An immersive recording (headphones on if you have them!) by the Chilean autobiographical comix artist Tomás Cisternas. Tomás reads, in the original Spanish, “Magical Beings,” a chittering summertime strip populated by elusive cicadas. It will be included in Puddles, our forthcoming collection of Tomás’ work in English translation (Bored Wolves, Autumn).
One of the reasons I appreciate Tomás’ storytelling is he makes sure to ground his metaphysics in a time and footprinted place. Or, in this case, times, as he overlays a present-day excursion with a memory of childhood outings.
I recommend listening to the recording first even if you don’t understand Spanish. And then here’s the English version of the comic for Puddles:
Magical Beings by Tomás Cisternas
When I was a child, I was sure that cicadas were invisible / I could hear them, but I never saw a single one—including up to the present day / The heat of these days is also invisible, but that doesn’t stop me from believing in summer
(trans. Stefan Lorenzutti and Michelle Alperin)
×
Next week, Tomás reads another summertime strip, “The Unforgettable Color of the Sun,” in which wasps leave a floating dreamer in peace.
