Triangulation is an annual, themed semi-pro anthology of speculative fiction that announces its theme in September and takes submissions until February, which makes it a great gateway publication for up and coming authors.  Past themes have included Lost Voices, Last Contact, and Beneath the Surface.

With a theme like Appetites, you can expect a fair amount of horror in the mix, but there is also adventure, humor, delicate narrative, even romance in this collection of 21 original tales of diverse appetites and cravings, each with an illustration setting off the title.

“Sulky”, by Blaize M. Kaye, deftly showcases the theme on several levels, intertwining cooking, olfactory addiction, and longing into an SF story that may become a classic. “The Second Heart”, by N.G. Lancaster, is another standout story with its vivid descriptions and keen dilemma over the price of borrowed greatness. Melissa Mead’s “Last Contact” is a tale of a first contact gone awry. “Stalemate” by Thomas Pask is a tense, anthropomorphic tale that is a Grimm version of natural history, while “Fine Cuisine” by Jeffrey B. Burton is a deceptively simple fable with a sharp twist.  “Delicious” by K.G. Anderson is a romance between the magical and the mundane aspects of preparing, enjoying, and sharing food. One of the funniest stories is “The Pink of Perfection” by Holly Schofield, about a human chef with a very difficult challenge: appeasing the specific appetite of an alien ambassador in need of mollifying.  The task would be daunting, nay, impossible for the average cook, but the narrator is one of those geniuses who really puts herself into her work. Another speculative gem is “Objects” by Kevin M. Folliard, which puts a wild spin on the adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

The editors of Triangulation have done a remarkable job selecting stories that take the theme into unexpected directions. ~~ Chris Wozney