#noir

Fiction
A Fifth of Rye by R.J. Ellory

In this short story, McCarthy waits like a professional, in the cell of the New York Department of Correction, or in a motel room with a fifth of rye.

Fiction
Rug in the Trunk by László Márton

A mystery by László Márton involving a Hungarian chemical engineer and a Persian rug, set in Vienna, just six years after the Soviets withdrew.

Interview
Abel Ferrara: “It’s in the Blood” by Sándor Jászberényi

In an exclusive interview for the Continental, legendary film director Abel Ferrara shares his thoughts on the movie industry, addiction, and the importance of remaining artistically independent.

Poetry
“it was iron: i thought by János Marno

A fragmentary avantgarde poem by Hungarian poet János Marno, with seemingly no framework, contorted with cynicism, lust, shame, villainy, and terror.

Poetry
Epidemic by Petra Szőcs

The inhabitants of this plague-struck world, in this poem by Hungarian poet Petra Szőcs, are seething with suspicion, horror, fear, and longing.

Fiction
Mantled in Mystery by Dominik Dán

A police investigation at the scene of the death of a 17-year-old prostitute, from the pen of the most widely read Slovak detective fiction writer.

Poetry
The Ghost of Rococo by János Marno

In this poem by Hungarian poet János Marno in a private moment of near hallucination a ladybird on a finger is mistaken for a drop of blood.

Fiction
Blackboard by Sergey Kuznetsov

In modern Russia, for how long can boyhood fantasies of criminals, femme fatales, and riches truly replace reality? A story by Sergey Kuznetsov.

Poetry
Lie Detector by Petra Szőcs

In this polygraphic poem, by Petra Szőcs, we discover whether any truths are revealed when one’s heart becomes the subject of a lie detector test.