In our morning reading: Gabino Iglesias reviews Walter Mosley’s new novel, some year-end thoughts, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Charles Yu and George Saunders, 2023’s Best Graphic Novels, Unsound Festival Revisited, and More
In our afternoon reading: Charles Yu and George Saunders in conversation, previewing 2024’s books, and more.
Morning Bites: Valeria Luiselli on “Pedro Páramo,” Ocean Vuong Poetry, Interviewing Naomi Alderman, and More
In our morning reading: Valeria Luiselli on a classic novel, new writing by Ocean Vuong, and more.
Weekend Bites: Elle Nash Interviewed, Ilana Masad’s Recommendations, Will Hermes’s Latest, and More
In our weekend reading: interviews with Elle Nash and Masha Gessen, Ilana Masad on books about families, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Lauren Elkin on Art, Mat Johnson on Writing, Laurie Penny on Worldbuilding, and More
In our afternoon reading: interviews with Lauren Elkin and Mat Johnson, Laurie Penny on worldbuilding, and more.
Morning Bites: Molly McGhee Interviewed, Ani Gjika on Writing, Nate Patrin’s Playlist, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with Molly McGhee, notable 2023 debuts, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Revisiting Bruno Schulz, Lincoln Michel on AI and Culture, Holiday Music Marathons, and More
In our afternoon reading: revisiting the life and work of Bruno Schulz, Jon Solomon on holiday music marathons, and more.
Black Punk is the Movement of the Future: On “Black Punk Now”
Coming on the heels of Shotgun Seamstress, the collection of zines by the same name edited by Osa Atoe, Black Punk Now — edited by James Spooner and Chris L. Terry — expands the definition of black punk by including many fiction and non-fiction texts, as well as comics. The fiction varies from fantasy to sci-fi to gripping political tales that examine the nature of friendship, identity, and the problem of class structures. The non-fiction texts include essays on how to create DIY zines and how to opt out of the surveillance and policing tactics of the digital age, as well as lyrical pieces that explore grief, pain, and the relationship between the older generation and the younger. Atoe reappears in the book where she interviews the musician and polymath Charlie Valentine, and there is a screenplay for a short film by Kash Abulmalik about young Muslim brothers, one of whom is a punk, and their relationship with their parents. Collectively, all the texts in the book develop our notion of what Black punk is about in all its complexity; politically fierce but tender as well, musically varied, queer, or straight, white or Black; it’s about the new revolution which won’t be televised because it’s off the radar, secretive, nomadic, creative, imaginative, not bound by walls, codes or laws.