The city never sleeps–no, it cannot sleep. Like an inverse Azathoth, once the hustle of the city gives way to dreaming, reality as we know it would vanish. So we feed it to keep it awake, with our attention and income–whether ill-gotten or otherwise–anything to keep the city’s eyes open for one more night.
Viewed from above or afar, the city appears before us as a bejeweled encrustation, a glittering barnacle on the World Turtle. But do not mistake this for artificiality. We built the city. It has been with us since the ages of Ur and Babylon. It is as natural as that barnacle on the shell of a turtle, or a hive of bees. Yes, the city is as natural as a spider’s web, but who, or what, is the spider?
This Halloween, join us for a psychogeographic exploration of the city. Wander down the wrong alley; open the wrong door; step onto the wrong subway. All wrong paths lead us to the real city, the city within the city, territory that isn’t on any map. Join us for
BABEL
Coming along with us for the ride is guest editor Gabriel Hart, author of the upcoming On High At Red Tide (Pig Roast Publishing) and editor-in-chief of Beyond The Last Estate, along with being an APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL contributor and interview subject. In other words, a man who knows a thing or two about the underworld.
Please send submissions to contact@apocalypse-confidential.com as a Word or Google doc for written submissions and .jpgs or .pngs for visual submissions, with how you’d like to be credited, a short bio in third person, and any links for promotion (blog, portfolio, etc.). Include your Twitter handle if you wish to be tagged. Please limit fiction submissions to around 2k words. This special presentation is open in all categories. No simultaneous submissions. Please include “BABEL” in the subject line or body of your email. Deadline: October 18.
Artwork by Robert Voyvodic.