The Sun Magazine

Recent book releases from Sun contributors include a collection of essays on landscape and family and the winner of the 2026 Rattle Chapbook Prize.

The people who are important to us don’t necessarily need to be with us to have an effect on our lives. More often than not, we feel their presence even after they’re gone. It could be a boss whose instructions about work turned out to be lessons about integrity and respect. It could be a loved one who’s passed away but still sends messages to the family left behind. Or it co...

Sometimes, an essay—or two—generates dozens of letters. That was certainly the case for “The Invisible Gorilla” by Sara Spurgeon and “Believe Me” by Debra Gwartney, both of which appeared in our August issue.

Because the magazine shares its name with a celestial body, The Sun has historically been hesitant to include too many pieces about the cosmos—but that doesn’t mean some good ones haven’t sneaked in over the years.

The court still needed two alternates, in case a member of the jury dropped out for some reason. After another round of questioning, a pleasant, retired woman was selected.

My name was the last one called.