The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker
New Yorker fiction writers read their stories.
Latest episodes
Jan 29, 2024 • 52min
Patrick Langley Reads “Life with Spider”
Author Patrick Langley reads his story 'Life with Spider,' delving into Fletcher Hardy's troubled past and his mysterious encounters with the entity named Spider. The story explores post-graduation life challenges, friendship dynamics, and the impact of Spider on Fletcher's mental well-being.
Jan 15, 2024 • 38min
David Means Reads “Chance the Cat”
Author David Means reads his story 'Chance the Cat' from The New Yorker, exploring the impact of a missing cat on relationships and new beginnings, delving into complex interactions and tensions among characters as they navigate loss, blame, and closure.
Jan 8, 2024 • 28min
Joy Williams Reads “The Beach House”
Joy Williams, Winner of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, reads her story “The Beach House.” Topics include family memories, disownment, discussions about fudge and worker aprons, donating the Beach House, impending death, and struggling to make ends meet.
Jan 1, 2024 • 42min
Greg Jackson Reads “Wagner in the Desert”
A group of old friends gather in Palm Springs for a week of reckless activities. The narrator reflects on their privileged lifestyle and desire for something new. Frustration arises during a hike due to closed trails. Discussions about happiness, regrets, and the impact of having kids ensue. The group encounters a mysterious figure named Wagner and discuss embracing wealth and the passing of time. The narrator reflects on their experience at a cactus garden and the desire for connection and unity.
Dec 25, 2023 • 26min
Rivka Galchen Reads “Crown Heights North”
Author Rivka Galchen reads her story 'Crown Heights North,' exploring themes of vulnerability, connection, routine, mortality, and unexpected encounters. The story follows a man reflecting on life, love, and the vibrant community around him while jogging, offering a complex and lively picture of his experiences.
Dec 4, 2023 • 16min
Caleb Crain Reads “Keats at Twenty-Four”
Author Caleb Crain reads his story “Keats at Twenty-Four” and discusses the power of the unfinished, the meaning of the 'Oh Shenandoah' song, musing on solitude and time for writers, auditioning for a singing group, challenges of portraying real people in fiction, and an unexpected encounter involving a trapped pigeon.
Nov 27, 2023 • 21min
Teju Cole Reads “Incoming”
Teju Cole reads his story about Miss Prosper, a woman who sings revealing her true essence. The group plans an escape, facing painful obstacles. The narrator expresses through writing and reflects on welcoming a nonverbal individual. It explores reflections on departure and a challenging journey to the coast.
Nov 20, 2023 • 1h 11min
Madeleine Thien Reads Yoko Ogawa
Madeleine Thien, a writer, reads and discusses Yoko Ogawa's 2004 story 'The Cafeteria in the Evening and a Pool in the Rain' on The New Yorker Fiction Podcast. Thien admires Ogawa's ability to tap into something beyond language, explores the protagonist's relationship with a dog, speculates on the identities of the characters, and discusses the ending's positive tone despite not being a fairytale ending.
Nov 13, 2023 • 33min
Sheila Heti Reads “According to Alice”
Sheila Heti, author of seven books, reads her story 'According to Alice' written in collaboration with a customizable chatbot. Topics include creating a world through words, encountering Jesus, hybridity and family turmoil, traditions of praying for departed loved ones, and collaborative storytelling.
Nov 7, 2023 • 39min
Clare Sestanovich Reads “Our Time Is Up”
Author Clare Sestanovich reads her story “Our Time Is Up.” The story explores themes of satisfaction, happiness, and desires. It also delves into intimate moments, disappointment, and reflections on aging and adulthood.
