Page 2: Requiem for a Journal

Page 2 American Book Review American Book Review Founded 1977 by Ronald Sukenick Published at the School of Arts and Sciences, University of Houston–Victoria American Book Review specializes in reviews of frequently neglected published works of fiction, poetry, literary and cultural criticism from small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde, and women’s presses. ABR as a literary journal aims to project the sense of engagement that writers themselves feel about what is being published. It is edited and produced by writers for writers and the general public. Comment on its reviews is encouraged, as are suggestions for future reviews. Send all editorial correspondence or review copies to: American Book Review, University of Houston–Victoria, School of Arts and Sciences, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, TX 77901-5731 Telephone: (361) 570-4100 Fax: (361) 570-4207 Email: alcornc@uhv.edu (Charles Alcorn, managing editor) Send all subscription correspondence to: American Book Review, University of Houston–Victoria, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, TX 77901-5731 Telephone: (361) 570-4101 Email: americanbookreview@uhv.edu© 2008 by American Book Review ISSN 0149-9408. Covers and cover details used by permission. American Book Review appears bimonthly.Annual subscription rates are $24 for a one-year and $40 for a two-year individual subscription; $30 for a one-year institutional subscription; $35 for a one-year foreign, airmail subscription. American Book Review is published by its editors, and is made possible, in part, by generous support from the School of Arts and Sciences, University of Houston–Victoria and Friends of ABR. This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art. ABR is also a member of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses. Trade distribution by Hudson–RPM, 150 Black River Road, Worcester, MA 01607; and Armadillo, 7310 LaCienaga Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302. Indexed in Humanities International Complete, Book Review Index, Current Contents/Arts & Humanities, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index. http://americanbookreview.org Publisher: Editor: Managing Editor: Assistant Editor: Layout: Advertising Manager: Subscription Manager: Cover Image: Focus Editor: Publisher Emeritus: Associate Editors: Contributing Editors: Assistants: Jeffrey R. Di Leo Jeffrey R. Di Leo Charles Alcorn David C. Felts David C. Felts Charles Alcorn Susie Albert©istockphoto.com/Steve Geer, “Seaside Window” Nicole Simek Charles B. Harris Mark Amerika, R.M. Berry, C. S. Giscombe, Larry McCaffery, Doug Nufer, Lance Olsen, Kevin Prufer, Rochelle Ratner, John Tytell, Barry Wallenstein, Eric Miles Williamson Rudolfo Anaya, Ron Arias, John Ashbery, Michael Bérubé, Rosellen Brown, Andrei Codrescu, William Demby, Rikki Ducornet, Raymond Federman, William Gass, Russell Hoover, Steve Katz, Clarence Major, Michael McClure, Joyce Carol Oates, Marjorie Perloff, Robert Peters, Corinne Robins, Charles Russell, Paul Schiavo, Barry Seiler, Charles Simic, Bruce Sterling, Regina Weinreich Nathan King Page 2 One of my colleagues is struggling to keep afloat the journal he edits. The chair of his department is threatening to cut funding because, according to my colleague, he does not see how the journal directly serves the department. Flash back: a few years ago my colleague and his journal faced the same threat. At that time, he asked that letters of support for his journal be sent to his chair. This time, his actions were different. This time, he asked his colleagues to contribute a piece to what he plans to be the last issue of this journal. He stated that he would rather shut his journal down entirely than accept a cut in support. The story is a familiar one: a small nonprofit journal, whose survival depends entirely upon the support of a college or university, loses that support and is faced with having to cease publication. In all likelihood, the requiem for his journal will be held this December at the annual meeting of the Modern Language Association. But even if it survives, it is certain that my colleague will be revisiting this cycle of funding cuts one or two years from now. Most nonprofit journals with university affiliations are dependent on the “goodwill” of the university’s administration. And for many, it means the difference between a journal’s survival and extinction. The university that supports my colleague’s journal...