Over two and a half millennia ago Aesop, the sage of ancient storytelling, spun yarns with moral teachings that still weave into the present—but one wonders what sort of tales he might have written today. It is this thought which inspired Future Fables, a podcast created in partnership with Literary Hub, which features freshly penned fables by thought-provoking writers.
Season two
Our compendium of modern-day fables continues with a new selection of writers from across the globe. Whether soaring through the skies with eagles or darting across branches with a scurry of squirrels, the five freshly penned fables feature an eclectic cast of characters and a wide range of themes.
Forever We Shall by Caleb Azumah Nelson
The work of avid photographer, South East London resident and award-winning
novelist Caleb Azumah Nelson is
influenced by his Ghanaian heritage, visits
to local cinemas and galleries, and the playlists that soundtrack his writing. His second novel, Small Worlds, was released
in May 2023. In his fable, two canine companions grow to understand the preciousness of moments spent together, despite the looming fear of being torn apart.
The Eagle’s Daughters by Ellen van Neerven
An Australian writer of Aboriginal Mununjali Yugambeh and Dutch heritage, Ellen van Neerven has won various literary prizes for their works of fiction, poetry, drama and non-fiction. Their fable invites us to reflect on the relationship between humans and the lands we inhabit, giving us a bird’s eye view on how we can better understand our connections with the natural world.
Listen nowA Day of Snaky by Regina Kanyu Wang
A writer, researcher and editor, currently working toward her PhD at the University of Oslo, Regina Kanyu Wang artfully weaves together gender politics, environmental issues, and an otherworldly perspective. Following her deep interest in science fiction, this playful yet poignant tale invites us to reflect on the importance we place on the opinions of others.
Listen now
The Seasonal Scurry by George Walker
As a senior scribe at Aesop, George Walker has a deep interest in the power of words and the transformative impact of sharing stories. When he isn’t writing for Aesop’s stores, website or amber bottles, he can be found working on the draft of a first novel, following tutelage at Faber’s ‘Writing a Novel’ course and years spent filling notebooks. In this playful, mischievous tale, an unexpected visitor causes a commotion among a scurry of squirrels.
Listen nowThe Three Golden Nails by Stephen Graham Jones
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Stephen Graham Jones is the author of nearly 30 novels, collections, novellas and comic books. His writing typically spans horror, crime and science fiction, and references his heritage as a Blackfoot Native American. In this darkly comic tale, Jones urges us to accept life’s inevitabilities, even the frightening ones.
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Season one
The Rat and the Hamster by Amelia Abraham
Amelia Abraham is a journalist and the author of two books—Queer Intentions (2020) and We Can Do Better Than This (2021), an anthology which brings together 35 voices on the future of LGBTQIA+ rights. In a playful tale of friendship, envy and empathy, Abraham invites listeners to consider comparison and ponder its worth—or lack thereof.
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Amelia Abraham
The River Cat’s Brother by Akwaeke Emezi
As one of the most vibrant voices in contemporary literature (and beyond), multidisciplinary artist and writer Akwaeke Emezi has won a plethora of prestigious awards, and has been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine as a 2021 Next Generation Leader. The moral of their story, told through the claws and roars of river cats, relates to the importance of accepting help from others.
Listen nowButterfly Man by Lydia Millet
Millet is a prolific author of over 13 books, whose collection of short stories Love in Infant Monkeys (2010) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Her most recent novel, A Children’s Bible, was published in 2020. Exploring the nature of change and the sometimes unwelcome passing of time, Lydia Millet’s tale of a slightly stubborn insect is charmingly bittersweet.
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The Pack by Rivers Solomon
Solomon is an award-winning author, self-proclaimed gender malcontent and keen bird watcher, whose novel An Unkindness of Ghosts featured in the Aesop Queer Library last year. In this episode of Future Fables, Solomon invites us to join a pack of wolves and discover the importance of community.
Listen nowSleep Is All Hers by Mieko Kawakami
Described as ‘ceaselessly growing and evolving’ by Haruki Murakami, Mieko Kawakami was recently shortlisted for the International Booker Prize for her novel Heaven (2009), translated by David Boyd, who also translated this fable. Exploring the preciousness of friendship and our relationship with death, Kawakami’s story invites us to reconsider common fears with a gently irreverent wit.
Listen now
Acknowledgements
The theme music for the series was composed by Dean Blunt; episodes were mixed, designed and mastered by Hannah Webster at Unit; and each tale is read by Gabriel Santos from Aesop. Season 2 Art Direction by Aiwei Foo.
