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The Circular Valley
In the Circular Valley lives a spirit, a mute presence: Atlajala. Thirsting for sensation, this spirit enters a moth, a panther, an eel, and feels what they feel - the cool darkness of water, the pleasure of a kill. Centuries old and indifferent to time, it enters man and discovers obsession for the first time. Yearning to be incarnate as man, it enters priests, soldiers and bandits. When an adulterous couple arrives in the valley, it slips into a woman. Finally, it feels complete. But as it possesses her, she grows restless and extreme, and her affair takes a darker, more sinister turn.
- GenresFantasyShort Stories
15 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2014
32 people want to read
About the author
Paul Bowles
252 books872 followersPaul Frederic Bowles grew up in New York, and attended college at the University of Virginia before traveling to Paris, where became a part of Gertrude Stein's literary and artistic circle. Following her advice, he took his first trip to Tangiers in 1931 with his friend, composer Aaron Copeland.
In 1938 he married author and playwright Jane Auer (see: Jane Bowles). He moved to Tangiers permanently in 1947, with Auer following him there in 1948. There they became fixtures of the American and European expatriate scene, their visitors including Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams and Gore Vidal. Bowles continued to live in Tangiers after the death of his wife in 1973.
Bowles died of heart failure in Tangier on November 18, 1999. His ashes were interred near the graves of his parents and grandparents in Lakemont, New York.
In 1938 he married author and playwright Jane Auer (see: Jane Bowles). He moved to Tangiers permanently in 1947, with Auer following him there in 1948. There they became fixtures of the American and European expatriate scene, their visitors including Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams and Gore Vidal. Bowles continued to live in Tangiers after the death of his wife in 1973.
Bowles died of heart failure in Tangier on November 18, 1999. His ashes were interred near the graves of his parents and grandparents in Lakemont, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 6, 2025
Read in 2024, part of the Big Book of Fantasy anthology
3.5 *
The story of a spirit who lives in an abandoned abbey amd who likes to posses people due to their complex feelings.
3.5 *
The story of a spirit who lives in an abandoned abbey amd who likes to posses people due to their complex feelings.
November 13, 2025
An Abandoned ivy-covered Monastery in the Wilderness
A bird-like spirit possesses bandits, friars, and workmen who have traveled in and out of the lonesome halls. We don't know why it was abandoned but the scene is set vividly. Very little dialogue, but there is an exploration of the nature of human consciousness as The Atlajala (bird spirit) inhabits people and experiences their reactions.
An unnamed man and woman are driving through the country the spirit possesses them and causes conflict. The Atlajala becomes conflicted too, will the spirit continue to inhabit/possess the bodies of travelers? It was a neat ending, I thought it could have been earned a little more, but this was a very enjoyable short story from The Big Book of Modern Fantasy.
Background on the author (1910-1999)
Paul Bowles found more success in his life writing music rather stories. He wrote pieces for theatrical productions for Orson Welles and Tennessee Williams, and even for ballet and opera. I think his background in music makes his writing particularly interesting because you can pick up on the musicality of the descriptions of nature and the abandoned monastery. His most famous collection of short stories is The Delicate Prey and Other Stories, where this short story first was published. His novel The Sheltering Sky was a besteller in the US and UK (1950). He did a lot of his writing in Morocco and North Africa where he moved later in his life.
A bird-like spirit possesses bandits, friars, and workmen who have traveled in and out of the lonesome halls. We don't know why it was abandoned but the scene is set vividly. Very little dialogue, but there is an exploration of the nature of human consciousness as The Atlajala (bird spirit) inhabits people and experiences their reactions.
An unnamed man and woman are driving through the country the spirit possesses them and causes conflict. The Atlajala becomes conflicted too, will the spirit continue to inhabit/possess the bodies of travelers? It was a neat ending, I thought it could have been earned a little more, but this was a very enjoyable short story from The Big Book of Modern Fantasy.
Background on the author (1910-1999)
Paul Bowles found more success in his life writing music rather stories. He wrote pieces for theatrical productions for Orson Welles and Tennessee Williams, and even for ballet and opera. I think his background in music makes his writing particularly interesting because you can pick up on the musicality of the descriptions of nature and the abandoned monastery. His most famous collection of short stories is The Delicate Prey and Other Stories, where this short story first was published. His novel The Sheltering Sky was a besteller in the US and UK (1950). He did a lot of his writing in Morocco and North Africa where he moved later in his life.
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October 28, 2024"A moment later it was in the tower, listening to the spiders mend their webs that she had damaged. It would be a long, long time before it would bestir itself to enter into another being's awareness. A long, long time - perhaps forever."
September 25, 2025
Empty eternity? Desolation of the inhuman? The perverse joy of suffering.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews