By Don Hall

Literate Ape is a small digital rag and, while we’d love nothing more to be a huge digital rag, we’re proud of the writing in every case. In this article, I’d like to showcase a few pieces of phenomenal merit that, in the din of constant internet writing going on these days, you might have missed but are well worth your time reading.

On Being Wrong (And Admitting It)
June 21
Kari Castor

This year, we added a number of new contributors and none was as ballsy, provocative and fun to read than Kari Castor. A two-time BUGHOUSE! Winner (check out the podcast to hear her bloviate) this piece broke down the defining problem of the modern era — Phish. No. It wasn’t Phish, it was being able to make mistakes in judgment without flaying your own skin off in shame.

“You’ll Never See His Like Again!”: Revisiting Comics Legend Stan Lee’s Best, Most Literary (And Vastly Underrated) Story, The Silver Surfer (1978)
November 19
Jarret Keene

Jarret Keene, PhD is a scholar of comics and wrote this one-off piece in commemoration of Stan Lee. As a fan of both the comics and MCU, I loved this article. Smart, thoughtful, well-researched and truly celebratory of Lee’s achievements, I recommend it to anyone wondering what was the big deal about Stan finally passing on.

For the Love of Broken Things: A Chicago Hairstylist Emerges Stronger After Fire
October 21
David Himmel

Cassie Krepel reached out to us following the fire that destroyed her salon with her story of a Phoenix rising from the ashes. David jumped on it and he and Dana headed over to Little Broken Things to get the story. I love the writing, I love the story, I love the way it all unfolded.

twenty or thirty or whatever number of things I have learned from the three times (and two half-times) i have fallen in love
June 9
Peter Kremidas

Kremidas has tapered off in regularity but his presence on The Ape is still felt. This heartfelt experiment in layout and thought process is just simply lovely.

First Season At The Unicorn Ranch
August 8
Dana Jerman

Yes, Dana is my soulmate and spouse but I read this piece just shortly after we got engaged and it remains one of my favorite pieces of short fiction anywhere by anyone. Smart, weird, sexy and unexpected, this is one piece you will regret missing. 

David has his favorites, too. Take a moment while hiding from your mother-in-law in the toilet with your iPad and read one of them tomorrow. We think you’ll be happy you did.