Anis Shivani’s debut collection, Anatolia and Other Stories (Black Lawrence Press, 2010), is packed with rich stories that span the globe. These linear-narrative gems are filled with intelligent and insightful musings.

Anatolia is a must read for anyone who is a fan of setting. The settings in this book — from Dubai to Texas — are rendered with precise detail, and they work as characters of their own, bringing a rich background to each of Shivani’s stories.

Shivani, who is well known for his criticism, was kind enough to discuss current literary trends, as well as his magnificently crafted debut. — Brian Allen Carr

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We like Steve Almond. We like that book he wrote, My Life in Heavy Metal. We like what he writes over at the Rumpus. And now, after seeing this video, we like his version of Africa, too.