Emily Dickinson reminds us “There is no Frigate like a Book.” And in her time, she was right. Though if she were alive today–and though some of her trademark style would suffer dire consequence–she might have said “There is no Frigate like a Literary Magazine.” If you were wondering what a return to the golden age of the lit mag would look like–look around. At no time has for-profit publishing been dominated by profit margins as it is right now–meaning less risky and chance, and more banking on sure bets and clear sales. And one sure bet is that the past two months of the stock market doing backflips haven’t helped matters. Things become a little predictable, by rote.
Think of a lit mag like a fortune teller. (Or: things become a little predictable, by magic.)
What you find in the pages of any of them will likely orient you to the best of what is current–and each serves to map our collective expectations for the next generation of literary writing.
On Saturday, Nov. 8th, starting at 10am, The Kenyon Review Literary Festival will host the 2008 CLMP Lit Mag and Small Press Fair in the Pierce Hall breezeway. There will be offerings from over 100 lit mags and small presses–from the heavy hitters to the obscure, from the borderline book arts to the cheap newsprint–and each of them will be sold at the rock bottom rate of $2 a lit mag, $4 a book. Experimental, mainstream, genre-specific, compendium or quarterly, you won’t find a greater collection of lit mags in any bookstore anywhere remotely near here. Be very, very, excited.
Then get in your car and come buy a Frigate to take home with you. Better yet, fall in love with something new. And subscribe.
