Contributing Editors Volume 00 (2013) Doosti, Farzaneh: A doctorate candidate in Founded in November 2013, Parsagon attempts to English Literature and former present a vista of the latest achievements of Persian Editor-in-Chief of Threshold literati and artists/writers of Iranian origin, as well as to Quarterly, Farzaneh Doosti holds an serve as an authentic archive of books coming from Iran. MA in English Literature from SBU, The team’s activities are diverse: Tehran, where she has also worked Translation and localization of Persian literary as research assistant and journalist. texts, Seh has authored Image/Text Editing and consulting services to Persian Semiotics (LAP, 2010) and been the writers whose work are found apt for Editor-at-Large of Asymptote translation, Journal. Promotion of Persian literature and culture in the English-speaking world, Naseri, Shataw: journalist at ISNA, she holds an Completion of an online database of MA degree in English Language & contemporary Iranian/Persian literary and Literature from Shahid Beheshti cultural figures. University (SBU). PARSAGON is an Iran-based private, non-partisan, and Qahvei, Azadeh: holds a BA in English non-political project. If you are interested in our activities, do not hesitate to contact us. Literature and an MA in Indian Studies from the University of Tehran. Since her graduation, she [email protected] has been working as a researcher http://www.parsagon.com and translator in wide-ranging MASTHEAD fields of studies from peace and regional studies to literary and art criticism. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FARZANEH DOOSTI With special thanks to ASSOCIATE EDITOR LEILI ADIBFAR Hossein Sanapour [writer] SENIOR EDITORS Mohammad Tolouei [writer] MAHBOUBEH KHALVATI Erfan Mojib [translator] SAFANEH MOHAGHEGH-NEYSHABOURI LOGO & GRAPHIC DESIGN MAHDI DAVAEI COVER PORTRAIT OF SADEQ HEDAYAT CONSULTING BOARD MICHAEL ORTHOEFER SADJAD POURGHANAD PARSAGON: THE PERSIAN LITERATURE REVIEW | VOL 00 | 2013 1 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Parsagon welcomes submissions of original and GENERAL GUIDELINES translated poetry, fiction, nonfiction and drama coming from Iran; reviews of Persian books or translations of books on/from Iran; original essays on contemporary All submissions should be sent as one Iranian literature and arts; and suggestions for author Microsoft Word attachment (as a .doc profiles, literary awards, or related Events. Do not file, please) to [email protected]. hesitate to contact us if The Microsoft Word attachments you know any writer or literary figure with must be labeled with the last names Iranian background (as well as literati from of the author and translator: other Persian-speaking regions and countries); authortranslator.doc. you are or know a translator who has recently Your submission must include the rendered/published a Persian text to English; original work in .doc or .pdf format you want to embark on a translation or research along with a statement granting us on Iranian literature and seek further sources or permission to publish both the help on a writer indexed in Parsagon; original work and the translation you have written a review or criticism of a online, as well as declaring that you Persian book and would like to publish it on are in a position to grant us such Parsagon or have it linked under the book title; rights. you have written an original piece (fiction or Translations submitted for the print nonfiction) in English that you think is related to issue must not have been previously or interesting for Parsagon. published. Submissions for Parsagon must not be PROFILES previously published online, but We welcome any suggestions, contributions or printed materials with no online submission of details on the profiles of references are permitted. contemporary Iranian authors. Contributions by Simultaneous submissions are authors themselves are most welcome. Rolling permitted, but we ask in return that deadline. you notify us by email as soon as you learn of an acceptance elsewhere. ESSAYS & BOOK REVIEWS We try to respond to each submission The submission might include one or more within one to three months. Please critical essays or reviews of literary works in query after three months if you have Persian or translated English. Please send no not heard back from us, and would more than 6,000 words in total. Rolling deadline. like to know the status of your submission. VOLUNTEER TRANSLATORS Our finances do not permit us to pay We always welcome enthusiastic volunteer contributors at this time. Apologies. contributors who like to dedicate their time to the promotion of Persian literature and arts. 2 PARSAGON: THE PERSIAN LITERATURE REVIEW | VOL 00 | 2013 CONTENTS PROEM PROEM With bare hands and brave hearts did In Fine Frenzy Roling 3 we begin, with eyes in “fine frenzy rolling” and souls in darkness crawling, PENDULUM until we reached a bright well-lighted R.I.P. Farrokh Ghaffari (1921 – 2006) 4 place. We thought that a shared dream Homage to the Singer of Naseria 4 December 26: Day of Sorrow, Day of Death 5 is an enacted will, a dream fetched already. We believed that an insatiable PODIUM hunger for reading and learning is all a Let Us Steal a Lease of Life literature student should have; the rest Interview with Martin Turner 6 was a little hope in progress, the The Top 7x7 Mohammad Tolouei 11 possibility of change for better, belief in Hossein Sanapour the power of criticism and research, and teamwork of course. PAPYRUS :: The Bookshelf The Oasis of Now | S. Sepehri 10 With a passion for comparative reading The Baron’s Melancholy Blues | A. Abdollahi 12 of our local literature with the tools and Scorpion on Andimeshk Railway Stairs…| criteria we had obtained as students of H. Mortezaeian Abkenar 13 English Literature, we embarked on the That Cozy Corner on the Left | M. Rabbi 13 Parsagon Project. We have trodden a Shazdeh Ehtejab | H. Golshiri 15 long path to come to this conclusion, to Horn | P. Hooshmandzadeh 15 The Tale of a Town | A. Mahmoud 16 feel the urge for exploring our own Mourners of Bayal | Gh. Sa’edi 16 literature and showcasing it to the Men at Work: Cinematic Lessons from world, to fill in a tiny pit amongst Abbas Kiarostami | 17 infinite chasms of still-intact Persian His Ego | R. Amirkhani 20 Literature by writing about it in an From/to | R. Amirkhani 20 Homelandless | R.Amirkhani 20 international language. Nocturnal Harmony…| R. Ghassemi 23 The Spell Chanted by Lambs 23 We know that we are only tattlers in the The Blind Owl 28 path of boundless research. “And as PROFILE imagination bodies forth the forms of Reza Amirkhani [b.1973] 18 Reza Ghassemi [b.1949] 21 things unknown,” we grab our pens as Sadeq Hedayat [1903-1951] 24 quickly as “the poet’s pen turns them to shape, and gives to airy nothing a local PRIZE habitation and a name.” The critic’s Badiozzaman Forouzanfar Award 29 magic is to produce meanings as large as the object of criticism. Farzaneh Doosti Editor-in-Chief PARSAGON: THE PERSIAN LITERATURE REVIEW | VOL 00 | 2013 3 PENDULUM Homage to the Singer of Naseria December 20 coincides with the seventh death R.I.P. FARROKH GHAFFARI anniversary of Iranian Pop Star Naser Abdollahi who, despite his brief twinkle in the arena of Iranian Pop Music, was loved and praised by the young generation. Naser was born on December 31, 1970 to a retired worker and a housewife in the Southern city of Bandar Abbas and started music at 13 and with Hozeh Honari of Hormozgan Province. But it was in 1995 that he pursued music as his career and reached peerless fame with his early albums “Humid Scent” and “Eve’s Air,” especially with his Naseria song. Just before he could celebrate the first decade of December 17 is marked with the death his artistic achievements and take the next step, anniversary of Iranian film director, actor, Naser Abdollahi passed away on December 20, critic and author Farrokh Ghaffari. 2006 in Bandar Abbas, having struggled with life Ghaffari was a significant character in the and death for 27 days in coma, at age 36. history of Iranian cinema: along with Ebrahim Unproved rumors say he was actually hit on the Golestan and Fereydoun Rahnama he founded head and that his death was suspicious enough, Iran’s new wave film movement. He was also following his conversion to Shiism, divorce, and the founder of the first National Iranian Film serious clan quarrels. Society in 1949 at the Iran Bastan Museum and organizer of the first Film Week during which Abdollahi had a distinct voice and often sang English films were exhibited. Mohammad-Ali Bahmani’s lyrics. Because of the Ghaffari belonged to the mighty clan of introduction of Arabic rhythms and the Spanish Ghaffaris in Iran most of which successfully style to his vernacular Bandari songs, he is known climbed the ladder of sociopolitical and as the Gipsy King of Iran. May he rest in peace. cultural success, thanks to their social class and wealth. You can find an interesting website devoted to renowned Ghaffaris in the past 1400 years of Persian history here; and an archive of his most known films at IMDB. Accordign to that site, Kamal-al-Molk, Sani-ol- Molk Ghaffari, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Farrokh Ghaffari are related by blood! He was the husband of renowned Iranian writer and translator Mahshid Amirshahi. 4 PARSAGON: THE PERSIAN LITERATURE REVIEW | VOL 00 | 2013 December 26: Day of Sorrow, Day of Death December 26 is a jolly occasion for most people of the world for the birth of Jesus Christ. Not for the majority of Iranians, not after December 2003. Ten years later Iran still mourns for the loss of about 26.000 people, during the Bam Earthquake that took place at 1:56 a.m., who were suddenly, innocently buried under piles of brick and clay while they were asleep.