MATRIX MAGAZINE presents…Issue 79: THE NEW UNDERGROUND.

We are looking for the best unpublished writers in Canada for our 79th issue.

We are looking for innovative short fiction and poetry by young or emerging writers.

Eligible applicants include Canadian citizens who have NOT published a trade book. People who have published chapbooks or have been published in anthologies or magazines may submit.

Edited by Ian Orti and Maya Merrick

Electronic submissions only. (Word or text files only)

Send to: ian[at]matrixmagazine[dot]org
Due date: December 5th

Tonight, Louis Rastelli launches his new novel A Fine Ending (Insomniac Press, 2007). Louis has been doing amazing cultural work out of Montreal for many many years (distroboto, Expozine, Fish Piss). Last spring, Jon Paul Fiorentino (who was the editor of my novel Delible) suggested that we trade off on the fiction imprint he had at Insomniac. So, springtime sees the launch of a book out with Fiorentino’s imprint, Serotonin, and the fall sees the launch of a book out with mine, Wayside Editions.

My plan with Wayside Editions is to focus on exciting first books. Louis was the first of these, and I’m very happy to see this long over-due book come into existence. When I approached him last spring, I had his shorts in mind, those lovely little “true stories” books he’d put out over the 90s, like “Fly vs. Kitten.” Louis, though, had something more ambitious in mind and from the stories I loved and some I hadn’t yet seen, wove together a wonderful novel. If you’re in or around Montreal, don’t miss this launch.

October 23rd.
6 to 10 p.m. (followed by special guest DJs)
Casa del Popolo
4873 St. Laurent

The Montreal Review of Books has a big profile of Louis and his book. Check it out.

If you’re in Vancouver, though, you might want to drop by Spartacus at 7 p.m. and hear Reg Johanson, Larissa Lai, Lora McElhinney, Sachiko Murakami, and Renee Rodin. They’ll be reading as part of the launch of West Coast Line 53: Representations of Murdered and Missing Women.

As for the imprint, next fall will see the publication of a brilliant and experimental novel by Jenny Sampirisi. Can’t wait.

The shortline reading series kicks off this Monday October 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the Railway Club. With readings by

Anne Stone
Matt Hogan
Rhoda Hodjati
Rita Wong
Garry Morse
Donato Mancini

I’m excited to read with such a stellar line up, including my old student Matt Hogan, whose non-fiction can be seen in recent issues of the Republic of East Van, the Peak and the Cap Courier.

I feel like I never get a chance to get out anymore, what with teaching & grad school. So this’ll be my night off! I’ll be there at 6:30, if you want to come by for a beer…

Please join us for the launch of …

West Coast Line 53
Representations of
Murdered and Missing Women

Edited by Anne Stone and Amber Dean

With presentations or readings by
Reg Johanson, Larissa Lai, Sachiko Murakami, Lora McElhinney, Renee Rodin, and others…

Tuesday, October 23rd at 7pm
Spartacus Books
319 West Hastings, 2nd Floor
Free! All welcome.

For more information write to westline@telus.net

Stephen Henighan has a piece in Geist about Rob Allen, his one-time teacher, my good friend. The direction of the piece is pretty much apparent in the title, “Traitor’s Dirge,” and byline (Henighan’s name has been made less for his literary fiction than for the way, in short essay style, he strafes Can Lit’s no-fly zones.) It’s not that Henighan doesn’t have a point. He does. Rob did love America and pop-culture and he loved a good literary line, however long. At times, the esoteric quality of his writing landed its punches far from the gut. Preferring the eye, say. Or what’s behind it.

For a study in the local, emotional power, and quiet perfection, I’d recommend Henighan play catch up by reading the sonnets in Standing Wave, a collection that’s among Rob’s best.

While Henighan does have his point, it’s trivial and expressed meanly: the form Henighan’s dirge takes is a funnel, and all of the broad and generous observations he has about Rob spiral down into a final dismissal of much of Rob’s work. “Traitor’s Dirge” doesn’t strike me as particularly honest or fair. Reading it, I get the same sense I do when reading much of Henighan’s work. Whatever Henighan looks at is an excuse for him to further elaborate himself.

It’s unfortunate that Rob died early. If he’d lived longer, maybe Henighan would have had the chance, and the grace, to kill his mentor off before the man himself died.