SHOULD art be removed from realities of this world? Or immersed in them?

Today we’re surrounded by narratives. Layers of them. What’s real? What’s fake? Who’s scamming us? How do we grasp any sense of reality? Curiously enough, the task of fiction in this kind of world is to awaken us to the falseness, and ground us in some sense or memory of reality.

Our new feature short story, “In Translation” by Cliff Aliperti is about narratives. It’s an artful examination of a televised press conference which might possibly relate to a certain war taking place at the moment. (“No! Be literary! Uninvolved. Literature isn’t supposed to matter,” the usual timid locked-in-a-box suspects exclaim.) Or the story might simply be a highly imaginative work inspired, in part, by said war, as well as by “news” and media shows. Who’s to know?

Anyway, enjoy our own show, er, story!

The familiar man in his familiar costume, a military uniform with unfamiliar medals and ribbons, spoke in his language, unfamiliar to me, while a neutral voice translated through the TV in the break room.

 “We embrace peace with all peoples, especially your nation,” the translator said. “Opposing powers, enemies of both of our nations, are the ones who rattle sabers towards our olive branches.”

new writing

DON’T FORGET! We have many other happenings on our site. Such as a three-part story by Filiz Turhan, about celebrities, at Fast Pop Lit. Or the entire three parts read by Filiz herself at our too-occasionally used Open Mic. As well as other literary doings.