America's Most Critical Journal since 1999
FADE IN In a restaurant just this side of Oslo, a middle-aged American couple sit cozy by a crackling fireplace. MADGE David, this julekake bread is marvelous. DAVID It’s correctly pronounced yul-ya-kawk-ya. And that resinous fragrance is cardamom. Tr... More »
by E. A. Bourland This is a story from the land of the sun, which turned for thousands of years to the bosom of its river, before Apep destroyed both river and land — destroyed all. The people of that land called their river the Great Mother, and the sun... More »
Roger chugged up to the woodsy landing in a metal rowboat with a spluttering outboard motor. He wore a slouch hat, torn shirt, baggy trousers and moccasins without socks. His mouth hung open to exaggerate his surprise and welcome. He beamed at me with hi... More »
Step 1: Begin honing your detective skills by watching the fifty-two movie and series versions of Sherlock Holmes, totaling approximately seventy-five hours of binge watching, or pick up a used copy of The Official Nancy Drew Handbook, by Penny Warner, where a... More »
A gentleman shall, when entertaining the company of a wife and a mistress at the same time, break the news of his affair to his spouse in a matter befitting a courteous and honorable person. Given the severity of the circumstances, a gentleman must be thoughtf... More »
(A Memoir) Quite out of the blue last month I discovered I’d been #MeToo’d by a woman who some years ago interned in an office where I served as a publishing executive. And I cannot tell a lie: Yes, I did indeed have a fling with Cara, soon after she left ... More »
The goal of human communications has become speed and efficiency. This can clearly be seen in the world of emails and twitter, which emphasize getting messages out fast with no fancy trimmings. Less is more in electronic exchanges and to go along with that ide... More »