Planes Flying Over a Monster: Essays

From one of Mexico's most exciting young writers, a cosmopolitan and candid essay collection exploring life in cities across the world and reflecting on the transformative importance of literature in understanding ourselves In ten intimate essays, Daniel Saldaña París explores the cities he has lived in, each one home to a new iteration of himself. In Mexico City he's a young poet eager to prove himself. In Montreal--an opioid addict desperate for relief. In Madrid--a lonely student seeking pleasure in grotesque extremes. These now diverging, now coalescing selves raise questions: Where can we find authenticity? How do we construct the stories that define us? What if our formative memories are closer to fiction than truth? Saldaña París turns to literature and film, poetry and philosophy for answers. The result is a hybrid of memoir and criticism, "a sensory work, full of soundscapes, filth, planes, closed spaces, open vastness" (El País).

About the Author :
Daniel Saldana Paris is a Mexican writer based in New York and Mexico City. He is the author of the novels Among Strange Victims and Ramifications. In 2017, he was included on the prestigious Bogota39 list. Christina MacSweeney is an award-winning translator of Latin American literature. She has worked with such authors as Valeria Luiselli, Veronica Gerber Bicecci, Julian Herbert, and Jazmina Barrera. Christina MacSweeney is an award-winning translator of Latin American literature. She has worked with such authors as Valeria Luiselli, Veronica Gerber Bicecci, Julian Herbert, and Jazmina Barrera. Philip K. Zimmerman is a writer and translator from Spanish and German. His work has been presented in Literary Hub, Electric Literature, Guernica, Necessary Fiction, the Berlin International Literature Festival, and the New York International Fringe Festival. Philip K. Zimmerman is a writer and translator from Spanish and German. His work has been presented in Literary Hub, Electric Literature, Guernica, Necessary Fiction, the Berlin International Literature Festival, and the New York International Fringe Festival. Andre Bellido is a New York City-based audiobook narrator, actor, and musician, born in South Florida to Latin American immigrants. He attended Berklee College of Music as a music production and engineering major and moved to NYC shortly after graduating. He started out by engineering and directing audiobooks and podcasts at various recording studios in the city, while simultaneously studying acting at T. Schreiber. Andre performs in both English and Spanish, and is represented by Prestige Management for commercial acting. Andre Bellido is a New York City-based audiobook narrator, actor, and musician, born in South Florida to Latin American immigrants. He attended Berklee College of Music as a music production and engineering major and moved to NYC shortly after graduating. He started out by engineering and directing audiobooks and podcasts at various recording studios in the city, while simultaneously studying acting at T. Schreiber. Andre performs in both English and Spanish, and is represented by Prestige Management for commercial acting.