David Peak has been writing and publishing novels, short stories and essays online and in print for the last 20 or so years. His books focus on the moment when people recognizable in our daily lives meet the unknown and are either torn asunder by it, or are transformed into something horrible and beautiful. Last year Peak published The World Below (Apocalypse Party), a midwestern gothic story of two long-feuding families, brought into conflict again when their children are caught […]
Morning Bites: Brandon Taylor on Books, Ignyte Awards Shortlist, Christina Billotte Interviewed, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with Brandon Taylor, revisiting a novel by Charles Yu, and more.
The Real Stories of Fictional Bands: An Interview With Aug Stone
In an era where nearly every detail about every piece of music recorded in the last couple of decades is widely available, what does it mean when an entire band’s body of work turns elusive? That’s the question at the heart of Aug Stone‘s new novel The Ballad of Buttery Cake Ass, the story of the search for the history of a cult early-80s band — and the reasons why their music went unheralded in their day. I spoke with Stone about the making of the novel, creating lengthy discographies for fictional artists, and the challenges of writing convincingly about nonexistent musicians.
Morning Bites: Jane Wong’s Memoir, Revisiting Mário de Andrade, Bethanne Patrick’s Playlist, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on Jane Wong’s new book, a playlist from Bethanne Patrick, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Billy Woods’s Recommendations, Comics Awards Controversy, John Wray’s Latest, and More
In our afternoon reading: recommendations from Billy Woods, controversial award nominations, and more.
Morning Bites: John Wray on Writing, Revisiting Steely Dan, Percival Everett’s Latest, and More
In our morning reading: interviews with John Wray and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, delving into Tom Hanks’s novel, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Juliet Jacques Returns, Horror Poetry, M. John Harrison’s Memoir, and More
In our afternoon reading: new writing from Juliet Jacques, talking horror poetry, and more.
Analog Media Rewrites Reality: Talking “Head Cleaner” With David James Keaton
Talking with David James Keaton about his sprawling, hard-to-describe books has become a semi-regular occurrence around these parts, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. His new novel Head Cleaner follows the staff of a video store as they find themselves on the verge of a bizarre discovery about physical media and experiencing a phenomenon that evokes time loops at their most paranoia-inducing. I chatted with Keaton about the novel’s origins, its ties to his other work, and movies that could change the world.