Crab Creek ReviewCrab Creek Review
Small Press/Small Magazine Review, 2004

In the January-February 2004 issue of Small Press/Small Magazine Review, we were delighted to find the following review of our Spring/Summer 2003 Issue. We would like to thank Francis Alix for the generous reflection on our literary journal and to Len Fulton for publishing it and for the permission to reprint it here.


CRAB CREEK REVIEW, Vol. XVII #1
Spring/Summer 2003
Edited by Eleanor Lee, Harris Levinson, Laura Sinai, and Terri Stone
Review by Francis Alix

Imagine an editor, mind open to words and voices of writers, unafraid of the creative process, willing to embrace the word "diverse." The editors of this journal have collected in seventy-seven pages an intriguing mix of poetry and short fiction to bend our hearts and minds. The diversity of work illustrates their commitment to representing all writers. The poems present the spectrum of the genre, from traditional rhyming verse to blank verse to prose poetry to the avant-garde. The works span many themes, from revenge to music to adoration to food, with a translation for good measure. Not only is this a fine collection, but the accessibility and craft of the works attest to the editors' strong editorial abilities.

Some of the works are worth noting. One of the two short stories, "My Disappearance" by Justin Courter, is a surreal story that is so believable it is a near paradox. He forges a tale of the shrinking man in the first person to create an emotional and social tour de force and to allow the reader to feel more connected as the narrator disappears. The poem, "One Kind Boy" by Kevin Miller, is steeped with passion, tragedy, and secrets. His phrasing is spot on and his metaphors excellent, as in "Some boys are calm water,/clean sheets, chimney smoke/straight to the sky." You may want to read one of his books (Everywhere Was Far and Light That Whispers Morning are both published by the illustrious Jim Bodeen at Blue Begonia Press and are available from the mighty fine folks at Open Books).

This journal defines what a great journal should be. It is not eclectic, which usually refers to whatever the editors could grab together. Methodical editing and adventurous works make this one of the best journals with something for everyone.

Spring/Summer 2003 Issue

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