The_blog_of_the_fictionaut3

Luna Digest, 1/18

WWB KickstarterWords without Borders is seeking to raise $7,000 to publish their first issue dedicated to Afghanistan. According to their Kickstarter page, they’ve already secured a story from Mohammad Hosain Mohammad’s collection Anjirha-ye Sorkh-e Mazar, which was awarded the prestigious Golshiri prize, as well as a story by Mohammad Asif Soltanzadah, and another by Pashto writer Sher Zaman Taizi.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has a great essay by William Germano that answers the question: “What Are Good Books For?” He writes:

In 1959, C.P. Snow threw down the challenge of “two cultures,” the scientific and the humanistic, pursuing their separate, unconnected lives within developed societies. In the new-media ecology of the 21st century, we may not have closed that gap, but the two cultures of the contemporary world are the culture of data and the culture of narrative. Narrative is rarely collective. It isn’t infinitely expandable. Narrative has a shape and a temporality, and it ends, just as our lives do.

For those attending AWP: Flatmancrooked, HOBART, Dzanc, Featherproof Books, and Barrelhouse are hosting the first Literati Gong Show on Thursday, February 3rd at 6:30pm at Madam’s Organ Blues Bar. Judges are Benjamin Percy, Pam Houston, and Forrest Gander.

Middle Cyclone Album CoverMcSweeneys has a NEW website. It looks great—but if you’re like me and immediately looked for where to submit, you’ll find it at their old website here. While you’re submitting your latest smarty-pants manifesto, check out 826 National where Neko Case is auctioning off her classic 1967 Mercury Cougar (featured on the cover of her album Middle Cyclone) to benefit 826.

Marcelle Heath is subbing in this week for Luna Digesta selection of news from the world of literary magazines, presented every Tuesday by Luna Park, a magazine founded on the idea that journals are as deserving of critical attention as other artistic works.


  1. Marcus Speh

    love these digests and totally depend on them – thanks for putting this together – really enjoyed the germano article. mcsweeney’s is snazzy but does look more and more like a store front. i suppose that’s because it’s a store front. checked with duotrope just now: my story with them has been out 237 days. of course they can’t make a decision if all their time is taken up with innovating their website. stupid me! i shall have to submit elsewhere this afternoon to make myself feel better though…or even better: spirited by your article, i looked at “words without borders” and joined “wwb for college professors” – great initiative!

  1. 1 Luna Digest, 7/5 - Fictionaut Blog

    […] been some months since the last Digest post; here’s a recap of some spring & summer […]



Leave a Comment