Submissions. We’re reading a lot of submissions a lot of the time. But we at 1966 also, of course, love our free-reading, and below are some of our latest favorites:

“The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether” by Edgar Allan Poe – Upon watching Stonehearst Asylum, a 2014 movie based on Poe’s work, I became curious about the tale and decided to read it. As Poe’s works tend to do, this short story transports the reader into a dark yet colorful world: this time, that of a quite unconventional mental institute through the eyes of an unsuspecting physician who may or may not be off his rocker himself. (Nipuni Gomes, Assistant Editor)

Gay Berlin by Robert Beachy – We’re still at the point in American history in which a significant demographic can be locked out of history syllabi for “moral” reasons, so we need all the vital, readable works of queer history we can get. Enter Robert Beachy: a scholar who writes with a CNF author’s eye for narrative. In just 250 pages, Gay Berlin outlines how 19th century Germany birthed the modern gay identity, introduces us to a number of captivating and virtually unknown civil rights heroes, and provides a surprising account of a diverse and flourishing queer culture in pre-Nazi Berlin. A subtly poignant, eye-opening text; essential for anyone interested in queer history. (Ryan Diller, Web Editor)