McSweeney's #30

Featuring new work by Wells Tower, Michael Cera, and Etgar Keret, along with as always a bevy of lesser-known but nonetheless excellent writers investigating everything from mental hospitals to sentient mists, and possibly some kind of poster, Issue 30 warrants every ounce of attention and industry you'll give it, even if you are very important and your time is valuable—even if the fate of nations rests on your weary shoulders. You should still read Issue 30.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Bill Cotter - Pfaff II

The state hospital, viewed from above, was laid out like a swastika.

Nick Ekkizogloy - Stowaways

I'd only been down in Albany about six months when the flood came and washed it all away.

Kevin Moffett - Further Interpretations of Real-Life Events

After my father retired, he began writing trueish stories about fathers and sons.

Etgar Keret - Bad Karma

Since the accident, Oshri had been selling policies like crazy. It wasn't clear whether this had anything to do with his slight limp or with the paralysis in his right arm, but people who'd sit through an appointment with him would take it all in and buy everything he had to offer: life insurance, loss of earning power, complementary health insurance, you name it.

Shelly Oria - The Beginning of a Plan

In 1991, I went to jail for canning goods without a license.

Michael Cera - Pinecone

Carroll Silver once considered himself hot property.

Carson Mell - Diamond Aces

My dad always left around noon, and we usually ate dinner without him.

Matei Visniec - Madness

Our city was invaded by butterflies. They are huge, beautiful, carnivorous.

J. Malcolm Garcia - Cuts

The phone rings at the reception desk. Jay patches the call to me and I answer it. "Out of the Rain, may I help you?" I say.

Catherine Bussinger - Foothill Boulevard

The thing was to get the list and go for a little ride. Fixate on one. One or two. Three, tops. Mad Dog explained it to me in unnecessary detail.

Wells Tower - Retreat

Sometimes, after six or so large drinks, it seems like a sane idea to call my little brother on the phone.