Electric Literature No. 4

Electric Literature #4

by Javier Marías, Joy Williams, Roberto Ransom

Our fourth anthology celebrates the transportive joy of entering a vividly imagined world. Celebrated Spanish author Javier Marías spins a tale of a mild-mannered teacher turned ghost-hunter. Mexican writer Roberto Ransom (translated here into English for the first time) introduces us to a master fresco painter and the conservationist who tries to recapture his magic hundreds of years later, with mystifying results. Pulitzer Prize-nominee Joy Williams pens a fable about Baba Iaga and her pelican child, kept safe in a hut on chicken legs, until a mysterious historical figure asks to paint her portrait. Ben Stroud tells the harrowing story of a destitute cripple sent by his emperor to destroy a holy man and preserve the kingdom, and Patrick deWitt chronicles the deviant adventures of a man known only as “the Bastard."

Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2010

About the author

Javier Marías was a Spanish novelist, translator, and columnist. His work has been translated into 42 languages. Born in Madrid, his father was the philosopher Julián Marías, who was briefly imprisoned and then banned from teaching for opposing Franco. Parts of his childhood were spent in the United States, where his father taught at various institutions, including Yale University and Wellesley College. His mother died when Javier was 26 years old. He was educated at the Colegio Estudio in Madrid.

Marías began writing in earnest at an early age. "The Life and Death of Marcelino Iturriaga", one of the short stories in While the Women are Sleeping (2010), was written when he was just 14. He wrote his first novel, "Los dominios del lobo" (The Dominions of the Wolf), at age 17, after running away to Paris.

Marías operated a small publishing house under the name of Reino de Redonda. He also wrote a weekly column in El País. An English version of his column "La Zona Fantasma" is published in the monthly magazine The Believer.

In 1997 Marías won the Nelly Sachs Prize.

Reviews

[Raul Duarte · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Electric Literature no. 4" es una recopilación de 5 historias de ficción de distintos autores.

Electric Literature está conformado por un grupo de escritores que intenta demostrar que siempre hay buenas cosas que leer, solo falta saber buscar. En esta ocasión reúnen 5 historias que van desde la fantasía hasta la clásica historia de venganza.

Hasta ahorita es mi recopilación favorita de Electric Literature, creo que esta vez la calidad de las historias están más parejas y sólidas que los volúmenes anteriores. Si te interesan estas recopilaciones quizás lo mejor es iniciar con este volumen.

Lo que me gusta de estas recopilaciones es que descubres nuevos autores y las historias se sienten frescas, algo necesario si te gusta leer mucho.

Lo recomiendo si:

-Quieres descubrir nuevos autores.

-Quieres leer algo corto con calidad.

-Quieres descubrir el misterio del fantasma que renuncia todas las noches en la escuela.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only lit journal I read cover to cover because I design it. But the fiction is top-notch. The books are 120-140 pages of mostly text and are comprised of five stories by different — usually well-known — authors. In most issues, there is also beautiful interstitial imagery unrelated to the fiction, but part of the overall mood of each volume.
Definitely give it a try. Available in print and all digital formats.
Some insider info: They are coming out with a box set of the first six volumes near the end of 2011. Good Holiday shopping!

[Symphony Space]

Wednesday, March 2 at 7 pm
Called "a refreshingly bold act of optimism" by the Washington Post Online, this new literary magazine's cause célèbre is to get great stories out to people using the newest technology. Co-editors Andy Hunter and Scott Lindenbaum introduce a multimedia evening featuring new stories from the magazine.

[Arlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid/the good shit. Only complaint is Patrick Dewitt's story was a twist on a story that's been done repeatedly. Maybe that's what he intended. Anyhow, the writing lives up to the hype and is top notch.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't love this edition as much as others, maybe it was the more fantastical motifs. The Javier Marias' "The Resignation Letter..." and Patrick de Witt's "The Bastard" were my favorites.