(Th)ings and (Th)oughts by Alla Gorbunova

(Th)ings and (Th)oughts

By Alla Gorbunova

Translated by Elina Alter

Deep Vellum 2025

Steeped in a morbid yet jocular sensibility, Alla Gorbunova’s (Th)ings and (Th)oughts blends the bleak realities of everyday existence with amusing absurdities. Raised amid the remnants of the Soviet Union, Gorbunova’s award-winning poetry and inventive prose signal a new wave in contemporary Russian literature. However, her latest work, translated by Elina Alter, comprises mostly middling stories that remain conceptually stunted despite their potential.

The five-part collection opens with the whimsical story “Psychoanalysis in Hell,” narrated by a psychoanalyst who outlines her strategy for helping bewildered new inhabitants process their eternal, fiery predicament. She offers prudent advice to her stupefied patients, centered on acceptance and self-love:

“You can't stop being in Hell just because you want to. Don't expect sincere repentance to bring immediate deliverance. Do not resort to bargaining or legal reasoning. Stop gathering evidence to prove that you deserve something better than Hell. Humbly and meekly come to terms with whatever happens.”

This is followed by an equally comical story, “Biomass,” about a woman who has fallen in love with a man who quite literally possesses no soul. Unfortunately for readers, the remainder of this curated selection meanders through half-baked ideas and dull sketches.

Gorbunova’s jaded surrealism evokes a range of emotions—and occasionally entertains—but ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression. Each premise seems poised to take a profound leap or strike at the heart of a philosophical question, yet instead retreats or stalls in place. Stories like “Incidental Pleasures” flirt with a Pascalian notion of humanity’s diversion-seeking loop, while “Eternal Separation” brushes lightly against the anxiety-inducing fear of eternal nothingness after death; however, both narratives lack the boldness to move beyond the surface.

Despite the general lack of direction and originality that would warrant comparisons to Kharms or Bulgakov, a handful of diamonds in the rough reveal the Russian poet’s potential. Her prose displays a dazzling imagination—full of bizarre characters, jarring actions, and promising, humorous setups. In addition, later stories, such as “ἐκπύρωσις” and “Ghost Train,” impress with sentimental language and rich symbolism.

Alla Gorbunova’s short stories leave much to be desired, yet they showcase her elaborate creativity and lyrical prowess. I sense that her ceiling is higher than what this collection achieves, making her a promising talent worth watching.

Brock Covington is an entrepreneur and writer. He can be found on the YouTube channel "The Active Mind" and on his substack: brockcovington.substack.com