Literary Independent Small Pub. (copyright 2002). Unreadable "experimental"-type prose from the prolific Marc Sonnenfeld. "Painted by a hack cruciform northern vodka whether on the sleep aid lie poetic by extension or coded vehicles too." -- & on it goes, & on & on. 14 digest pages. 45-08 Old Millstone Dr. East Windsor JN 08520.

Star Thirty-eight. This short story collection is my pick of William P. Tandy's many Hunter-Thompson-esque writings -- but the drunkalogues A Horse Will Eat Itself to Death & Chasing Snakes in Charm City would do almost as well: Eight-Stone Press is a one man zine empire. I reviewed Except in Dreams in IU #9. Tandy's production skills have improved considerably since then; the newer stuff has an impressive understated "designed" quality. Send a few bucks & see what happens. 40 digest pages. PO Box 963 Havre de Grace MD 21078.

St. Cosmo, I come To adore you (#2, undated). Short fiction. Rob Jackson's workmanlike "Magical Wands" is about intimacy & frustration & takes up most of the issue; Dave Megenhardt's "My Pearl" justifies the subtitle "Fetish Issue" (cleanliness & filthiness); & editor Jacob Snodgrass contributes some layout poetry & the faintly-surrealistic "Happy is the Man Whom God Correcteth". A good deal at $1 + stamps for 48 digest pages. 3714 Dexter Row Columbus OH 43221.

The Toucan: "The First Ten". This book-length anthology reprints work from 10 issues of the left-ish greater-DC-area zine The Toucan (from 4/99 to 5/00). Good stuff throughout, from the grimmest of politics (Issue 5: Forgotten Wars) to the silliest banter (7: The Infamous Humor Issue), mostly by editors Allen Claxton & David Edwards. Published by Joe Smith of The Die (see TPN #30). 98 digest pages; well worth the $5. Red Roach Press PO Box 764 College Park MD 20740 www.theotherleading.com.

Punkanut (Issue #2; Summer 2001). The story of Wylie's trip from Austin to Toronto & back (for Active Resistance in '98) entails hopping freights & hitching; dumpster-diving & wahooing; kids & cops; muchmuch more. His unpretentious style makes it look easy. Get this & use it smack the next fool you hear say "zines are dead". 68 digest pages; $2. PO Box 540304 Houston TX 77254.

The Bus by Steve Abee. Not a zine at all, but an honest-to-ISBN book, published by alt.zinester Kelly of Phony Lid Publications. Poetic musings of a man travelling across L.A. by bus. I read a couple chapters & it's pretty good. 192 pages; $12 postpaid from PoBox 29066, Los Angeles CA 90029.