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Page 2 Ä Since this is the first issue of volume 27, and since we have a few new people on board here at American Book Review—a new Executive Editor, Kass Fleisher, a new Associate Director at the Publications Unit, Sarah Haberstich, and myself—I thought I might take a moment to thank publicly all of the many editors, reviewers, staffs, institutions, and especially readers whose support of ABR over the years is mightily appreciated. We're particularly grateful to Illinois State University for continuing to provide the supplemental staffing and facilities necessary to keep ABR in the pink. Readers will note that ABR has, as of this issue, something of a new look—which will be further modified over time under the expert eye of Tara Reeser. We're interested in hearing what our readers think of the new graphics and layout, and would like to hear from you. (Please feel free to post us at AmericanBookReview@ilstu.edu. We'll try to respond personally to every post received.) In light of the above changes, this might be a good time, in fact, to revisit ABR's original mission statement: American Book Review, founded in 1977, is an internationally circulated, bimonthly, print journal that specializes in reviews offrequently neglected published works offiction, poetry, and literary 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's fair to say that future issues of ABR will, if anything, only reinforce our commitment to this mission , which—as Russell Hoover, one ofour editors, has recently observed—probably could stand some tweaking to make mention of those works of that fourth genre, nonfiction (and creative nonfiction), that might not otherwise enjoy a lot of airplay. Publishing has never been an easy venture, and it's not getting any easier. On any given Monday, our publisher, Charles Harris, can be seen at his desk gesticulating wildly over the sorry business of publishing, and let's face it—Charlie's concerns are well warranted. Publications such as ABR seem at times to enjoy the light of publishing day by a series of, well, happy accidents, underwritten of course by a remarkable spirit of loyalty, dedication, and raw human energy. I daresay that most small-press publishers—Dalkey Archive and FC2 come immediately to mind, as ISU supports both—would second my sentiment here. Cast in this light, the world ofpublishing takes on decidedly less balkanized contours. It can hardly be said, for instance, that we "compete" for "market shares" with other fine publications, such as Rain Taxi. And in fact, though we often see ourselves as working against more mainstream outlets, the pages (e.g.) of the New York Times Book Review—which this reader reads regularly for its fine coverage of nonfiction books—speak to the broader concerns we all share: to provide the public with cultural news that stays news, with the hope of contributing to a more informed, aware, and literate (in all senses) citizenry, a citizenry more sensitive to and more appreciative of artistic and intellectual endeavor. A greater mission, perhaps. And why not? Small enterprises can sometimes catalyze momentous results, especially over the long haul. Here's to the long haul. In future issues ofABR, readers will be treated not simply to reviews ofoutstanding literary productions , but to reviews of events—literary festivals, performances, blogs (if a blog may be understood as an unfolding textual event), and so forth. We'll be revisiting our backlist, too, to ensure that important and generally neglected works finally get the attention they deserve. In all, we hope you'll agree with us that our scope needs to widen some in order to dojustice to the net ofplace (to borrow an expression from the late poet Paul Blackburn). This place we inhabit together, under the sun, is variegated indeed, and its temporal dimensions, whether measured in rotational days or revolutionary years, demands a fuller engagement with the real. (And yeah, my Black Mountain underwear is showing.) It should prove, at the very least, an interesting ride. Joe Amato Managing...

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