McSweeney’s 25 — Fiction, Form, and Folly!

Description

It’s impossible to talk about the literary scene of the early 2000s without tipping a hat to McSweeney’s. Founded by Dave Eggers, the journal is as much a design object as it is a publishing vehicle, always pushing the form with unexpected formats, contributors, and tone. Issue 25 is no exception: visually arresting, absurdly tactile, and defiantly print-first. Think of it as an art piece that happens to contain fiction, comics, criticism, and a wink at seriousness.

In addition to Joyce Carol Oats, Padgett Powell and Steven Millhauser, this issue also features stories by Wells Tower, Jim Shepard (and others), all wrapped in a triptych of textures: black cloth, aqua blue, and metallic champagne—each panel embossed with wild, cartoonish figures. But don’t judge a book by its cover!

Whether you’re completing the run, gifting a lit-nerd friend, or just want a reason to pull something strange and beautiful off your shelf—here ya go.