2012 Barthelme Prize Winner Erica Olsen For a long time I wanted to go back to the Grand Canyon. Then came the dual catastrophe: an earthquake that left Grand Canyon Village in ruins; a mining accident, the details of which have never been released to the public.   [more] From the Editor Ian Stansel Not long ago, in a writing workshop, the teacher asked, "What are some of the primary characteristics of an author's first book?"  [more] Marriage in a Time of AIDS Alan Barstow Tomas could stare his students into silence. While I had to plead, Okay, let’s get started, please sit down, please be quiet, all Tomas had to do was fold his arms, sweep his eyes across the class, and wait.   [more] Joseph Etgar Keret There are conversations that can change a person’s life. I’m sure of it. I mean, I’d like to believe it. I’m sitting in a café with a producer. He’s not exactly a producer, he never produced anything, but he wants to.   [more] Humor Roundtable Elisa Albert, Steve Almond, Brock Clarke, Sam Lipsyte, John McNally, and Deb Olin Unferth "The comic impulse arises directly from feelings that are inherently tragic: sorrow, shame, disappointment, moral outrage, and so on."  [more]