A literary microcosm of the known world. Silk Road offers writing that takes readers into locations--real or imagined, minute or vast, evolving or timeless. Each issue takes the reader beyond accepted assumptions about place. Setting is the least of it. Works include poetry, fiction, nonfiction, international writing, translations, and visual artwork.
Featuring work by Xu Xi and Pete Fromm as well as writers from Bangladesh to Escanaba, Michigan, the newest issue of Silk Road raises the stakes in the cross-cultural dialogue. “Where are you from?” becomes an increasingly difficult question to answer.
The Spring 2007 spans the world, whether in the guise of translations, as with Deborah Krainin’s translation of Victor E. Gonzalez’ poem “Mary Muerte,” or in theme, as with Valerie Miner’s fiction, set in Calcutta, India.
This inaugural issue of Silk Road is on fire, literally. Claire Davis witnesses a 64,000 acre burn in Idaho and poet Marvin Bell says events not places make the poem. “I can’t write honest poetry if I feel like a tourist about the setting,” he says.
Northwest American Novelist Pete Fromm talks about the work of writing, not waiting, and publication. Read his story “Concentrate” in the upcoming issue of Silk Road.