Granta 171

by Thomas Meaney

The spring issue of Granta - Dead Friends - brings vital figures from the past momentarily back into focus. Features include Fernanda Eberstadt on Andy Warhol, Aatish Taseer on V.S. Naipul, Tao Lin on Giancarlo DiTrapano, Michel Houellebecq on Beno�t Duteurtre, William Atkins on a new method to dispose of mortal remains, an interview with Renata Adler about her friendship with Hannah Arendt, as well as new fiction from Marlen Haushofer, Yasmina Reza and Gary Indiana (among others).

Genres: Short Stories, Nonfiction, Journal

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2025

Reviews

[Paul Dembina]

An interesting issue themed around reminiscences of friends who have passed away or otherwise "lost"

Beware the gruesome non-fiction article about the process called resomation. It's a method for disposing of the deceased body by breaking it down using potassium hydroxide.

[Ruby]

I think I only enjoyed tao lin’s piece

[Olivia]

Particularly enjoyed the pieces by Tao Lin and Fernanda Eberstadt

[Marcus]

One of the best Grantas for some time, I thought (and I've been subscribing for 25 years, since number 71!) - consistently good writing, and actually followed the proclaimed theme. I especially enjoyed Aatish Taseer on VS Naipaul, and 'All Being Well' by Susie Boyt, but several others were great too. Feels like an old friend is back on form.

[Ben Breen]

An interesting theme that naturally leans more into the non-fiction - even though I'd never heard of half the people eulogised there was a real tenderness and warmth to the pieces.

Highlights include:
Fernanda Eberstadt's portrait of her relationship with Andy Warhol, which doubles as a coming-of-age piece
Susie Boyt's fictional deathbed friend with such sharply drawn and textured characters
Gary Indiana's compelling interview-style short story
William Atkins' deep dive into a cleaner form of cremation
Aayish Taseer's touching sketch of a prickly mentor
Tao Lin's drug-feulled connection

Lots to enjoy

[Chris]

I enjoyed this volume, reading candid reminiscences of people departed by those left behind. The poetry here, particularly that of Krystina Dąbrowska, offered other views of the ways the past—the dead—remain always present.
Unfortunately for me, the final, longest, piece in Granta 171, Tao Lin writing about his friendship with Gian DiTrapano, I found a boring slog of prodigious drugging and in-jokes.

[M. Salazar]

Gorgeous. All of life is contagious, the void left by the dead author of the universe, a vanishing, no time for symbolism, time folding over itself, the windows, more opaque, life getting poorer after your death.

Highlights: all of it, really, loved the Joshua Cohen, Marlen Haushofer, & the Resomation pieces the most.

[Ray Quirolgico]

The title of this issue of Granta, “Dead Friends,” intrigued me right away. Yes, there are stories of emotional reminiscing. But there are also surprises like ghost stories, political histories, and plaintive poetry and photos that feel like respectful prayers. I just wish there was more of a cathartic payoff overall.

[Victoria & David Williams]

A middling issue: the only standout was the piece on a new technology around a cleaner form of
chemical cremation and the woman trying to sell it to the Irish. (And the image of white powder around the door and on the floor of her machine).
Memoirs touching on Andy Warhol & V. S. Naipaul were also good.

[Jeremy Jl]

Despite the rather depressing title, this was a surprisingly upbeat eclectic collection of pieces. It's inspired me to write about my own dear friend who departed six months ago. Rock On Richard and thank you for the good times.

[Eilidh Fyfe]

this was so pretty I’m upset

[Leo]

i liked William Atkins' piece a lot - don't beware of it.

[Isis]

Very beautiful issue, the piece on Harendt especially

[Benjamin Cooper]

Fav. 'Gian' by Tao Lin.

[John Harrison]

Continues the refresh under a new editor - some fascinating work here

[Kaltmamsell]

Eine mittelgute Ausgabe, das Thema "Dead Friends" bedeutet Nachrufe auf Freunde. Am meisten freute mich, dass Marlen Haushofers "Wir töten Stella" darin auftaucht, weil ich Marlen Haushofer weiterhin für unterbewertet halte.

[Vladimir Ghinculov]

After reading more than ten issues of Granta I am beginning to question its good reputation. This issue has as theme Dead Friends and unfortunately the texts didn't move me, connect with me. Even the poetry was prosaic. There was a text that I liked, the one written by Michel Houellebecq.

[Taran]

Pretty good issue! Susie Boyt's short story, Aatish Taseer's recollections of Naipaul, and Renata Adler's interview about Hannah Arendt were highlights. That said, they can't all be winners: I'm still really not sold on Tao Lin

[Paul van Zwieten]

A very good set of stories, petry and foto's. I espcially liked: Fernanda Ebesrtadt's Burning Mao, Mark Cawson Lives by Smiler, Nowhere by Yasmina Reza and Cell Phone by Krystyna Dabrowska.