hurrengoa
papers: those from the other side of the ocean jon benito   Ten years ago, Juan Forn (the head honcho at Planeta Editorial) published a collection of contemporary Argentinean writing through a Barcelona based publishing company. The book was titled "Buenas Aires". That was when we first got to know several writers who, in time, would be of special importance on the other side of the Atlantic. It was our first introduction, on this side of the waters, to the work of Ricardo Piglia, Alberto Laiseca, César Aira, Sylvia Iparagirre, Rodrigo Fresán, Rodolfo Walsh, Roberto Fontanarrosa and Pablo de Santis. The desperate current economic situation has caused them to develop a new and imaginative style of writing. That’s what makes them stand out from the rest. Bitter irony and realism. They have a special restless way of interpreting what they see. That’s the weapon they have chosen to use.
Since the days of "Buenas Aires", these then unknown writers have published quite a lot of work in Europe.
Ricardo Piglia is almost certainly the one that most stands to attention. The reason for this lies in his beginnings with his thought provoking "Critica y Ficcion", his next step with "Respiracion Artficial", later adopted for the big screen, and runs through to his book of short stories titled "Plata Quemada". A writing career not to be sneezed at. This author has been especially successful in Spain, Portugal and France. He has been able to convincingly combine the essence of life and sharp reality in his work.
That said, the Argentinean book that most stands out is Cesar Aira’s "Una Novela China". He has chosen to go the way of experimentation and originality. This guy never repeats himself. He’s also capable of keeping the reader riveted as he unravels his story. His work is always attractive, always refreshingly new.
Look no further than "Cómo me hice monja", published four years ago, for an example of this.

Argentinian literature that can be read in Basque...
Cortazar projects a long shadow over Basque liteature. Two books, another one on the way and a collection of articles he published in magazines are just about everything you can read by him in Basque. "Oktaedroa" was published in 1992 as part of the Universal Collection by book-publishers Ibaizabal. Gerardo Markuleta translated the book. He also did the same for "Hegoaldeko autopista", which was published two years later. This was published as part of the Milabidai (a thousand journeys) Collection. Juan Garzia was responsible for selecting and translating short stories by J.L. Borges. The book was called "Ipuin Hautatuak" (A Selection of Short Stories). This is what has reached us from across the other side of the Atlantic. What reaches, reached and will reach us. Victims of the last tango.Unfortunately, we’re unable to find any of the new stuff that is coming out of Argentina in Basque. But judging on the quality of the work, it will only be a matter of time. This, so, is what has reached us from across the other side of the Atlantic. What reaches, reached and will reach us. Victims of the last tango.