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"Before you know it as the years go by, you're just like other people you have seen, with all those peculiar human ailments. Just another vehicle for temper and vanity and rashness and all the rest. Who wants it? Who needs it? These things occupy the place where a man's soul should be." -- Henderson the Rain King

Monday, August 21, 2006

McSweeney's #20

Book #31 on my reading list was McSweeney's Quarterly Concern #20. This quarter's edition of the literary journal is a nice hard bound copy containing 13 short stories, a preview of Chris Adrian's new novel, and 50 full cover illustrations. As the McSweeney's site says, it's 'a handsome, handsome issue, brimming with fulfilling things.'

By far the most fulfilling thing in the book is Kevin Moffett's excellent "Statement of Purpose" and the exciting news that his short story collection titled Permanent Visitors is set to be published in October. That makes me a very happy man. That one's going right on the old Amazon wish list.

The rest of the stories combine to make this a slightly above average McSweeney's edition. Besides Moffett's piece, other favorites include Susan Steinberg's "To Sit, Unmoving", Aaron Gwyn's "Mate", Jack Pendarvis' "The Big Dud", and Roderick White's "Elsewhere".

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posted by Jamie at 12:49 AM