“A Dog in the Woods”—a short story by Malu Halasa
Malu Halasa's story takes place on one day in the life of the family patriarch who confronts memories of assimilation and broken families.
Fiction
“Hamidinou’s Smile”—a Mauritanian story by Ahmed Isselmou
In Ahmed Isselmou's short story, a Mauritanian man struggles to maintain his resilience and perseverance in the face of ongoing misfortunes.
“Sweet Tea”—a classic Kurdish story by Hussein Arif
In this short story translated from Kurdish for the first time, a young man discovers that his discomfort was suppressing his true feelings.
“Tainted”—fiction from May Haddad
In May Haddad's story, a conversation between a young girl and her grandmother reveals the fault lines between the generations.
“Kill Yusuf”—a short story by Hisham Al-Najjar
In a modern interpretation of Eros and Thanatos, "Kill Yusuf" reveals how thwarted love can lead to unexpected consequences.
Stories From The Markaz, Stories From the Center
TMR's literary editor introduces the 2023 double summer literary issue.
Arrival in the Dark—fiction from Alireza Iranmehr
Away from prying eyes, two lonely people pass time together under the state of emergency that has become Iran.
“Here, Freedom”—fiction from Danial Haghighi
A small town couple have a brutally honest conversation about marriage in light of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.
“The Cactus”—new fiction from Mohammed Al Naas
Can a man who loves a woman prove his mettle by taking proper care of a cactus that stings him with its spines?
“The Agency”—a story by Natasha Tynes
A shrewd businesswoman runs a matchmaking agency in Amman that finds brides for male clients based on a virginity scale.
We Saw Paris, Texas—a story by Ola Mustapha
In Ola Mustapha's new story, a man falls for the seduction of a film and it becomes the blueprint for love, life, and even death.
Rich and Poor People—fiction by Farah Ahamed
After her controlling husband dies, a wealthy woman obsesses over the neighborhood crows until her maid decides to take matters into her own hands.
“The Afghan and the Persian”—a short story by Jordan Elgrably
An Afghan refugee, survivor of a shipwreck, washes up on the shores of southern France and applies for asylum in Montpellier.
“The City Within”—fiction from MK Harb
In MK Harb's latest story, a man steps out of his home in Beirut after two years of living in isolation to a life-changing encounter.
“The Long Walk of the Martyr”—fiction from Salar Abdoh
In Salar Abdoh’s new short story, Iranian militias return from war to a life and country to which they have difficulty adjusting.