Welcome to Eckleburg Weekly. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg have been watching all week, and they caught some marvelous things: new fiction, poetry, essays, art and interviews, gathered here for your Sunday. Here’s everything we published from October 12-18, 2026, plus a few literary evenings worth leaving the apartment for. And this week, you choose: vote for your favorite line below before the day is out, and we’ll crown the winner Monday as Eckleburg Readers’ Favorite Line of the Week.
FIRST LOOK
For subscribers, before anyone else
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Capillariesby Joseph Celizic “The bruise beneath Elmer’s ribcage reminded them both of topographical maps, maroon with brown and purple tilts to denote ridges, peaks, and saddles, his capillaries like the earth’s scoured crust. “Don’t speak for him,” Chrissy had just said, and the Kovacs were still sitting in its echo, in the carpet in the living room, Jim nodding as if consensus might guard him. He did try to speak for Elmer too often. He knew that. Their boy was already six and knew enough words to express himself, even if he only… |
Read this week at Eckleburg.
FICTION
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Zero Gravityby Tobi Pledger “The days Bobby Joe was scheduled to ride in the Boeing KC-135 four-engine aircraft, he made sure to eat a light breakfast. |
POETRY
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30g & Other Poemsby Kate Kenney “At the diner I count to thirty |
ESSAYS
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Richardby Alex Poppe “Richard led me from the sofa to the kitchen island, where avocado slices neoned next to pan-seared steaks on two dressed plates. |
LITERARY CRITICISM
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From the archive, April 2026 Where Moral Authority Begins | Part I: Toni Morrison’s Belovedby Rae Cline “Triggers. Spoilers. I am curious about moral authority in stories and how moral authority presents within openings. Morality is a central function of stories that I find most engaging, in particular, the moral implications surrounding gender-violence and abuse. I prefer stories that push the boundaries of moral dilemmas. Some questions of morality present as axioms… |
GALLERY
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From the archive, April 2010 Openingsby Richard Kostelanetz Openings by Richard Kostelanetz is featured in The Eckleburg Gallery. |
EYES ON: AN ECKLEBURG INTERVIEW
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Eyes On: Halima MohamedIn this Eyes On interview, we talk with Halima Mohamed about “ & Other Poems,” published in Eckleburg, and Opaque, along with the works and habits behind them and what comes next. |
MORE FROM ECKLEBURG
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Eckleburg Readers’ Favorite Line of the Week: Wendy BooydeGraaff’s “Check Out Line at All-Eyes On You Ophthalmology and Retinal Surgery Associates” and m.e. gamlem’s “Anonymous, 1987”“Eckleburg Readers' Favorite Line of the Week: "Civil service, folks, we’ve got to help when we can!" from Check Out Line at All-Eyes On You Ophthalmology and Retinal Surgery Associates by Wendy BooydeGraaff. |
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#IAMJANEDOE – Notes from the Editorby Rae Cline “You probably don't need to ask your mother or sister or daughter or grandmother or friend or frenemy or the neighbor woman down the road you never speak to or the woman who rides the same elevator as you at 7 am…. if she at any point survived and is surviving sexual assault that happened… |
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FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY VOTE: FAVORITE LINE OF THE WEEK |
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Which line from this issue stays with you? Click your favorite. Voting closes at the end of the day. We’ll publish the winner Monday as Eckleburg Readers’ Favorite Line of the Week. “The days Bobby Joe was scheduled to ride in the Boeing KC-135 four-engine aircraft, he made sure to eat a light breakfast.” “At the diner I count to thirty” “Richard led me from the sofa to the kitchen island, where avocado slices neoned next to pan-seared steaks on two dressed plates.” |
LIT UP NYC
Lit Up NYC: October 17-25, 2026
Readings, launches and literary conversations across New York, for the week ahead and next weekend.
Coming up:
- Monday, October 19, 7 PM, Brooklyn: Book Launch: Succubus by Kate Fox in conversation with Maria Vale. POWERHOUSE Arena. Details
- Monday, October 19, 8 PM, Manhattan: Rena Anakwe + Muyassar Kurdi. St. Mark’s Church – Parish Hall. $10. Details
Thank you for reading Eckleburg Weekly. New work appears at Eckleburg every week: fiction on Tuesdays, literary criticism on Wednesdays, essays on Thursdays and poetry on Fridays, with Lit Up NYC on Saturdays. Subscribe to Eckleburg Weekly to get it in your inbox every Sunday.
The Editors
