Fiction

All cities have spirits, and all spirits have an animal familiar. A brief history of the bear of Berlin, the crow of Tokyo, and the blind white alligator king of New York City.

It was the only sin that Julie had ever prearranged in her entire life.

Makes me feel better about the world, knowing it was always thus.

Life as an NFL player is a series of risks. Really had a good feeling about these bets, though.

Life with a disagreeable new flatmate and some unwanted visitors. An excerpt from the new short story collection Wallflowers.

An excerpt from The Feint, originally published in Brazil as O Drible. An ailing 80-year-old sports columnist tries to build bridges with his estranged son, while remembering the golden age of Brazilian football. Translated by Lisa Shaw.

On the occasion of the 2014 Winter Olympics, we present this excerpt from Claire Battershill's forthcoming collection of short fiction, Circus. The story of one man's life in luge.