Caleb Crain's Flash Fiction 'Wishes and Fears' in The New Yorker

Caleb Crain's short story 'Wishes and Fears' was published in The New Yorker's Flash Fiction section. The narrative unfolds in a series of dreamlike, surreal episodes, exploring themes of surveillance, paranoia, and the breakdown of social order. The protagonist attends a dinner party where conversation turns to the future of the novel, and he muses about the role of computers in storytelling. The scene shifts to an apocalyptic setting where a group gathers in an abandoned house, watching a movie, aware of impending death. Later, a cook prepares a dish made from Trump's head, and the protagonist's vegetarianism becomes a point of tension. The story also includes a recurring motif of a secret room in a building, which the protagonist accesses by climbing and flying, symbolizing a private refuge. The narrative is characterized by its fragmented, non-linear structure and its blending of mundane details with fantastical elements. Crain's work often explores themes of memory, identity, and the impact of technology on human relationships. This piece, with its dystopian undertones and philosophical musings, fits within his broader oeuvre. The story is available online at The New Yorker's website, and it is part of the magazine's ongoing series of short fiction.