Table of Contents

Announcing the winners of the annual Believer Book Award and the Believer Poetry Award Aaron Shulman, "El Desencanto" The irresistible disenchantments of the Panero family, introduced by the best Spanish cult documentary you've never heard of. Esme Weijun Wang, "Toward a Pathology of the Possessed" Schizophrenia's effects are often discussed in metaphors. What is it like to live with those metaphors? Roger D. Hodge, "How to Field-Dress a Deer" An installment in our series of essential advice. Daniel Handler, "What the Swedes Read" Kea Krause, "What's Left Behind" A flooded copper mine outside Butte, Montana, is the largest contaminated body of water in the country. And it contains a slime that could save the mine, the town, and maybe even the world. Miranda July interviewed by Ross Simonini The writer, artist, musician, and filmmaker discusses her life and work by telephone, battling a poor connection. Sylvia Christie, "Great Moments on the Loo in Literature" A compendium of important literary moments spent on the toilet, accompanied by a very rude illustration. Jules Feiffer interviewed by Alex Dueben The cartoonist discusses creating his noir graphic novel Kill My Mother. Zander Sherman, "Anarchy in the USA" Four years after Occupy Wall Street, meet John Zerzan, the man who's been quietly fanning the flames of the country's most important insurrectionary movements. Megan Rapinoe interviewed by Kevin Koczawara The US women's soccer team star on growing up playing with her twin, the world of women's soccer, and the changing landscape for gay athletes. Kay Ryan, "Sock" (a new poem) Alex Mar, "Satan in Poughkeepsie" Anton LaVey exposed the show business of religion when he founded the Church of Satan. Half a century later, its high priest holds afternoon tea in suburban New York. Kathleen Ossip, "On Giving Birth" (a new poem) Pablo Calvi, "Secret Reserves" In a land as exceptional for its fragile and fiercely guarded biodiversity as for its dwindling population of guardians, the indigenous Sapara are first in line for a new form of extinction. And they are staking the only thing they have left against it--their afterlife. Dan Werb, "Epidemic in the Borderland" Dr. Thomas Patterson is pioneering HIV prevention in Tijuana's most dangerous districts, and the results are staggering. Kay Ryan, "Fatal Flaw" (a new poem) Symposium: A discussion about (mostly) books as they relate to the theme of silence. Rachel Z. Arndt on Dockwood; Sara Novic on Stephen King's Nick Andros; Stephen Burt on Black Bolt; Matthew Zapruder on The History of Silence; Diane Cook on The World Beyond Your Head; and JW McCormack on ghost characters. Michael Schur interviewed by Stephanie Palumbo The sitcom writer, director, and producer tells her, "The system of network TV is creaking under its own weight right now." Ronald Cotton interviewed by Alexandra Molotkow The forensic reform advocate spent nearly eleven years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit; now he speaks about the conviction, forgiveness, and closure. Jerry Stahl interviewed by Sabra Embury A discussion about subcultures, fanatics, drug problems, and being a dad, held over the course of several humorous emails. Sheila Nevins interviewed by Kathleen Hale HBO's "de Medici" of television has won more prime-time Emmys than any other individual. Nick Hornby, "Stuff I've Been Reading" The popular column returns.