The Fantastic, Strange & Uncanny - Kelly Link & Marlon James

All PEN World Voices Festival tickets are non-refundable. Please confirm the time and location of your event before finalizing your purchase.

The boundaries between genre fiction and literary fiction have become increasingly porous. In 2018, short story writer and novelist Kelly Link received a MacArthur Genius Grant for “pushing the boundaries of literary fiction in works that combine the surreal and fantastical with the concerns and emotional realism of contemporary life.” In the latest novel of his literary fantasy series the Dark Star Trilogy, Marlon James “toys with the common traits of epic fantasies, giving readers a journey with no destination, an ending that isn't an ending, and characters who stand in direct opposition to the traditional hero's journey” (NPR). In this fireside chat, these two masters of fiction, Hugo Award winner and Pulitzer Prize nominee Kelly Link and Booker Prize winner Marlon James, will discuss how they use genre tropes, the uncanny, the fantastic, and intertexual allusion throughout their respective bodies of work.

The 2024 PEN World Voices Festival, the 20th anniversary of the festival, will be a celebration of world literature and free expression. Over four days, over 100 writers from nearly 30 countries will be featured in engaging talks, panels, readings, and performances in New York City and greater Los Angeles.

Visit for more information about the entire festival, as well as PEN America.

AIA Center for Architecture is an ADA compliant venue. This conversation takes place on the basement floor of the center, accessible via elevator.

ASL interpretation is available for this event by request only. Please reach out to our Box Office team at [email protected] by April 21st to request.

Please ask a Box Office Attendant or festival representative upon arrival for directions to accessible seating if preferred.

For further information on accessibility in this space, or to make a request, please contact [email protected]

While not required, per public health official guidelines, the World Voices Festival recommends being fully vaccinated, and wearing masks in all public indoor settings as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19, as well as around crowds.

If you are feeling unwell, please do not come to the event. Reach out to [email protected] for assistance if you have already purchased a ticket.

We thank you for ensuring our speakers, guests and venue workers feel safe and comfortable at all World Voices Festival events. If you have questions or concerns please contact [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

AIA New York | Center for Architecture | Tafel Hall, 536 LaGuardia Place, New York, United States