At night, Olivia becomes a spider. She scurries down San Francisco streets, floats gently between cotton-candy-colored houses, and hides behind signs for trendy restaurants, like Trough and Instance.
Read more
BABYLONICA
BABYLONICA by Jessi Rich She likes to pretend it’s breathing. The willow tree stands alone at the city center, its long, floor-sweeping boughs encased in an overturned wine glass, ventilation slats carved into its stemless top. The lone tree is the first thing visible from the gaping mouth of the Main Street subway station, the…
Read more
Of Two Minds in Lanais
The peals of the water clock had taken on that crystalline, evocative quality so enchanting to my muse when I heard the first frantic hails.
Read more
None Owns the Air
“None Owns the Air” by Ken Liu “Push! Push! Damn it, put your backs into it!” Kino Ye’s voice rose to a panicked screech as the four sweat-drenched soldiers strained against the spokes of the giant winch. “Push!” But one of the spokes snapped as the man leaning against it fell face-first into the sand,…
Read more
Quicken, the Chase, the Deer
Quicken, the Chase, the Deer 逐鹿中原 by Silvia Park I slice my palm with a knife and hold the jade blade so my brother can take it by the hilt. I look away because he’s struggled before with cutting himself and nothing rouses his embarrassment into rage like my neutral gaze. In the royal pavilion,…
Read more