In our afternoon reading: new writing by Lance Olsen, thoughts on books by Judith Butler and Zito Madu, and more.
Presenting an Excerpt From SE Case’s “Rigsby WI”
We’re pleased to present an excerpt from the first collected edition of SE Case’s comic Rigsby WI. At WWAC, Alenka Figa praised the “pleasant sense of nostalgia in Case’s fashion choices and interiors” and the “especially emotional punch” of one storyline. A crowdfunding campaign is currently underway for this volume, and you can read a short excerpt below.
Haunted Histories and Mysterious Islands: Kirsten Bakis on the Origin of “King Nyx”
I’ve long been on record as an admirer of Kirsten Bakis’s first novel, the haunting Lives of the Monster Dogs. I’ve also long wondered what Bakis would do for an encore, and this year brings an answer with the release of her second novel King Nyx. In this tale, set a century ago, Bakis draws on the lives of Anna and Charles Fort, as Anna recounts a time when the couple was summoned to a mysterious estate in upstate New York. What does this have to do with the bespoke deity of Anna’s youth? Well, you’ll have to read that to find out — but rest assured that the resulting novel is a fascinating story abounding with mysteries, class conflict, and more than a little literary history. I caught up with Bakis to learn more about the book’s genesis
Morning Bites: Revisiting Octavia E. Butler, International Booker Shortlist, Vanessa Chan on Writing, and More
In our morning reading: exploring the work of Octavia E. Butler, thoughts on Catherine Lacey’s fiction, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Kate Axelrod Fiction, Nalo Hopkinson Interviewed, Ryan Chapman on Writing, and More
In our afternoon reading: fiction by Kate Axelrod, interviews with Nalo Hopkinson and Ryan Chapman, and more.
What Does It Take to Create a New Literary Prize?
As book reviews vanish and culture coverage shrinks, readers of the daring, the obscure, and the experimental find it increasingly hard to find books that both seek to “make it new” and succeed in the task. One potential answer for readers in this bind might be to follow the Novel Prize, a recently launched initiative from three independent publishers.
Morning Bites: Shabazz Palaces’ Latest, Porochista Khakpour on Residencies, John Berger’s Nonfiction, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on Shabazz Palaces’ new album, Porochista Khakpour on writing residencies, and more.
Weekend Bites: Rita Bullwinkel’s Latest, Gothic Subgenres, Kelly Moran Live, and More
In our weekend reading: thoughts on Rita Bullwinkel’s new novel, inside the “striver gothic” genre, and more.