Chapter 28
Joselyn looks at the clock at the front of the makeshift executive boardroom and it’s after two.
She sits at the head chair now.
Before, she and Morgen would sit across from me and Everhet.
And Hans’ chair would remain vacant in memory of his spirit as he travels the world. A visual reminder of his presence.
We’re pleased to present an excerpt from the supernatural noir graphic novel Hard Bargain from writer Steven S. DeKnight and artist Leno Carvalho. Publisher Humanoids is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the book, featuring contributions from the likes of Pete Woods and Michael Gaydos. The novel follows a private detective crossing paths with the magical underworld of 1940s Los Angeles.
There’s a lot going on in The Rachel Condition, writer and filmmaker Nicholas Rombes‘s followup to his excellent debut, The Absolution of Roberto Acestes Laing. In its broadest terms, it’s about a man sent to Detroit to infiltrate a countercultural group in search of a literary artifact. And if that was the full breadth of this novel, it would be compelling enough — but Rombes goes further. Slowly, it becomes clear that the version of Detroit (and of the United States as a whole) are not quite the same ones we’re familiar with. And it’s these small moments of dissonance which turn out to have huge implications on the story being told. I spoke with Rombes about the genesis of this book, his fondness for nestled narratives, and his own relationship to Detroit’s musical history.
Chapter 27
Joselyn has encouraged me to begin developing my own rituals. Things I do to calm down. Per the new installment of the Freedom of Medical Care Act (FMCA 7.3) “rituals” fall under the category of preventative medicine.
Now every time I brush my teeth I time travel.
Are you, by any chance, seeking some reading recommendations for the month of July? Serendipitously, we happen to have a couple of those at the ready for your perusal. We’re thrilled that a couple of old favorites of ours are returning with new, genre-defying books this month; throw in some moving nonfiction and thoughtful ruminations on creativity and you have a compelling selection to choose from. Here are our recommendations for the current month.
In our afternoon reading: an essay by Rax King, a playlist from Porochista Khakpour, and more.
Chapter 26
This week’s QA round table we noticed a strange spike in a competitor’s content—the few competitors we have left. Morgen shows both of her palms to everyone at the table. She says, “I don’t know what the hell you did, but this is an actual tick down for us.”
In our morning reading: an interview with Tracy O’Neill, Aaron Turner recommends music, and more.