I, Cthulhu, or, What’s A Tentacle-Faced Thing Like Me Doing In A Sunken City Like This (Latitude 47° 9′ S, Longitude 126° 43′ W)?

I, Cthulhu, or, What’s A Tentacle-Faced Thing Like Me Doing In A Sunken City Like This (Latitude 47° 9′ S, Longitude 126° 43′ W)?

[ad_1] Please enjoy what has become a quiet holiday tradition in the Tor.com offices: the reading of Neil Gaiman’s original story: “I, Cthulhu, or, What’s A Tentacle-Faced Thing Like Me Doing In A Sunken City Like This (Latitude 47° 9’ S, Longitude 126° 43’ W)?” ***     I. Cthulhu, they call me. Great Cthulhu. … Read more

A Handful of Poetry Books to Savor Now and Later – Chicago Review of Books

A Handful of Poetry Books to Savor Now and Later – Chicago Review of Books

[ad_1] Year-end features typically focus on “bests,” a consideration that I shy away from, perhaps a scarred memory of always being picked last for dodgeball. Because many hundreds of books are published each year, most are only very briefly in the spotlight. That always feels so inherently unfair, like having one shot at getting a … Read more

44 Notable Debuts by Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender Non-conforming Authors – Chicago Review of Books

44 Notable Debuts by Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender Non-conforming Authors – Chicago Review of Books

[ad_1] Each year when I compile this list of notable transgender, nonbinary, and genderqueer debuts, I’m filled with wonder and gratitude. It’s no secret trans, queer voices are being censored and viciously challenged, and it’s a terrifying time for LGBTQIA+ writers to publish work. And yet. And yet. Debut artists are still putting their words … Read more

Unlikable Protagonists and Morality in “The Easy Life” – Chicago Review of Books

Unlikable Protagonists and Morality in “The Easy Life” – Chicago Review of Books

[ad_1] “If you are squeamish don’t prod the beach rubble” is a line by Sappho* that serves as sound advice for the novels of Marguerite Duras. If you are squeamish, don’t crack the cover. There will be grief, there will be a threat of madness, there will be sensuality mottled with darkness, a family may … Read more

Don’t Miss These Incredible 2022 Debuts – Chicago Review of Books

Don’t Miss These Incredible 2022 Debuts – Chicago Review of Books

[ad_1] Let’s be real: end of the year book lists are incredibly subjective. They end up being a roundup of books that whoever the person putting the list together loved. And there’s obviously a wide gap between what was published versus what this particular person read. And yet, I personally love these roundup lists, especially … Read more

Finding Hope After Tragedy in “The Splendid Ticket” – Chicago Review of Books

Finding Hope After Tragedy in “The Splendid Ticket” – Chicago Review of Books

[ad_1] It’s a fantasy we’ve all imagined—winning the lottery. Most of us know exactly which debts we’d pay off first, what we’d buy, and who we’d help out if we found ourselves instant millionaires. But we’ve also heard story after story of a winning gone wrong—cautionary tales that highlight humanity’s greed. How money can make … Read more

10 Story Collections from 2022 You Don’t Want to Miss – Chicago Review of Books

10 Story Collections from 2022 You Don’t Want to Miss – Chicago Review of Books

[ad_1] Short stories demand more of the reader (and writer) than a novel, which is why I’ve long preferred the latter. Novels are more forgiving, their expansiveness allows for meandering. But short fiction requires more attention to each line, each carefully crafted detail. A short story isn’t a mini-novel, but the best ones often hint … Read more