“Whatever happened, it happened in extraordinary times, in a season of dreams, and in Natchez it was the bitterest winter of them all.” The opening of “First Love” is the best prose Eudora Welty ever wrote. In its welcome sweep, we perceive the “red percussion” of Indian fires in the distance, the mute wheel of gulls, travelers picking through the “glassy tunnels of the Trace” in the “strange drugged fall of snow,” and the “somnambulist” river lifting from its bed in subconscious craving for … [Read more...] about I Read Dead People: Eudora Welty and Failure, “First Love”
Things American: From Post-Black to Postmortem–The Tragic Death of Trayvon Martin
Trayvon Martin’s death and George Zimmerman’s acquittal are further proof that Obama’s two-term presidency and the spike in interracial marriage have not magically transformed America into some post-racial Shangri-la free of the demons of prejudice and discrimination. The country is post-black, as cultural critic Touré demonstrates in his book Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness? Blacks, he explains, are post-black in that they are “like Obama: rooted in but not restricted by Blackness.” Rejecting … [Read more...] about Things American: From Post-Black to Postmortem–The Tragic Death of Trayvon Martin
I Read Dead People: Abraham Cahan, “The Imported Bridegroom”
This column introduces a new online series we are featuring here at American Short Fiction. ASF celebrates contemporary voices in fiction—in our print issues, a story by a preeminent writer might sit next to a story that represents its author’s very first publication—but all of our authors would quickly name past favorites who have influenced them, would agree that they follow behind a splendid parade of writers whose stories established one of the great American literary forms. This occasional … [Read more...] about I Read Dead People: Abraham Cahan, “The Imported Bridegroom”
Summer Film Club: Steven Millhauser
In this biweekly series, Editorial Assistant Alyssa reviews popular short stories and their film adaptations. We’ll explore what works in each medium and what doesn’t, and how exactly the allure of literature can translate to film. Alyssa (who has no formal training in film) would like to issue one big standing Spoiler Alert now. Hoo boy. What can I say? The best thing about The Illusionist is that it’s not too long. Well, it is “too long” in the sense that I checked my watch toward the end. … [Read more...] about Summer Film Club: Steven Millhauser
Summer Film Club: Annie Proulx
“Brokeback Mountain,” by Annie Proulx How to Make a Great Film Adaptation: 1. Find a brilliant but terse short story, preferably one with unconventional subject matter. 2. Convince a collaborator to help adapt it into a short, word-for-word screenplay. (Bonus points if your collaborator is the most acclaimed writer in the story’s genre.) 3. Send your first draft to the story’s author for a critique. Use her suggestions about developing aspects further to expand the screenplay to … [Read more...] about Summer Film Club: Annie Proulx
Local Folk: Reading with Owen Egerton
Owen Egerton, longtime friend of American Short Fiction, is on a crazy book tour. (Crazy awesome!) How so? He’s touring via train with his whole family. He’s in San Francisco tonight (June 20), presenting his Best of God show at the Balboa Theater. Go show him some love, Bay Area. He will make you laugh. More details on his tour on his website. We conducted this interview right before the conductor shouted “all aboard!” Or whatever it is that they shout these days. * * … [Read more...] about Local Folk: Reading with Owen Egerton