Fiction

"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't." — Mark Twain

Giving “Doctor Zhivago” Another Chance
Christine Jacobson celebrates the appearance of Nicolas Pasternak Slater’s faithful yet natural translation of his uncle Boris Pasternak’s “Doctor Zhivago.”
Christine JacobsonMar 5, 2020
- Around the World
- Fiction
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love a Superintelligent AI: On Wiliam Gibson’s “Agency”
Thomas Millay reviews "Agency," the latest book from William Gibson.
Thomas J. MillayMar 3, 2020
- Fiction
- SF
Funhouse Mirror: An Interview with Laura Zigman on “Separation Anxiety”
Meredith Maran talks to writer Laura Zigman about rejection, writer’s block, and her new novel, “Separation Anxiety.”
Meredith MaranMar 2, 2020
- Fiction
Undercover Lovers, or How The CIA Became Style
Greg Barnhisel considers how our stories about the Cold War are evolving from politically urgent realist narratives to a narrative convention itself.
Greg BarnhiselMar 1, 2020
The Meaning of Isolation: On María Sonia Cristoff’s “Include Me Out”
Joel Pinckney reviews "Include Me Out," a novel by María Sonia Cristoff, translated from Spanish by Katherine Silver.
Joel PinckneyFeb 28, 2020
- Around the World
- Fiction
Also About Birds: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in Colum McCann’s “Apeirogon”
Ben Libman reviews "Apeirogon," the new book from Irish writer Colum McCann.
Ben LibmanFeb 28, 2020
- Around the World
- Fiction
Approaching New Consciousnesses: A Conversation with Genese Grill
Greg Gerke speaks with writer, translator, and book artist Genese Grill.
Greg GerkeFeb 27, 2020
Pretending to Be Human: On Benjamin Percy’s “Suicide Woods”
Adrian Van Young reviews “Suicide Woods,” a new collection of stories by Benjamin Percy.
Adrian Van YoungFeb 26, 2020
- Fiction
- Noir
The Waiting Is the Hardest Part: Rodaan Al Galidi’s “Two Blankets, Three Sheets”
Rayyan Al-Shawaf reviews Rodaan Al Galidi’s novel “Two Blankets, Three Sheets,” translated by Jonathan Reeder.
Rayyan Al-ShawafFeb 25, 2020
- Around the World
- Fiction
Impervious to Ideology: Mary Gaitskill’s “This Is Pleasure”
Charles Taylor reviews “This Is Pleasure,” the new novella from Mary Gaitskill.
Charles TaylorFeb 24, 2020
- Fiction
More Death: On Mushroom Hunting and the Novels of Daša Drndić
Angela Woodward considers how hunting mushrooms can illuminate Daša Drndić’s fiction.
Angela WoodwardFeb 23, 2020
Love in the USSR: On Sonallah Ibrahim’s “Ice”
Giovanni Vimercati reviews “Ice,” the recently released novel by Sonallah Ibrahim in a translation by Margaret Litvin.
Giovanni VimercatiFeb 21, 2020
- Around the World
- Fiction