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What are others saying about Air in the Paragraph Line? Here are some reviews from previous issues.
Blogger News Network – September 23rd, 2007 by Laura Smith
“Air In The Paragraph Line” Volume 12 is the latest edition of Jon Konrath’s unique literary journal. This issue’s theme was “Weird, Paranoid, Insane” and includes 23 stories that fit this theme well. In his introduction, Konrath calls this edition “an invitation to write about insanity to the MySpace crowd,” which is the best way to describe this publication.
Most of the stories are written in the style of creative nonfiction, as if the writer truly believes the extravagant tales they are unlashing on the page. Each story is highlighted by a cover page illustration with related black-and-white ink drawings sketched by Matthew Pazzol of cartoon silhouettes of characters that resemble human beings to kick off each bizarre story that begins on the next page.
The journal’s theme allows elements of dark humor, gore, and unpredictable plot twists to flow through its bloodstream unchecked. The hardships of the work place and the family are the stories’ major themes and two of the most likely places to find the bizarre material that this publication demands.
In the opening piece, ”Uncle Bud, Chaos Superstar” by Rebel Star Hobson, the narrator reminisces about his reckless Uncle Bud who seems immune to the heavy drug abuse and terminal illnesses which plague his body and who, by sticking to his stubborn lifestyle, is able to endure those problems which knock all others who obtain them into their graves. This story sets the bar for the rest of the stories to come in this collection. Other heavy family pieces include “Shopping With the Vietcong,” author Todd Taylor’s depiction of a young boy shopping with his Vietnam scarred father and Erin O’Brien’s “Skeleton Mom” about a girl dealing with her mom’s eating disorder and her own self image.
The characters are typically hardened, cynical, and rebel against authority and society. One of these characters is even Konrath’s portrayal of former president Richard Nixon in his contributing piece, as well as a nicotine addicted head chairman of a scavenger squad named Boogerlove created by Yuppie Rockwell. The comedic elements are most present in the first few pieces. However, it is the middle of the book that shines. The quality meat of the journal starts off with Tony Byrer’s “A Brief Tale of Great Integrity” about a Hardees employee who takes the freedom of working the nightshift too far followed by “Lome Togo-Me Mongo” by Dege Legg, who through the use of letter narration nearly scams an e-mail spammer who tries to take advantage of the naïve Internet users of the world. There is also John Sheppard’s “Public Radio” which shows the differing relationships that the protagonist has in his night class as opposed to his work place.
The collection ends with Konrath’s “They,” the tale with the greatest amount of paranoia in the book, which is appropriate given the chaos of the story’s world in which Samuel L. Jackson is president and the protagonist collects a heavy fortune in stock from Haldiburson, the company in which he is employed. A short note on each of the contributors and their contact information follows, officially ending the madness that the previous 230 pages of brought on.
http://www.bloggernews.net/110404
Zine World #5 – Winter 1997-1998
Air in the Paragraph Line #8: “Entertainment for the Deranged.” Heavy drinking and childhood memories, road trips, the entanglements of friendship – these are the basic ingredients of any old zine, but this ain’t any old zine. The writing is an effectively Bukowskish mixture of punky prose with poetic reverberations mixed in. Really good stuff. There’s also an interview with Jello Biafra that asks good questions and gets good answers. All said, this is an eminently enjoyable, literate zine; sweet, sour, and recommended. -Pam
Note: Zine World used to, instead of ratings, give the amount of time the reviewer actually spent with the zine. Most ho-hum zines got about ten minutes of skimming, but AITPL got Two Hours, longer than any zine in the issue.
Think 3 – March 1998
Was at http://members.aol.com/vozhd/rev398.html http://members.aol.com/vozhd/Think3.html
AIR IN THE PARAGRAPH LINE.
Ed. Jon Konrath
This is the first issue I’ve read of Jon Konrath’s amazing zine. It is well thought out and laid out, living up to his intent “to provide a readable, enjoyable piece of paper that people can READ.” Among the highlights of this issue are JW Fail’s “We Love Sree’s Food,” a 2 pg. review of an Indian restaurant just outside Pittsburgh. An interview with Jello Biafra, contributed by Ray Miller, was entertaining and interesting, especially Jello’s take on the “State of the Union.” One of the most compelling pieces was written by Steve Johnson and titled simply “Depression.” This was especially meaningful to me, as I suffer from clinical depression and can definitely empathize with Steve. A couple of short stories by editor Konrath (including “Summer Rain,” an excerpt from his book of the same name), a a 3 page sage of life in Houston by Larry Falli (been there done that), and some hard-to-read filler, also by Ray Miller, round out th ezine. There was also a rant by “The Loser” called Humanity Has Gone Postal.” Overall, this 59 page zine is a steal for the low, low price. I highly recommend it.
-Frank The Lunatic.
Bite Me! – #13 Summer/Fall 1998
6038 Hayes Ave #1A
Los Angeles, CA 90042
This is the best fiction ‘zine I’ve seen in years. Fun (and cheap!) fact and fiction stories. This issue features fake classified ads, an interview with Inverted Bitch Fister (which I’m still not sure is a real interview… I don’t think so. It’s really a work of art and I wish we could be responsible.) So, buy this thing. All Independent writers will thank you.
Review Addict
was http://dsl.org/m/doc/rev/98/04/
16 Apr 1998
JON KONRATH
Air in the Paragraph Line #9
Air in the Paragraph Line is a well-produced indie lit zine made by Jon Konrath, and is the only one I know that uses Emacs as a production tool. This issue features two good short stories from Konrath, a guy who’s got just as many unpublished novels waiting for some lucky publisher. Also dream journals from Konrath, the interesting J.W. Fail and Jennifer Wagner. Other talents in the pages herein include SiD, who describes his typical weekend out in Kansas City.
This is exactly the kind of fiction that I like to read — stuff– — that’s now and stuff that matters.
Cursed Productions
http://cursedproductions.com
Air In the Paragraph Line #9 $3 -More insane ramblings from the author of Metal Curse’s “Dear Death” and his deranged pals.
Air In the Paragraph Line #8 $3 -”Entertainment for the deranged.” Stories, interviews, and other Satanic sickness. Not for the weak minded.
Dark Legions reviews
http://www.anus.com/metal/index.html: Like a college writing journal gone Kerouacian collage, this zine covers everything from politics to figures in the underground to postmodern literature with a flair for the esoteric and demented. More complex than most zines in language and topic, this rag is actually read and not browsed.
