Context

Editor's Picks

Untitled document

Elaine Katzenberger | City Lights Books

Whose Song? and Other Stories, Thomas Glave

Whose Song? is a collection of nine stories by a writer whose time has come. I know this to be true because his writing took me instantly to a place of wonder, drawn again into the layered richness that a deft and courageous writer can create. Thomas Glave is able to arrange story, characters, and inventive style in an innovative and precisely syncopated harmony; there are no sour notes or missed beats here. He writes with an incredibly sure hand, and while grounded quite steadily in a "talk story" sort of ethic, his experiments with language and pacing soar, bringing an incredibly rich and complex polyrhythm to the work. With the very first story, and throughout my reading of this collection, I was amazed at the originality and surety of his writing.

With this book, I get to play a most-desirable role: bringing a new author to his world of readers, initiating his "literary debut" and thus participating in that myth of "discovery" that is so exciting to authors and editors alike. Being able to introduce an author’s work, to "launch" a book publishing career, to be the one to pull back the curtain and stand aside to watch the audience’s reaction is undoubtedly a fun part of the job. It definitely adds to the pleasure of any book project, and for this reason, too, this book has been a joy to edit. While all of the stories in Whose Song? have been published previously, and Thomas has already received the O. Henry Prize (the first and only gay black man since James Baldwin to be so honored), this will be his first book, and with it he is destined to reach a wide and appreciative readership. Based on an unedited manuscript version, the Voice Literary Supplement chose Thomas as one of their "Writers on the Verge 2000." This is certainly a gratifying justification of my faith in the powerful effect of these stories, and I know that this book will be the beginning of a very successful journey. It’s a pleasure to be able to play a role in charting his path and helping him on his way.

Publishing books is a basic job of midwifery—enabling and assisting in the birth of new creatures, catching babies as they come into this world, holding them up, beaming, for all to see, and then passing them along to those who created them and to those who will love them. At this point, the editor steps back as the child steps forward to lay claim to a new string of admirers. Whose Song? is an incredible book—what a privilege to be able to add to the beauty and intelligence of the world!

Tosh Berman | TamTam Books

I Spit on Your Graves, Boris Vian

When my talented and extremely good tastemaker wife suggested that I read the works of the French bad boy of aesthetics Boris Vian, I read three: Blues for a Black Cat and Other Stories, I Spit on Your Graves, and an old American translation of L’Ecume des jours entitled Mood Indigo in English. The books did more than amuse me; I was converted into a publisher. Maybe because Vian reminded me of my late father (same generation and aesthetic) or perhaps I was just seduced by Vian’s humor, intensity, and his sense of the antiromantic. One thing became clear to me: I’ll dedicate my life to getting Vian’s work back in print in the U.S.

Last year TamTam books put out I Spit on Your Graves (the original translation by Vian). This novel has a twisted history that is almost as compelling as the novel itself, which anyone interested in can read about on the TamTam Books website (www.tamtambooks.com). Meanwhile, we’ve recently purchased the U.S. rights to Vian’s 1946 masterpiece L’Ecume des jours. This novel features, among other things, a talking mouse and a keyboard that can do everything from changing the mood in a room to making cocktails. A new translation by Brian Harper titled Foam of the Daze will be coming out in Spring 2001.


Interview with Founder Board of Directors Funders Submission Guidelines Dalkey Archive Full Catalog Current and Forthcoming Titles Recent Titles Review of Contemporary Fiction Special Library Offer Special Backlist Sale Stores & Wholesalers Academics Libraries Reviewers Context Casebooks Author Interviews Links Dalkey Archive News Events Newsletter

Context Editor's Picks Untitled document Elaine Katzenberger \| City Lights Books Whose Song? and Other Stories, Thomas Glave Whose Song? is a collection of nine stories by a writer whose time has come. I know this to be true because his writing took me instantly to a place of wonder, drawn again into the layered richness that a deft and courageous writer can create. Thomas Glave is able to arrange story, characters, and inventive style in an innovative and precisely syncopated harmony; there are no sour notes or missed beats here. He writes with an incredibly sure hand, and while grounded quite steadily in a "talk story" sort of ethic, his experiments with language and pacing soar, bringing an incredibly rich and complex polyrhythm to the work. With the very first story, and throughout my reading of this collection, I was amazed at the originality and surety of his writing. With this book, I get to play a most-desirable role: bringing a new author to his world of readers, initiating his "literary debut" and thus participating in that myth of "discovery" that is so exciting to authors and editors alike. Being able to introduce an author’s work, to "launch" a book publishing career, to be the one to pull back the curtain and stand aside to watch the audience’s reaction is undoubtedly a fun part of the job. It definitely adds to the pleasure of any book project, and for this reason, too, this book has been a joy to edit. While all of the stories in Whose Song? have been published previously, and Thomas has already received the O. Henry Prize (the first and only gay black man since James Baldwin to be so honored), this will be his first book, and with it he is destined to reach a wide and appreciative readership. Based on an unedited manuscript version, the Voice Literary Supplement chose Thomas as one of their "Writers on the Verge 2000." This is certainly a gratifying justification of my faith in the powerful effect of these stories, and I know that this book will be the beginning of a very successful journey. It’s a pleasure to be able to play a role in charting his path and helping him on his way. Publishing books is a basic job of midwifery—enabling and assisting in the birth of new creatures, catching babies as they come into this world, holding them up, beaming, for all to see, and then passing them along to those who created them and to those who will love them. At this point, the editor steps back as the child steps forward to lay claim to a new string of admirers. Whose Song? is an incredible book—what a privilege to be able to add to the beauty and intelligence of the world! Tosh Berman \| TamTam Books I Spit on Your Graves, Boris Vian When my talented and extremely good tastemaker wife suggested that I read the works of the French bad boy of aesthetics Boris Vian, I read three: Blues for a Black Cat and Other Stories, I Spit on Your Graves, and an old American translation of L’Ecume des jours entitled Mood Indigo in English. The books did more than amuse me; I was converted into a publisher. Maybe because Vian reminded me of my late father (same generation and aesthetic) or perhaps I was just seduced by Vian’s humor, intensity, and his sense of the antiromantic. One thing became clear to me: I’ll dedicate my life to getting Vian’s work back in print in the U.S. Last year TamTam books put out I Spit on Your Graves (the original translation by Vian). This novel has a twisted history that is almost as compelling as the novel itself, which anyone interested in can read about on the TamTam Books website (www.tamtambooks.com). Meanwhile, we’ve recently purchased the U.S. rights to Vian’s 1946 masterpiece L’Ecume des jours. This novel features, among other things, a talking mouse and a keyboard that can do everything from changing the mood in a room to making cocktails. A new translation by Brian Harper titled Foam of the Daze will be coming out in Spring 2001. Current issue: CONTEXT # 21 CONTEXT is a triquarterly publication intended to create an international and historical context in which to read modern and contemporary literature. Its goal is to encourage the development of a literary community. CONTEXT is available at bookstores nationwide.

Search the full text of our books: