The latest news and reviews of books by Ben Marcus.
November 2018
Notes from the Fog by Ben Marcus review – electrifying dystopia
These spectacular stories offer a chilling vision of what lies in store for America
September 2017
Top 10s
Top 10 contemporary short stories
Ahead of 2017’s National short story prize, Jon McGregor reluctantly chooses ‘swoony’ work from recent years showing some of the ways to write them well
May 2017
Granta: Best of Young American Novelists 3 – review
Ben Lerner, Jen George and Mark Doten stand out in an impressive, largely avant-garde collection of stories
April 2017
The age of anxiety: what does Granta’s best young authors list say about America?
The US is in crisis - what about its literature? Michelle Dean reports on the 2017 Granta list of writers under 40, which is as diverse as the country itself
August 2015
Book of the day
New American Stories edited by Ben Marcus review – a landmark anthology
Pre-9/11 US literature reflected a national self-image that was fundamentally benign. That era is over, judging by this collection
April 2014
Leaving the Sea by Ben Marcus review – Original and powerful short stories
Marcus's collection explores profound themes of guilt and sexuality in a unique experimental style, writes Stuart Kelly
March 2014
Leaving the Sea by Ben Marcus; All the Rage by AL Kennedy – review
Two assured collections of short stories offer perspectives on love that aren't for the faint of heart, writes Clare Wigfall
April 2013
Nicholas Lezard's choice
The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus – review
This dystopic masterpiece is both fascinating and beautiful – and it completely does your head in, says Nicholas Lezard
June 2012
The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus - review
James Lasdun wonders if a book about language can work as a thriller
