Introduction to Focus: Who's In? Who's Out?

The passing of time provides clarity and perspective on literary art for which there is no substitute. It removes the distractions of writerly personality, and foregrounds the writerly products. Today's fashion becomes yesterday's failure; yesterday's failure becomes today's fashion. Overlooked or overrated—literary and critical gems are only visible with hindsight.

Consider all the emerging authors prognosticated by critics and writers to become the next James Joyce or Samuel Beckett or Jorge Luis Borges and how few have risen to the accolades. Or remember those who became recognized as masters only in the slow brew of critical time—writers like Franz Kafka, Felipe Alfau, Roberto Bolaño, and Raymond Federman.

One gauge of a literary generation's power is its ability to exhibit critical foresight. To provide sharp prognostications of fiction's future and the trajectory of current writers. To put hype and marketing aside and focus on the impact of writing and criticism.

This highly speculative endeavor is perhaps the most difficult act in contemporary letters. Looking forward to a place where the writing and criticism today may be viewed against the relief of time. Such acts are more than just critical games. Rather, they are important exercises in helping direct our current writing and critical energies.

American Book Review wants to know what the writing and criticism worlds will be like ten years from now. What authors will be in? What type of writing will be out? What poets will have faded, and who will be high up on our radar? What will be the "in" approach to criticism, and what will look like an historical artifact?