leaving very little for writing itself. Given that this condition is generally progressive and that I am now suffering other diabetic complications as well, we have decided it best to focus on writing instead. Therefore, as of today, Thaneros Online Magazine is no more. While we plan to leave archived stories up for one year, as per our contracts, should any of our writers wish for their work to be removed we will do so immediately. Please--submit elsewhere. You write beautifully, and your work deserves to be read. Working with you was a greater pleasure than either of us can express.

Yours,
One Half of Ethan Thomas

As of July 14th, 2008 in Thaneros Online Magazine:

- Ready or Not by Nica Berry
- Thaneros: Winterborn Submission Guidelines
- Thaneros: Nectar Submission Guidelines
- Thaneros Fiction Preferences Survey - Help us out!

Coming Soon:

- Yoshi and the Shibari Cowgirls by Mike Kimera

Need More? Check out our Full Index.

Thaneros Online Magazine as of July 7th, 2008:

- First Moon by Martha Allard
- Thaneros: Winterborn Submission Guidelines
- Thaneros: Nectar Submission Guidelines
- Thaneros Fiction Preferences Survey - Help us out!


Coming Soon:

- Ready or Not by Nica Berry
- Yoshi and the Shibari Cowgirls by Mike Kimera


Need More? Check out our full index.


Donations via PayPal to the upkeep of Thaneros Online Magazine are humbly accepted. Or, should you want more bang for your buck, contact us about our advertising rates at thaneros@shaw.ca.

As of June 30, 2008 at Thaneros Online Magazine:

* You and I are Violence and Lust by Sarah Hall
* Thaneros: Winterborn Submission Guidelines
* Thaneros Fiction Preferences Survey - Help us out!

Coming Soon:

* "First Moon" by Martha Allard
* "Ready or Not" by Nica Berry
* "Yoshi and the Shibari Cowgirls" by Mike Kimera

Need More? Check Out Our Full Index.

We hope to see you there!

As of June 23, 2008 at Thaneros:

* Six of the Best by Clare London
* Thaneros Fiction Preferences Survey - Help us out!

Coming Next Week:

* You and I are Violence and Lust by Sarah Hall

Still Need More?

* Check out our Full Index for archived fiction, reviews, and site exposés.

This Week's Discussion Topic

When visiting a website that features a variety of sexual material, do you appreciate it when the fiction is labeled in some fashion? For example, a story labeled "Story Title - (M/M)" would contain gay elements. Drop us a comment here, or write the editor at thaneros@shaw.ca.

Thaneros strives to fill its readers needs. Help us out--let us know what you like most when it comes to dark erotica by answering our Fiction Survey. All individual answers to this poll will remain confidential.

As of June 16, 2008 at Thaneros:

* Consummation by Jayden Blake

Coming Soon:

* Six of the Best by Clare London
* You and I are Violence and Lust by Sarah Hall

Need More? Check out our Full Index!

At Thaneros as of June 09, 2008:

* "Kindred Spirits" by Hank Edwards

Also new at Thaneros... We have now included a donation button on our front page should you want to support the magazine. We exist solely on advertising and our own pocketbooks, so donations are most humbly accepted. Either way, we thank you for your patronage, and shall be around to serve you for a long time to come.


Coming Soon:

* "Consummation" by Jayden Blake
* "Six of the Best" by Clare London
* "You and I are Violence and Lust" by Sarah Hall

At thaneros.com as of of June 02, 2008:

* The Woman on the L-Train by Spencer Wendleton

Coming Soon:

* Kindred Spirits by Hank Edwards
* Consummation by Jayden Blake
* Six of the Best by Clare London
* You and I are Violence and Lust by Sarah Hall

We look forward to seeing you there!

Also, Thaneros is always seeking dark erotica. By that we do not mean just erotic horror. We would love to see erotica set in dark-fantasy and dark-sci-fi settings, as well dark erotica that is more "mainstream" in nature, i.e. pieces that feature bdsm and consensual power exchange. Feel free to query the editor at thaneros@shaw.ca should you have any questions.

As of May 19, 2008, at Thaneros:

* Caveat Emptor by Angela Caperton

Coming Next Week:

* The Woman on the L-Train by Spencer Wendleton

Coming Soon:

* Kindred Spirits by Hank Edwards

As of May 19, 2008 in Thaneros Online Magazine:

* The Coriolis Effect by Amanda Earl

Coming Next Week:

* Caveat Emptor by Angela Caperton

Coming Soon:

* The Woman on the L-Train by Spencer Wendleton
* Kindred Spirits by Hank Edwards

Despite this month's lack of reviews, Thaneros received its most hits ever this past week--1,812 unique reads in a seven day span. Go Van Michaels! Go us! It simply proves what I have always hoped to be true, that our fiction is our greatest strength.

As of May 12, 2008 at http://www.thaneros.com:

* The Truth in the Mirror by Van Michaels

Coming Next Week:

* The Coriolis Effect by Amanda Earl

Coming Soon:

* Caveat Emptor by Angela Caperton
* The Woman on the L-Train by Spencer Wendleton
* Kindred Spirits by Hank Edwards

Please note: Due to your humble editor's honeymoon, Thaneros will not be featuring artists or presenting reviews during the month of May. That said, we are always on the look out for artists working in the dark and erotic genres, as well as materials to review that capture the same beauty. If you think our readers would enjoy your work, please drop us a line at thaneros@shaw.ca.

As of May 4, 2008 at http://www.thaneros.com:

* Cat Dancing by Ralph Greco

Coming Next Week:

* The Truth in the Mirror by Van Michaels

Coming Soon:

* The Coriolis Effect by Amanda Earl
* Caveat Emptor by Angela Caperton
* The Woman on the L-Train by Spencer Wendleton
* Kindred Spirits by Hank Edwards

Please note: Due to your humble editor's honeymoon, Thaneros will not be featuring artists or presenting reviews during the month of May. That said, we are always on the look out for artists working in the dark and erotic genres, as well as materials to review that capture the same beauty. If you think our readers would enjoy your work, please drop us a line.

As of April 28, 2008:

* Blue, Part III by Michael O'Shaughnessy
* Rooted by Kate Vassar
* In House Reviews - Catacombs

Hope to see you at http://www.thaneros.com!

As always, Thaneros is in need of dark erotica, as well as reviews of both dark and erotic materials. By all means, stop by our submission guidelines or send us a message at thaneros@shaw.ca.

Catacombs (2007)
Lionsgate Films / Twisted Pictures
Tomm Coker, David Elliot - Directors

Having read several poor reviews of Catacombs prior to viewing the movie, I had few hopes. By the end, I wondered if those reviewers and I had watched the same film.

Catacombs sets itself up as a typical slasher-flick, albeit without the gratuitous teenage T & A. Its monster and his origins are easily as laughable as those of a certain killer in a hockey mask or a particular mass-murderer with fingers for knives. In this, and in regards to the quality of the minor characters' acting ability, Catacombs rates little better than any other in its genre. Refreshingly, however, the encounter with the beast which haunts the Paris underground acts merely as the catalyst which pushes Victoria--brilliantly played by Shannyn Sossamon--into the film's true horror: being trapped in the endless dark of the tunnels themselves. Much of the action is conveyed in jerky snatches of light, cleverly recreating the claustrophobic setting.

Given that this film was created by the makers of Saw, a twist ending was par for the course. Unlike most twist endings, what I guessed in advance with Catacombs was but the tip of the iceberg in terms of the final revelation. I was genuinely transfixed to the very moment the credits began to play, unable to look away until the full scope of Catacombs' terror had played out.

All in all, this was an excellent film, with a rich soundtrack to boot. Four and a half out of five stars.

As of April 21, 2008:

* Blue, Part II by Michael O'Shaughnessy
* The Shadow in the Shower by S. R. Gruber
* Site Reviews: Evil Dread / Beautiful Agony / De-Animator
* In House Reviews - Uzumaki

Coming Next Week:

* Blue, Part III by Michael O'Shaughnessy
* Rooted by Kate Vassar

Coming Soon:

* Cat Dancing by Ralph Greco

See you at http://www.thaneros.com!

Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror
Story and Art: Junji Ito
Translator: Yuji Oniki
Publisher: VIZ Media

Firmly set in a bizarre and unexplainable world, Uzumaki's Lovecraftian characteristics inspire an amazing case of the creeps, resulting in an impressive piece of horror fiction.

The premise of Uzumaki seems a little silly at first. When I first read the manga's back jacket, I couldn't help but picture little stick figures with spinning heads passing through walls and spooking people. Of course, the idea that such a ludicrous monster could have spawned three volumes also grasped my curiosity. How could the writer possibly turn something as mundane as a spiral into something horrific? Honestly, the book's plastic wrapping was a big plus. It hinted that Uzumaki might be far darker than I anticipated.

Each volume contains a collection of short stories about how the "spiral" coils itself around the people of a town called Kurozu-cho. The entire body of work is narrated from the perspective of a high school student, Kirie Goshima, who encounters the curse time after time.

While the bizarre premise is enough to lure readers in, and the price of each volume is low enough to keep them coming back, the storytelling inside all three is the real draw. The relationships of the people, the horror and the humor, the different manifestations of the spirals, the detailed and grisly but always beautiful artwork... All of it shapes Uzumaki into a moving tale of terror. Junji Ito is surely a master of his craft, his images surreal and frightening and his characters pitiable and real. It's difficult to explain just how beautifully this work is put together. Lovers of comics and horror alike will find this manga utterly fascinating. This short, wonderful read will haunt you for many days and many sleepless nights. Five out of five stars.

This Week:
* Blue, Part I by Michael O'Shaughnessy
* The Art of Resurgere
* In House Reviews - The Deaths of Ian Stone

Coming Next Week:
* Blue, Part II by Michael O'Shaughnessy
* Shadow in the Shower by S. R. Gruber

Hope to see you there!

Ethan Thomas, Editor
Thaneros Online Magazine

The Deaths of Ian Stone [2007]
Director: Dario Piana
Studio: SWFX
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Having read the jacket for this movie, I thought it would be the horror genre's version of Groundhog Day. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be more than that.

Welcome to Ian Stone's horrible, no good, very bad day. From early on in the film, he is on the run from a variety of nasty people, people that may in fact not be human at all. When they catch him--and they do, repeatedly--they don't simply kill him. They brutally and creatively murder him over and over again. Every day at the same time, he finds himself in a new life, the only constants a girl named Jenny and a mysterious drifter, and every day he dies in increasingly terrible ways.

As a movie, this one was entertaining. There may have been some holes, like whether or not hockey is even played in Britain, but they can easily be overlooked. The creature effects were not stunning, but their design was fresh enough to arouse and maintain interest. Their flowing silkiness was a nice touch. The story moved at a quick pace, ending on a note that my partner thought cheesy but I thought appropriate.

This one is a solid time waster, more than that worth the watch. Four out of five stars.

The second issue of Thaneros is now up. Thaneros specializes in dark erotica, particularly erotica with a speculative element--in other words, kinky sci fi, fantasy, and horror.

In this issue, you'll find:
* "Eleanor's Lessons" by Gwynne Garfinkle
* Site Expose: Bloodymessygirls.com
* In House Reviews - The Mist / Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror

Thaneros publishes weekly. Keep up to date by joining thaneros, or following ethan_thomas.