Friday Links
September 12, 2025
Poetry reading: Mariani, Turner, and Wilson at the Catholic Imagination Conference
Poetry, Nature and Science: A Conversation with Frederick Turner
An Interview with Boris Dralyuk
Scattered Thoughts on the State of Book Reviews
NVR: A Tribute to Jane Greer
Poetry reading: Mariani, Turner, and Wilson at the Catholic Imagination Conference
The excellent poet and polymath Frederick Turner passed away earlier this week. Here’s a reading he did with Paul Mariani and James Matthew Wilson. It was hosted by the Catholic Culture Podcast Network at the Catholic Imagination Conference in 2022 at University of Dallas. His voice is magisterial so hearing him recite his own work is an extra treat.
Poetry, Nature and Science: A Conversation with Frederick Turner
Here’s an interview with Atheneum Review. IF you aren’t familiar with Turner’s work, please take some time this weekend to read and listen to him. Your time will be rewarded. May his memory be eternal.
An Interview with Boris Dralyuk
Boris is that rare combination of very accomplished and very humble. He’s what Ryan Wilson would call a good literary citizen, lending his support to new writers, small presses, and anyone he can help. His work is marvelous, from his translations to his original work.
Scattered Thoughts on the State of Book Reviews
Lincoln Michel muses about book reviews over on his Counter Craft Substack. This is a really interesting take. I especially appreciate the point he makes about reviews being tied to publication dates. Do they actually serve books, readers, or authors?
If no one really reads reviews, do they matter? Yes. In addition to the fact that criticism is an art that is valuable in itself and how it can deepen our appreciation of other art, reviews do affect how a book performs. Less so today than in the past, but they still matter. Reviews influence what books are stocked by booksellers, what books win awards, and what books readers become aware of. They are especially important to any work we might call “literary”—in whatever genre. Science fiction books pushing boundaries, innovative horror novels, stylistically interesting autofiction works, or anything new and challenging will always be harder to sell to the public than formulaic work in established niches.
NVR: A Tribute to Jane Greer
Zina Gomez-Liss has edited a lovely tribute edition of New Verse Review in honor of Jane Greer. This is very well-done and Jane would love it and probably share a funny meme as a thank you.
