96 INC – 2005

The latest issue of 96 INC. is dedicated to the memory of founding editor Vera Cochran Gold and contains her intriguing “Vegetable Monologues: Broccoli, Okra, Fennel, The Pepper Farm, Eggplants.” The suite of short-shorts are experimental in form, affecting mediations on isolation and alienation. 

The latest issue of 96 INC. is dedicated to the memory of founding editor Vera Cochran Gold and contains her intriguing “Vegetable Monologues: Broccoli, Okra, Fennel, The Pepper Farm, Eggplants.” The suite of short-shorts are experimental in form, affecting mediations on isolation and alienation. Gold’s work is representative of the eclectic spirit of 96 INC—teenagers in workshops conducted by 96 Inc. assist in the production of the magazine and the journal frequently features the work of adolescents alongside established writers. The inclusive nature of the magazine does not prevent excellence. The format is sleek and tidy, the quality of the content high. Sandra Novack’s imaginative short story, “Please, If you love me, You should know what to do,” is a standout, as is Heather Hartley’s stunning poem “The Guardian of Art”: “He knows how shadows strike long halls, / dusk on a stretch of canvas, / the look of sculpture after night falls: / heavy as silence after music stops.” While the majority of the journal is comprised of fiction and poetry, the issue also includes several translations, a book review, and black and white art that’s interspersed throughout the pages. 96 INC is not only a fine literary magazine, but an integral part of an organization that makes important contributions to our literary communities. A solid and inspiring read. [www.96inc.com]