Steve Rasnic Tem’s “Heat” is a story of pain and loss, where tragedy begets obsession. The main character is Sandra, an average woman that lost her husband and son when their plane crashed and burned. This event has caused Sandra to become obsessed with fire and burning. She memorizes the temperatures at which certain materials burn and keeps a scrapbook of deaths, mostly fire-related. She imagines people are burning all the time and seeks out fires to watch them burn.
Sandra is a pathetic wreck who can’t move on from a horrible event, and my heart goes out to her. Tem manages to establish a connection between Sandra and her son without being maudlin, and while there isn’t anything supernatural going on in this story, it’s a fascinating look into a damaged mind. It’s a short tale, but worth looking at.
– Mike Malan, Blogger
Editor’s Note: Mike Malan recently graduated from Lewis University with a degree in English with a sub-speciality in Creative Writing. Mike especially enjoys writing gothic, Poe and all things that chill your bones. He is a dark writer but you can find him dabbling in politics. He is also interested in the editing process and hopes that you will enjoy his work.
