Book excerpt: 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: TAP TAP TAP Elsa Loftis ALL THE SINGULARITY GIRLS Glenn Dungan THE BATTLE FOR ASHGROVE ROAD Hugh A.D. Spencer DESPERATE TO REVIVE Mark J. Schultis X-RAY RIDER (PART TWO) Wayne Kyle Spitzer DR. SORBY’S AMAZING AQUATIC MENAGERIE Olivier Faivre FORTY MILES OF BAD ROAD Rick M. Clausen JUNE BUG SEASON Sarah Wilson Gregory NOAH FROM MARS Lawrence Dagstine THE WILD HUNT David Newkirk