An image of toy pandas with the cover of Little Eyes on the right with the text Monthly Spotlight circling it

Monthly Spotlight: Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowell

Wildly imaginative and timely, Little Eyes explores the collision of technology and play, horror and humanity, and the way our digital lives allow us to observe others – and be observed by them

Samanta Schweblin is an Argentine author who has been nominated for the International Booker Prize three times, having been longlisted for Little Eyes and Mouthful of Birds in 2020 and 2019, and shortlisted for Fever Dream in 2017. All three books were translated into English by Megan McDowell.

Schweblin’s work has appeared in various publications, including the New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, the Paris Review and Granta. Her novel Fever Dream was adapted into a Netflix film in 2021. Born in Buenos Aires, she lives in Berlin.

Megan McDowell translates works from Spanish into English. Her translations have won the National Book Award for Translated Literature, the English PEN award, the Premio Valle-Inclán, and two O. Henry Prizes. Originally from Kentucky, she now lives in Chile.

Little Eyes follows the users of little mechanical toy animals – kentukis – as they become a global hit, and explores the voyeurism and exhibitionism inherent in our digital lives.

From a comprehensive reading guide and extract to illuminating interviews and features, find out more about our September Monthly Spotlight here.

Publication date and time: Published