Book Review—Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
Trust Exercise Susan Choi Henry Holt and Co. If high school didn’t exist, writers would have to invent it. A writer’s job is to articulate what others feel; and what […]
From Fangirl to Philosopher: Julia Fine on Exploring Feminist Theory through Fairytales and Fiction
Interview conducted by contributing writer Terry Galvan Julia Fine is a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago’s MFA program. She lives in Chicago with her husband and their son. Her […]
Interview: The Juicy Details and Dirty Secrets of Science Fiction’s Youth
Hugo-Finalist Alec Nevala-Lee shares a behind-the-books perspective on SFF’s foundational authors Conducted by Terry Galvan Alec Nevala-Lee is a Hugo Award finalist for the group biography Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac […]
All You Need Is Lovecraft—Bucket O’ Blood’s 3rd Annual Lovecraft Death Day Soirée
Plenty of writers have mastered their craft, but few have fostered a genre. Howard Phillips Lovecraft—purveyor of pulp fictional cosmic terror—did both. Dying at age 46 on March 15, 1937, […]
Review: Ohio by Stephen Markley Doesn’t Quite Reach Its Destination
Ohio Stephen Markley Simon & Schuster Reviewed by Carr Harkrader Ohio, the debut novel by Stephen Markley, is a bumpy journey that doesn’t quite reach its destination. It starts with […]
Survivor Explores Trauma, and Speculative Literature, Through Uniquely Varied Stories: Book Review
One of the things I love about speculative literature is its ability to capture the emotional impact of real, plausible experiences through fantastic metaphors. It’s also just really fun to […]
Certain American States Has Captivating Writing Wrapped In Ennui—Book Review
Certain American States is peculiar. Catherine Lacey’s first short story collection has a similar feel to her last published book, the understated satire The Answers. With a subtle flair for […]
She Wore Red Shoes by the Newsstand: An Interview with The Gold Pawn Author L.A. Chandlar
New York-based writer L.A. Chandlar is the author of The Silver Gun and the just-published The Gold Pawn, the first two books in her Art Deco Mystery series. I spoke with […]
Rebecca Makkai’s The Great Believers: Review by Carr Harkrader
When you hear a particularly eerie or scary story as a child, your consciousness is muddled, but your senses are heightened: you hear every creak and you wonder about every […]
“It’s almost a cruel question”: An Interview with Camille Bordas by Jennifer Solheim
I didn’t know who Camille Bordas was until last summer, when her novel How To Behave in a Crowd was published. I learned she was a Chicago resident, and friends […]
Gilded Age White People Problems: Henry Blake Fuller’s The Cliff-Dwellers: Book Review
Whatever happened to melodrama? A hero, a villain, a damsel in distress—a histrionic trinity entangled over late rent payments, potentially besmirched honor, and the inevitable train track bondage scene. Well, […]
Anna and Her Sister: An Interview with The Window Author Amelia Brunskill
In her debut novel The Window, Amelia Brunskill tells the story of Jess Cutter, a Montanan girl whose twin sister Anna is found dead below her bedroom window. Jess—as thoughtful, […]