Dark Horses: The Magazine of Weird Fiction No. 49: February 2026

Description: 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:

HELPLESS
Andy Kumpon

WHOEVER SAID
Stephanie Halldorson

HAROLD THE HARBINGER
Rain Sullivan

02:28 HOURS TO YUMA
Wayne Kyle Spitzer

THE QUEEN'S JUSTICE
Solar Hoàng

I MISS YOU
Jeremee Nute

ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
Zeke Jarvis

LIFELONG SENTENCE
Robin J. Bartley

A FULL MOON BOTHERATION
Lesley L. Smith

LONG RIDE HOME
John Tavares