Electric Literature

Yup, that's the name of it . . . a new literary magazine on the scene and it's, well, electric.

Finally, someone has made the limited-story format work. One Story tried it (is still trying it, I suppose) but it didn't (doesn't) work. Just one story? I loved the concept, but when I subscribed, I found myself disappointed issue after issue. My tastes seldom meshed with One Story's editors tastes. And, as a result, I was stuck every two weeks with a story I didn't want to read.

Electric Literature, on the other hand, publishes five stories. First, their editors have better taste in stories (in my opinion). Second, they publish five. I'll admit that I wasn't in love with every story, but I liked the majority. Five stories gave me the freedom to dislike one and still not be disappointed with the issue as a whole. Their first issue is off to a rip-roaring start. Publishing the likes of Jim Sheppard and Diana Wagman, they are publishing "names", but the stories they've selected remind the reader why these writers have "names". They are good writers. Period.

They even published the first chapter of a novel-in-progress by Michael Cunningham (The Hours, Speciman Days). Pretty cool. And, the opening chapter was damn good . . . and worked as a stand-alone story.

It's cliche to write this, but Electric Literature has a little something for everyone. Obsessed avalanche researchers, single-breasted girlfriends, jealous second husbands, bikini-bottom-sniffing teens, and dignified professional dog walkers.

Pick up an issue if you're looking for a literary magazine to support. My guess is that you won't be disappointed . . . at least not by every story.