FICTION
"It Hatched and It Died" an excerpt from Brand New Berto
Matthew Jent
09.01.10
If you drive to a parking lot in Ohio over the Labor Day weekend, you might see this exact story taking place. Matt Jent nails the teenage experience of this spot on the calendar: making a name for yourself at a new school, the thrills of the the backseats of cars, the anxiety and excitement of, gulp, hanging out with older kids. If like me, your heart still dies a little every time you see a "Back to School Sale" sign, Matt Jent's impeccable pacing and a great ear for dialogue ought to take the edge off. Accompanying illustration provided by Ben Costa, winner of a Xeric Award for his self-published comic book Shi Long Pang.
People In San Francisco
Wyatt Williams
07.10.10
In San Francisco, as a protean breed/brood/batch of entrepreneurs keep floating through a misanthropic freelancer's life, the writer realizes the only person he hates more than his subjects is himself.
Teen Porn
Andrew Leland
04.30.10
You never know where this business starts. Erotica - You know? Maybe in the future everyone will be writing it. Everyone. Andrew Leland, ultrasuperstar in my book (and the book of many) gives us a peek at that future (Hey whatchoo lookin' at Willis?) This is spores, this is pottery. I mean this is prose, this is poetry. I mean this is the stuff, so read. Art by Danny Jock.
Women Making Love With Monsters
Emily Schultz
04.27.10
Maybe you are well versed in mythology, like you have a good grasp of the Greek monsters - the minotaurs, centaurs, harpies, and such? the Irish Dulhallan, or the Hebrew Leviathan and Behemoth always ready to duke it out? But have you ever seen any at a party? Have you ever run your gaze over an entire Dewey Decimal horde of unearthly beasts and got your pick of the litter, the most well hhhh… happy to see you? Well parties, as they did in Roman times, still tend to end rather ugly, with drunken garrolousness and folks fighting in the streets. Emily Schultz, author of Heaven Is Small and cooeditor of Joyland, guides us on a night like no other. Art by Danny Jock.
Everybody Loves Ramen
Jimmy Chen
03.16.10
So you're a fan of Ray Romano eh? Yes No Maybe? Well fuggetabouthim and reflect for a moment on that other show, you know the 'controversial' and hugely popular, metafictiony, Wong family sitcom known as Everybody Loves Ramen? Jimmy Chen tells the tale of a show still basking in the aether of our retro-consciousness (whether you know it or not). Watch for falling boom mics, and enjoy.