The New Yorker: Fiction

On this month's fiction podcast, Jonathan Lethem reads "The Rescue," by V. S. Pritchett, which was first published in The New Yorker in 1973 and can be found in Pritchett's "Complete Collected Stories." (Lethem's most recent fiction in the magazine, "The Gray Goose," was excerpted from his new novel, "Dissident Gardens.") In his discussion with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman, Lethem says that Pritchett is a "total sorcerer," a writer who lets readers into a world that seems stable and then "pulls the rug out from under" them, changing where the story is going and what they think of the characters. "The Rescue," which is narrated by a sixteen-year-old girl whose mother brings home an awkward boy named Ellis to help her plan the town's annual pageant, is, according to Lethem, a perfect model for the way Pritchett tends to "overturn expectations." Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Rick Bass reads "Ice," by Thomas McGuane. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Donald Antrim reads "Work," by Denis Johnson. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Gary Shteyngart reads "Paper Losses," by Lorrie Moore. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Renowned novelist Robert Coover, known for his innovative narratives, delves into Italo Calvino's enchanting story, 'The Daughters of the Moon.' He discusses Calvino's influence on his generation's storytelling and how the tale critiques consumerism, using New York as a backdrop. Coover unpacks the unique blend of ancient themes and 1960s counterculture found in the story, along with its prescient take on environmental concerns. His captivating reading brings to life the moon's magical transformation and the story's layered meanings.

Richard Ford reads "The State of Grace," by Harold Brodkey. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Margaret Atwood reads "Voices Lost in Snow," by Mavis Gallant. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Edwidge Danticat reads "Girl" and "Wingless," by Jamaica Kincaid. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Francisco Goldman reads "Clara," by Roberto Bolano. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Tony Earley reads "Love," by William Maxwell. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices