Alta Fiction 2020
In a year unlike any other, we published short stories by Charlie Jane Anders, Steph Cha, Philip K. Dick, Anita Felicelli, Dagoberto Gilb, Jonathan Lethem, and Susan Straight.
Alta’s 2020 fiction invites us to lose ourselves in explosive passion, unexpected perspectives, and even time travel. Each engrossing story tackles its territory in new ways, from a young man confused by forbidden love to a pregnant woman terrified of the violence outside—and inside. Read Alta’s best fiction of 2020.
I Am Trying to Describe Things I Don’t Understand
By Jonathan Lethem
Answer
Whether by fortune or doom or absolute devotion, a young man’s mad, burning love for a married woman is requited in this story from Dagoberto Gilb.
Ribs, Muscle, Bone
Watching the dissolution of her parents’ relationship, a butcher’s daughter learns lessons about life and love. Susan Straight's deeply personal short story is told from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl.
Beth Spotswood is Alta's special projects director. In addition to her work for Alta, Spotswood has contributed to 7x7 Magazine, San Francisco Magazine, Discovery Channel, Slow News Day, KGO Radio, SFist and the San Francisco Chronicle, where she had her own weekly column in the Thursday edition of the newspaper. Spotswood's work in Alta has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club, Los Angeles Press Club, and the FOLIO Awards.
California Book Club Panelist Picks
Alta’s Top Book Reviews of 2020
Alta’s Cartoons 2020
Alta Editor Picks 2020
