From the Reading Pile XXX

A Murder of Corvids
While living in Merritt, British Columbia, Hatton published a number of zines, including one on community access television and another called the Corvid Revue. This collection compiles stories taken from that zine, and while none really conveys the sense of the local evoked in his introduction, a handful are worth noting. "Copycats" is a brief slipstream short about civilized felines. "Everyone Else Is Wearing Theirs" could be an allegory about homelessness but still reels in slipstream savviness. The nonfiction "A Brooklyn Tour" recounts a visit to New York's best borough, giving me several walking tour ideas. The post-911 "Corvus on War" piece, the only item not previously published, recommends several anti-war media must-sees, -reads, and -hears. And "Treed" returns to the slipstream. Were Hatton to focus on his new fabulist fiction, he could be a voice to follow! Dave Hatton, P.O. Box 2318, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. [$2 US, $3 Elsewhere, trade, free to prisoners 64S :20]

Off-Line #28 (Spring 2004)
Published since 1999, this zine edited by what seems to be a politically active couple, is an intelligent personal zine that goes beyond diary entries. Opening with an article about an anti-war protest held on Memorial Day, the zine establishes its personality: caring, involved, and smart. The way Romano and his compatriots in the Westchester Activist Youth defused the situations in which people challenged their stance is impressive. Other pieces address conversations overheard on the bus, a Food Not Bombs action, violence at an Iron Maiden concert, a review of two 2003 talks by Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, vegan recipes, and letters from readers. After reading this zine, I like and want to meet Romano and Cocco -- and not every zine inspires that sense of connection. Vincent Romano and Claire Cocco, 35 Barker Ave. #4G, White Plains, NY 10604. [Free, trade, free to prisoners 64S :07]

Team Evil #1 (March 2004)
This extremely well-designed and -produced zine is published by an Australina freelance writer and public relations professional who uses a slew of pseudonyms -- Weezy, Milk Is Chillin', and Mr. Sniffles -- to "not lose my job." Opening with a consideration of violence in hip hop, the zine includes interviews with the Neptunes and Prince Paul, a quick conversation with an old-school secretary using a typewriter, pieces on video games and super villains, an appreciation of driving while high, and a look at the Hairdressing Society State Titles. Were Napieralski not so enamored by not-quite-Hunter Thompson drug-fueled writing -- and were the stories longer reported pieces like those he must do as a freelancer -- given his interests, experiences, and access, this zine could be awesome. As it is, it's acceptable. I look forward to future issues. Mikolaj Napieralski, 12 Heathfield St., Eight Mile Plains 4113 Brisbane, Queensland Australia. [$3 32S :07]