When a Magazine of Intersections Reaches Its Final Destination

When a Magazine of Intersections Reaches Its Final Destination

I suppose the title above says it all. Now that we have finished posting work for Issue 25, Atlas and Alice is going to slink off into the night. Running a literary journal is hard, and after 26 issues (don’t forget our special CNF Covid issue!), almost 12 years, a whole slew of anthology appearances, and […]

Nonfiction from Lindsey Danis

Nonfiction from Lindsey Danis

Photo: Ravi Palwe Minus World 1. Play through World 1-2. Stand at the far left edge of the pipe at the end of the level. From a jump position, break the second to last block on the ceiling. It may take several tries to get this right. Punch the wrong block and you risk becoming […]

Fiction from Dawn Tasaka Steffler

Fiction from Dawn Tasaka Steffler

Photo: Pexels So Tightly Wound Roland and I have been arguing the whole way to Coachella: I hate camping, it’s too hot, we can’t afford this. But I never actually said no. When we arrive, some band’s bass is making the air jump. We find his friends in the car camping area, getting drunk under […]

Fiction from Pia Quintano

Fiction from Pia Quintano

Photo: Austin Human Monster Men from Outer Space The monster men came from outer space, their sideburns fizzing as they burned through the atmosphere, space dust beading up on their brows. They landed right in the crotch of the country and traveled inward through all the women who stood like trees with parted roots on […]

Fiction from YJ Jun

Fiction from YJ Jun

Photo: Lluis Bazan TrueCompanion When I unpackaged my mother I tried not to notice she was naked. I’d selected the option to have her fully clothed upon arrival. If I hadn’t already returned a doll to TrueCompanion I would’ve asked for an exchange. I took her by the hand and lifted her up. She rose […]

Nonfiction from Julia Sullivan

Nonfiction from Julia Sullivan

Photo: K Adams Tall Oaks An exploration of a suburban New Jersey site through the homes and lives of residents from 2002-2021. _______________________________________________________________________ Note: Real names have been changed for privacy. Introduction Tall Oaks is a microcosm of a childhood—my childhood. It began as a street, but became an image in my mind for the […]

Fiction from Andrew Bertaina

Fiction from Andrew Bertaina

Photo: Lucas George Wendt In Amalfi after Jack Gilbert Mother used to tell us that if a bird fell from the nest, it was best to let it go. That the drama had already ended. After we parted, everyone said we were always wrong for each other, that the affair was doomed from the beginning. […]

Fiction from Kim Magowan

Fiction from Kim Magowan

Photo: Viktor Forgacs The Last Faculty Meeting The last full faculty meeting of the semester was held a mere two days after Commencement—two days since they had been sweating in their heavy regalia, thirsty and bored. The silver lining was that the meeting had been moved from in-person to Zoom. The rumor was the college […]

Fiction from Sudha Balagopal

Fiction from Sudha Balagopal

Photo: Justine Camacho We Have Little Time Left I should have listened to the doctors who said I can converse with you, even if you aren’t able to respond. I should have caressed your hands, your papery skin. I should have kissed your palms instead of withdrawing and submerging into worry after your stroke. Never […]

Fiction from Jeffrey Hermann

Fiction from Jeffrey Hermann

Photo: József Szabó How to Be Soft in a Hard World Imagine aliens on an alien plant. Now imagine them with broken hearts. Now imagine a new shape for a heart. Find someone with a terrible tattoo and tell them you love them for it. Tell them it’s forever. Take pride in lifting something heavy […]