Four Novel Excerpts

. . . and then, even more suddenly, an insidious thought begins poking at the periphery of his brain⁠—the very thought that was about to step out of the wings and announce itself last night when a weathered hand passed him the calabash: here at long last is his chance! ⁠—T. Coraghessan Boyle

Once again⁠—what choice did I have, since I was here in the same capacity as recently as October last?⁠—I am here in my disguise and role as the drawer of bad teeth. ⁠—George Garrett

And like an echo, reflex, no force left, but carried by his motions. Outta car, grass wet, crickets, sweep of stars, Leavitt’s porchlight in the trees; scrape of screendoor, key, opening onto musky dark. ⁠—DeWitt Henry

I can feel my blood knocking in my wrist, against the arm of the chair, and I don’t even care . . . . One minute I’m about to put a fist through the bathroom wall, next minute I’m prissing around delicate as a see-through tea cup. The world is perfect butter, wrapped in a dog’s skin. ⁠—R.G. Vliet