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Critical Reviews of
The American Dissident
The editor
is not an aficionado of
the practice of backslapping and self-congratulating, pervasive, to say the
least, in the literary milieu, both high and low brow. Only a fool, "brilliant" or whatever, would run out to buy a book or
literary journal because someone "brilliant" or whatever endorsed it with the
usual suspect vocabulary "brilliant," "cutting edge,"
"great," "original" "one of the world's most significant," "one of the best,"
"stunningly beautiful," "innovative," etc., etc. For more such banal
terms, examine www.NewPages.com,
which has blacklisted The American Dissident. (see
NewPages).
In antipodes, reviews appearing in The American Dissident tend to be negative and serve
as a counterweight to the hyperbolic reviewers run amok in the nation like
smiley-faced rats in 15th century cargo ships. At times, perhaps often,
these rats are friends of the writers and editors they review. At
times, those reviewed end up writing glowing reviews for those who wrote glowing
reviews for them. With hesitation, thus, the editor includes all the reviews of The
American Dissident.
What spurred me to put them up on this site was a conversation with a local
librarian (Westford, MA), who informed me her library only considered
subscribing to journals that had been reviewed. It should also be noted
that a number of reviewers have simply refused to review The American
Dissident because of its critical stance. Below are reviews effected
by
Counterpoise,
Zine World, and
The Midwest Book Review. It should also
be noted that now that The American Dissident has been reviewed, the
local librarian mentioned above will still not subscribe. She mentioned a
review by Library Journal would be best. Yet that journal refuses
to review The American Dissident.
Counterpoise for Social
Responsibilities, Liberty, and Dissent
(2007). For
Counterpoise front-cover interview with the editor, see
Interviews.
(Double click on the squares
for larger, readable text)
Zine World
(2007)
The American Dissident
#14: "A Literary Journal of Critical Thinking." Tod has an axe to grind, ever
since he was banned by court order from Fitchburg State College. He calls for
submissions "on the edge with a dash of risk, and stemming from personal
experience, involvement, and/or personal conflict with power." When he doesn't
get the hard-hitting essays he asks for, he bellies up to the keyboard himself.
American Dissident is an exceptional collection of literary grade poetry,
with some comics and prose mixed in. Paperback bound booklet. G. Tod Slone,
1837 Main St., Concord MA 01742,
www.theamericandissident.org,
todslone@yahoo.com
[$8, $16 for 2 56S 1:00] –Jack
The Midwest Book Review
(2005)
www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9111754_ITM.
The
American Dissident: a semi annual Literary Journal
Editor G. Tod Slone
The American Dissident
1837 Main Street, Concord MA 01742
www.theamericandissident.org
No ISBN Subscription $15 annually, $8 single issue
A writer / poet in Tennessee sent me a copy of The American Dissident because he
thought I would enjoy its distinctive premise and style. At first view, I was
impressed with its perfect bound presentation and clear dark font. This is not a
fluff journal, not one to read through in one sitting and forget. Its purpose is
clearly stated:
Truth, Wisdom, and Protest in Poetry and Other Writing In the Spirit of
Revolutionary Patriots
The Editor, Dr. G. Tod Slone, puts his money where his mouth is. He receives no
monetary support, no grants with which to fund this journal. The editor and
subscribers provide the only financial support. That may be for the best since
monetary support and grants have invisible strings attached. Such strings often
act as both muzzle and carrot, as stated by one submitter. It's very difficult
to protest when one is both blind and mute. This very lack of "strings" allows
for pure dissent, voiced by Americans of every age group and walk of life, male
and female.
The American Dissident reflects the sort of dissidence practiced by writers and
patriots when America was young and idealistic. The hard truth is spoken here in
clear voices. Dr. Slone encourages submissions based on the "...Samizdat
tradition of engaged writing...examining the Dark Side of the Academic /
Literary Industrial Complex."
Samizdat is a term originating in Russia, meaning the publication and
distribution of literature banned by the government. In America, where
supposedly nothing is banned, Samidzat refers to dissenting voices spread
through underground presses. Either meaning can apply to Dr. Slone's Journal.
The Winter / Spring 2005 edition of the Journal features poetry, essays, and
cartoons: poetry about inequities in literature, health care, employment and the
caste system America supposedly does not embrace; essays about the good old boy
and girl system thriving in all things literary; and cartoons that are both
hilarious and sobering because of the truths revealed in them. All are submitted
by real American taxpayers whose truths found voice in this Journal. I
particularly relished the "Open Letter to Henry David Thoreau" and the
references to Emerson -- both of whom were outspoken dissenters in their day.
The spoken and unspoken message of The American Dissident is that voices of
dissent have nothing left to lose. Everything has been stripped away already by
Literary and Governmental entities determined to control, contain and silence
dissenting voices. All that remains is truth, pride, courage, and voices that
will not be silenced no matter what bully tactic may be applied.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Journal and compliment the Editor for his
determination to present dissenting voices. Where things literary, in
particular, are concerned, this is not your common, everyday journal.
Laurel Johnson
Senior Reviewer
[See also
the MBR interview]
ALL MATERIAL ON THIS SITE IS COPYRIGHT ©G. Tod
Slone, 2010, The American Dissident
www.theamericandissident.org,
a 501c3 nonprofit.
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