Some changes are afoot here at Sign of the Times-A Chronicle of Decadence in the Atomic Age. A new computer system is being designed to deal with the mass of letters and manuscripts that continue to pour in (and overwhelming the staff of one). Means we should be able to clear out the backlog soon. Other change is that our publishing schedule is changing from twice a year to "published occasionally." This might mean three times a year, or only once-depends on time and material.
Well-SOTT has once again been banned from a prison, this time in Texas (regrets to James Manley, a SOTT author who didn't get his copy). The following comments were on the rejection notice:
Always makes my day to be banned by a prison. A more distressing matter is to be refused printing services. Happened recently by WebCraft Printing in Tacoma. Just FYI.
Congratulations to Sally Brunsman and Kimberly Barnett, the new publishing duo taking over the Seattle-based publishing house Bay Press. I understand they have to print some of their books overseas because of printer censorship.
More thanks are in order for Leslie Waygren for story input, Judy Nessen for proofreading, and Dan Jacobs for scanning the centerfold photos.
Well, enough chatter-let's move to some letters from fans:
Here is a story I thought you might like. It's short and sweet, and just a little bit dirty.
Thank you again for treating my story so well in the last issue. It looks fantastic, and I couldn't be more pleased that you put it in the place of honor, right in front. I'm glad that I was finally able to meet you at Mark [Whitaker, whose story appears in the 10-year anthology edition-Ed.] & Shannon's wedding, although I wish the occasion had been livelier-more Bacchus & less Saint Paul. Oh well. It was good for a giggle.
I look forward to seeing my name in print YET AGAIN in the review you so kindly shared with me on the phone.
"Linus Iscariot" by Todd Cobb was a great read, hilarious!! I always felt there was something sinister about Peanuts, and what cartoon character could be more Christ-like than Charlie Brown-humble, chaste, misunderstood. A good issue all the way around.
I love my free subscription so much. Yours truly,
A great issue, the best yet. I had two classes of writers & we read my story & several others!
Mark you have a courageous literary & humorous quality which makes Studio 403 stand out. I let the students have the Primal Plunge address which is the best bookstore (alternative press) here in the Boston area. I like stories with humor & irreverence.
My very best,
I'm happy to contribute
Many thanks for the 10-year anthology. Amazing indeed.
Thanks for the SOTTs that show up twice a year in my mailbox. Todd Cobb's "Linus Iscariot" in Spring '91 was remarkable. I'm looking forward to the 10-year anthology-hope it gives your magazine some more recognition for fearless and creative publishing.
Profuse thanks for the splendid Best of SOTT. This volume came as a delightful surprise, beinsashow I'd allowed my subscription to lapse during the past year, and for all your practical purposes had physically expired. I am grateful for this handsome book and my humble presence in it. I was also duly impressed with the high quality of these stories, some dozen of which are as good as any I've read in small mags over the past decade.
In short: Congratulations for a masterful job.
Again, many thanks. Here's to ten more years of SOTT and beyond that, a kinder gentler kinkier millennium.
You should be more than proud of your anthology edition. It is a thing of visual delight. The time and effort that went into the production of the finished product must have been staggering.
I am currently working as a teller at a bank, which means, in essence, that I count other people's money for a living, and have to appear, to those who do not know me, to be giving my implicit approval to a system of haves and have-nots, in addition to which, in order to add insult to injury, the position gives new meaning to the phrase "mind-numbingly dull."
At least, one recent workday was made a little bit more tolerable because I took along SOTT to read. "Lupine" gives new meaning to the term "the company of wolves." "The Uncle" is a good tale, not terribly decadent, very sad, a great inclusion. The little fables with the morals spelled out explicitly in all capital letters were side-splittingly hilarious. If I were vain and egotistical, I would mention what a good read "The Shaving" is, but I shall refrain.
In any event, as the fellow in "Lupine" might well have said to his first wolf sodomist, "Keep the good stuff coming."
I was totally stoked by Brian Lynch's photograph on the cover of the last SOTT. The cover is too bad.
Your 'zine is a hoot.
Tony Gemello
Thanks for the quick response to "Queen of the Highway" and for the sample copy of your magazine. It kicked. "Linus Iscariot" was a great piece.
Mark J. Kiewlak
I think the new issue of SOTT looks great. It was a delight to find it at Powell's and see my work presented in such a classy way.
I'm happy to be published in a magazine that stays off the government tit. Keep the flags flying!
For News and Notes from other issues, click here.
As usual Mark has nothing to say about himself other than a link to an ego page.
For a copy of the issue that this story appeared in please use the on-line order form or email sott_backissue@unclemarkie.com
and ask for Volume 5, Number 3.
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