The new issue of The Collagist is out. Here’s what I think about that: This is a must read online journal. Every issue so far has struck me with how completely realized it is, how each piece — especially the stories and non-fiction — is smooth and well-thunk, creating a total, culturally relevant package. I mean, seriously, like, this journal is quickly surpassing big lit joints on the order of The Paris Review and becoming something that it seems all intelligent people (and not just writers) ought to care about. Also, it strikes me that The Collagist is calmly answering the question about how an online magazine ought to differ from a print publication. While much of the work there is, y’know, just a story that could easily appear on the page, they also feature a video book review by Anna Clark. Now the video even has some chintzy music to start the thing, and then incorporates images of the author and contextual pics interspersed with the reviewer talking about and reading from the book in question. Pretty cool. I like that they don’t rely on comments or links to make it hypertextual.

For a way into this month, check out Jennifer Howard’s three pieces. And if you haven’t yet, pull your laptop into your bed tonight and read Matthew Derby’s wowzer, “Full Metal Jhacket” from October. It’s such a fun story.

Kudos and thanks to Matt Bell and Dzanc Books for creating such a smart venue for writers to aspire to, and for bringing such an authentic and well-conceived journal to the online scene. I honestly feel better about the world knowing it’s out there. It joins Robot Melon as my favorite source of lit in the electronic sphere.