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Dark Fire Fiction is pleased to have published a number of Cornelius Fortune's stories in the past -- check our archives for them! -- and now we're happy to say he has collected together a whole load of his fiction into Stories from Arlington, a book beautifully illustrated by Abel Ramirez. It is a gathering of prose, cartoon and art, and a thoroughly enjoyable read. I was fortunate enough to be asked to write an introduction to the book, which is reproduced below...
All Aboard For Arlington!
Welcome one, welcome all. Just passing through? Yes, I started out that way too... but I think you'll find Arlington has a certain fascination that'll draw you in. Well, let's get started. We're off to Balineburr Street.
Our tour around Arlington begins, as is appropriate, at the beginning. We get the real story about how things began on Earth from the horse's mouth, so to speak. It'll take you all the way back (or is it all the way forward? You'll have to make your own minds up on this, folks) and you can watch the great show from the wings until it's your turn to star.
If that sounds a bit heavy, don't worry, because we're off to a party next. See the little children play! Aren't they sweet? What's that? You think these games are... sinister? Perhaps you're right: I'm sure they have a sound basis in folklore, even if they have evolved into the party treats of today. Well, maybe that's all too childish for you; you're ready for the adult stuff, I'm sure. Time for some Kisses in the Dark, perhaps? There's a young man around here somewhere who has a little something to please everyone. Ah, there he is: everyone wave, now. Stop? No, I'm afraid we can't, Ma'am. Too much to see, too much to do. Besides, who knows what he might have picked up along his travels...
Now that little shop over there is an interesting one. We'll stop there on our way back for souvenirs. Hombey's Pages. If you ask the little old lady behind the counter about her colouring books, I'm sure she'll have a story or two for you. She may even still have the newspaper cuttings from the incident to show you.
On our left now is Arlington cemetary. Creepy, you think? Not at all! Why, there's at least one young man who's here all the time. He does have some rather strange interests, of course, alongside the usual fascination with girls.
Right, time for a break. An interlude in our journey through Arlington. We'll stop in the park here. No, sir, I really wouldn't sit right there. That pile of leaves looks suspicious. I'd stick to the wooden bench if I were you. And for those of you with sensitive skins: watch out for the sun around here. It might not look too strong, but it's powerful, nonetheless.
That grand building there, Ma'am? That's Arlington Hall, the place where music was reborn. No, I'm not sure that that is just a figure of speech. You should have heard it -- some say they can still hear that final diminuendo hanging in the air, so perfect and beautiful it would make you cry, and you wouldn't know why...
Uh oh, looks like rain. We'd better go. We'll head into the Collinghair District. The rain is different in Arlington. It can tell you things. Make you forget. Only certain types of people go out in the rain. Like young Tristan there; so sad about his sister. She disappeared, you know. But he loves the rain, and it loves him right back.
Now we're reaching the end of the tour. But look -- there's someone who deserves a special mention. He's often around here, just sitting and watching. He's a historian. He writes down all the townsfolk's stories, collects them, you could say. He can tell you a thing or two. Such pictures he creates with his words; you can't help but be drawn in. Look, he's seen us. Shall we stop?
You won't believe half of what he has to say, but trust me, it's all true. Off you go now, and let him spin you a tale, paint the world in bright colours for you. I'll be here when you're finished. But I'll guess that won't be for some time, and I can't promise I'll recognise you when you come back. Arlington changes people. But you'll love it. You may even decide to stay. It'll stay with you, that's for sure.
Go. Enjoy.
Karonda Barker, Arlington's newest resident.
More information about Stories from Arlington can be found here. It is available as a trade paperback, ISBN number: 1420813773.
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