CONVOIUL (XV) by Gheorghe Schwartz Translated by Eugene Matzota ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.108, 8/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Abstract: In "The Convoy (XV)", published in ALTCULTURE Magazine (no. 108, 2026) as an excerpt from Gheorghe Schwartz's visionary speculative work, the narrative plunges deeper into the disorienting, meticulously engineered realities of life outside the collective march. Against a backdrop of silent surveillance, pervasive self-censorship, and automated transportation, the protagonist reflects on a tense encounter at a secluded niche table with a nervous, polarized-lens-wearing youth who has similarly abandoned the serpentine procession. Blending sharp existential philosophy with Orwellian institutional critique, the text examines the friction between assigned covert missions, the illusion of free will, and the haunting psychological vacuum left behind by erased memories and cashless societies. As the protagonist navigates urban traffic toward a rendezvous at Konrad's—haunted by fleeting glimpses of women seemingly vanished from the Convoy—the excerpt resonates as a profound exploration of human alienation, systemic control, and the desperate quest for individual identity in a totally programmed world.
GLUME PROASTE, de Nicolaie Dincă ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.108, 08/2026 ▲
GLUME PROASTE by Nicolae Dincă ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.108, 8/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! ABSTRACT Title: Glume proaste (Bad Jokes) Author: Nicolaie Dincă Source: ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE, No. 108, 08/2026 Synopsis and Themes This darkly comic, satirical rural short story blends elements of local folklore (specifically the myth of the moroi or vampire) with domestic farce and heavy drinking. Set in a village cemetery and the households nearby, the narrative explores marital infidelity, neighborhood gossip, and the absurd misunderstandings between a heavy-drinking husband, his unfaithful wife, and her lover. Key Ideas • The Cemetery Awakening: Ionel, heavily intoxicated, wakes up naked inside the tomb of his recently deceased, alcohol-preserved friend Gogu. Finding a pair of dark underwear and a white tank top under a nearby walnut tree, he puts them on and walks home. • The Secret Encounter: The clothes actually belong to Ionel's wife, Gigela, and her lover/cousin, Marcel, who had rushed to the cemetery to look for Ionel and ended up distracted by a romantic interlude under the moonlight, leaving their clothes behind. • The Supposed Vampire: Amid rumors that Gogu has risen as a moroi (vampire) taking revenge on his enemies, another local rival dies suddenly. Spurred by fear and local superstition, Ionel and a band of villagers break into Gogu's tomb to drive a wooden stake through his heart. • The Comedic Twist: Inside the crypt, Gogu is found wearing Ionel's missing clothes, holding a photograph of Gigela and Marcel. Just as Gogu opens his eyes and seems ready to reveal the truth, the villagers strike the stake, forever silencing the "vampire" and preserving the awkward domestic status quo.
1. Simpozion imaginar „Despre dragoste” ▲ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.108, 08/2026▲
1. Simpozion imaginar „Despre dragoste” ▲ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.108, 08/2026▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! ABSTRACT Title: Imaginary Symposium – On Love Author: Ion Bogdan Martin Source: ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE 108, 08/2026 Synopsis and Themes The text adopts the format of a written "imaginary symposium," set against the musical backdrop of Leonard Cohen’s *Dance Me to the End of Love*. The author explores the many facets of love—ranging from family and civic affections to electoral absurdity, quirky Romanian naming traditions, and domestic relationships—stripping away romantic clichés through self-deprecation, sharp humor, and keen social observation. Key Ideas The Anatomy of the Sentiment: The piece clearly distinguishes between true love (vision, emotion, a state of grace that makes one a better person) and mere instinct or sex, playfully mocking modern exaggerations and myths of legendary conquests. Everyday Absurdity and Onomastics: Through various humorous tangents, the author examines the quirks of given names, the farce of political campaigns, and the small comedies and dramas of marriage. Authenticity and Self-Irony: Using personal anecdotes—from a tense relationship with a future mother-in-law that took a bizarrely beneficial turn, to mock-serious breakdowns of bedroom positions—the text highlights the fragility of the human condition when faced with love. The Symposium's Conclusion: Beyond the definitions offered by great classics (Shakespeare, Tagore), love remains a pure "madness," a complex sentiment that ultimately boils down to what one receives only after giving of oneself unconditionally.
CONVOIUL (XIV) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.107, 07/2026 ▲
CONVOIUL (XIV) by Gheorghe Schwartz Translated by Eugene Matzota ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.107, 7/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Abstract: In "CONVOIUL (XIV)", published in ALTCULTURE Magazine (no. 107, 2026), author Gheorghe Schwartz and translator Eugene Matzota present an excerpt centered on the protagonist's profound disorientation, paranoia, and psychological exhaustion following his departure from the mysterious Convoiul. Plagued by unsettling dreams of marching alongside shadowy guards and shifting figures, the protagonist wakes in his hotel room to find his locked door mysteriously ajar. Amid blinking signals from a neighboring building and a pervasive fear of losing his sanity or failing an unseen psychological test, he navigates the hotel spaces and encounters fellow survivors. Blending surreal psychological tension with kafkaesque uncertainty, the narrative explores isolation, memory loss, and the fragile boundaries between reality and hallucination.
MOROIUL, de Nicolaie Dincă ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.107, 07/2026 ▲
MOROIUL by Nicolae Dincă ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.107, 7/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! Abstract: In "Moroiul", published in ALTCULTURE Magazine (no. 107, 2026), author Nicolae Dincă crafts a rich, atmospheric narrative steeped in the folklore, rustic mythology, and superstitions of the Olteț valley. Set against the bleak backdrop of a freezing November night, the story follows two local fiddlers, Vasile al lui Biță and Nelu, as they navigate a disorienting fog after performing at a raucous, decadent party hosted by a local politician. Blending dark rural realism with elements of the uncanny, the text captures the psychological descent of the two musicians into profound terror when they mistake a decaying, wind-beaten tree stump for a terrifying phantom or "moroi" demanding music. Through vivid dialogue, ancestral echoes of outlaws like Biță Duduveică, and a masterful shift from supernatural dread to sobering daylight realization, the narrative explores the fragility of human perception, the haunting weight of solitude, and the timeless power of folklore in the Romanian countryside.
”Colindătorul” ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.107, 07/2026 ▲
"Colindătorul" ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.107, 7/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! Abstract: In the excerpt from Sub semnul lui 12, titled "Colindătorul" and authored by Ion Bogdan Martin, the narrative unfolds on Christmas Eve in 2014, capturing a domestic debate between Olivia, a principled judge, and Tibor, her pragmatic real estate counselor partner. Set against a backdrop of television news broadcasts covering historic weather warnings, international scandals, and religious history, the couple navigates contrasting worldviews on faith, skepticism, and justice. The atmosphere shifts from playful banter and tension regarding career choices to a touch of the uncanny when an enigmatic, humble caroler visits their apartment, refusing money and sharing spiritual parables before departing mysteriously. The excerpt concludes with an air of suspense as Olivia uncovers an unexpected package left beneath the Christmas tree.
CONVOIUL (XIII) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.106, 06/2026 ▲
CONVOIUL (XIII) de Gheorghe Schwartz Tradus de / Translated by Eugene MATZOTA ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.106, 06/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Abstract Title: “THE CONVOY (XIII)” — Part I: The Body of the Snake (23) Author: Gheorghe Schwartz Translated by: Eugene Matzota Publication: ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE no. 106, 06/2026 “We still believe in culture!” Overview Sitting isolated in a quiet hotel lobby, the protagonist observes former members returning from the massive, collective entity known as "The Convoy" to rejoin civilian life—reunions that appear noticeably devoid of warmth or joy. With only three days of accommodation vouchers remaining, he faces growing uncertainty about his future while grappling with the reality of his covert recruitment by a secretive system. Through a communication device concealed as a business card, the protagonist learns why Convoy attire is heavily targeted by criminals: impostors use the uniforms to pose as law enforcement, carrying out robberies and murders under the guise of official authority. As he continues his assigned mission to investigate why individuals abandon the security of the Convoy for a life of hardship, the protagonist discovers that his own thoughts—and those of all marchers—are constantly harvested, processed, and analyzed by advanced computer algorithms, revealing a pervasive system of total surveillance.