Issue IX: Welcome to Wonderland

Welcome to Wonderland.

In the quiet whimsy of our need for entertainment, the carnival was born. For lovers and loners, dreamers and despairers, Wonderland welcomes you to put away your worries for a night as you partake in the revelry surrounding you. Amidst the tents and stalls and games and rides, every person who comes to Wonderland will be able to find their place and leave with happy memories and experiences. At Wonderland, anything is possible and nothing is as it seems.

For this issue, we asked submitters to explore what Wonderland means to them, figuratively or literally. We asked for stories, poems, essays, artwork, and photography that captured the mayhem, madness, and magic of carnivals. Whether it's the bright lights of the Ferris wheel, the eerie silence of the funhouse, or the strange characters lurking amidst the shadows of the tents, we wanted to see your most imaginative and vivid interpretations. Our contributors evoke the thrill of the ride, help us feel the taste of cotton candy on our tongues, and transport us to a strange, surreal world where reality bends and twists all in its path. Read on to see in their own words what a carnival represents to them.