The Dead Man: Borges Marathon, Part 28
Borges takes us to the vast plains of the Brazilian frontier for an epic battle of wills between a grizzled gang leader and an ambitious pretender.
Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim
What would life be like if you left a version of yourself behind when you migrated? This thoughtful sci-fi novel introduces "instancing" as a powerful metaphor for the rupture of migration.
The Immortal: Borges Marathon, Part 27
What would immortality feel like? Jorge Luis Borges takes us beyond the quest for eternal life to see what happens to someone who achieves it.
Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami
My thoughts on Mieko Kawakami's latest novel, in which the bland recounting of everyday events conceals deeper themes.
The South: Borges Marathon, Part 26
Borges said "The South" may be his best story and hinted at other ways of reading it. I take a look at what those other ways might be.
Kokoro by Natsume Soseki
My thoughts on this Japanese classic, which explores themes of guilt, responsibility, individualism, and more.
Borges Marathon, Part 25: The Cult of the Phoenix
What is the mysterious ritual at the centre of this Jorge Luis Borges story? Let's go through the hints and solve the riddle.
Vigil by George Saunders
How do we comfort and forgive a dying oil CEO whose climate change denial has ruined our futures? George Saunders explores the question in his new novel Vigil.
Borges Marathon, Part 24: The End
On the difficulty of reading and interpreting a story when you don't get the central references.