By: Maryam Iftikhar You are close to me,like the brightest star in the sky.But when I lift my finger to touch it,a devastating truth breaks me:even in this world,I’m still a million stars away from you. Tides of longing sweep…

By: Andrew Nickerson Movies have long been one of the world’s best forms of entertainment, thus finding material for them is a huge responsibility for studios. Therefore, it’s no surprise that one of the oldest standbys on that front is…

By: James Aitchison In 1997, Iris Chang’s bestselling book, The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II, sold more than half a million copies.  Within seven years, Chang would take her own life. Her book was the…

By: Bruce Levine Shadows of mountains parade over valleys within. Streams resemble arteries, sustaining life, as trout evading anglers reveal cascading thoughts of life and death that society proclaims meaningless in movies: Hollywood’s refrain. Cheaper by the dozen. A cartoon…

By: Neil Randall Over the last few weeks Luka had been having the strangest dreams about Arthur, his mother Darjia’s fiancé. In one dream, Arthur had gone off to fight in the war in Ukraine. In another, he was killed…

By: Tanjila Ontu She once had a home that felt like lightThen it broke apart without a fightTwo houses now, and separate daysBut none of it felt quite okay She watched the world from quiet eyesWhile others lived their lullabiesTheir…

By James Aitchison Winning the Booker Prize is every author’s dream.  It is arguably the world’s most prestigious literary award.  It bestows distinction upon authors and virtually guarantees a boost in sales.  But few people know that the award had…

By: James Aitchison At journey’s end,carried by wavesnot of our making,we come to rest.Tumult is done;at last we can claimimmortality.We have travelled farwithout fear,without anxiety,for we knew thattranquility awaitedand we shall berewarded.

By: David R. Topper  As I recall, in the TV series, Genius – which began with a series on Albert Einstein, this one by Ron Howard – the opening sequence showed a middle-aged Albert and his secretary having sex in…

By: John Randolph The waves that lap below Calypso the eagle are barren, their surface glinting but offering no hint of fish. That’s the first thing she notices as she glides with the ease of ice on ice, her hollow…