The city never sleeps–no, it cannot sleep. Like an inverse Azathoth, once the hustle of the city gives way to dreaming, reality as we know it would vanish. So we feed it to keep it awake, with our attention and income–whether ill-gotten or otherwise–anything to keep the city’s eyes open for one more night.
Viewed from above or afar, the city appears before us as a bejeweled encrustation, a glittering barnacle on the World Turtle. But do not mistake this for artificiality. We built the city. It has been with us since the ages of Ur and Babylon. It is as natural as that barnacle on the shell of a turtle, or a hive of bees. Yes, the city is as natural as a spider’s web, but who, or what, is the spider?
Join us for a psychogeographic exploration of the city. Wander down the wrong alley; open the wrong door; step onto the wrong subway. All wrong paths lead us to the real city, the city within the city, territory that isn’t on any map. Welcome to
BABEL
***
ART
- THE CITY OF ETERNAL RETURN by EmptyCollective
- GARDEN OF FORKING PATHS by Mark Wadley
- THE NEW FLESH by Graham Barey
- TOWER by Rudy Johnson
ESSAYS
- 24 HOURS IN THE PSEUDO-CITY by Kris Aldag
- TOURIST OR PURIST: TWO UK CITIES by Jesse Hilson
FICTION
- AIRSPACE by Jocelyn Szczepaniak-Gillece
- BABEL: THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION by David August
- CITY OF ROSES by Jacob Brown
- IVORY TOWER by Steven Herrera
- METROPOLE by Jessica Kosti
- NEW MEAT CITY by Aaron Thorpe
- THE PROPHET OF THE PRESENT by Jon Doughboy
- SEEING RED by Neil Thomason
- SONGS OF THE LAST BRAIN SHOWER by Johnny Alvarez
- WHILE PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE TO ALL AFFECTED RESIDENTS by Karter Mycroft
POETRY
- "A COLD KISS IN THE NIGHT" by Arbogast
- "DETECTIVE D-BEAT" - "BAD BEAT BUMP STOCK" - "BRICKNOSE, BACK OUT THERE" by T.K. Edmond
- "EDGELANDS" - "THE ORACLE EMERGES FROM THE WATER TOWER" by C. Rees
- "EUROPA" by Nick Greer
- "HEARTRING" by Nick
- "NIGHT IN THE CITY" by Shane Ingan
- "ZÜRICH 1970" by Jessie Lifton
artwork by Robert Voyvodic
