This forty-seventh edition of our Translators’ Corner features the English translation of the short story “Mariposa nocturna”, rendered here as “Obsidian Butterfly”, by contemporary Mexican author Andrea Madrueño. Published in 2024 in the cosmic-themed issue of the Mexican speculative fiction journal Penumbria, the story follows Paula, a survivor of an acid attack, as she navigates the liminal space between life and death. Guided by Itzpapálotl, the obsidian-winged Aztec goddess, Paula confronts her trauma and the spectral lineage of women erased by patriarchal violence, embarking on a transformative journey through memory and mythic resistance.
Madrueño’s lyrical, oneiric prose blends cosmic horror with stark social commentary, addressing gender-based violence aggravated by institutional neglect. The narrative weaves Mesoamerican mythology with contemporary realities, offering a mournful yet luminous exploration of survival and metamorphosis. The translation preserves the story’s psychological depth and speculative imagery, bringing its haunting beauty to English-language readers. [Adapted from introduction by the translator].
The translation is by Carlos A. González, an emerging translator and PhD candidate at Harvard University specializing in Gothic and speculative fiction. Their work as a translator focuses on amplifying Latin American voices, particularly those challenging dominant literary conventions.
