Zone: Zero

by Stephanie Strickland

Poetry. Multimedia. Stephanie Strickland's new book, comes with an interactive CD containing two digital poems, "The Ballad of Sand and Harry Soot" and "slippingglimpse." Within the book, these poems appear as print sequences, one of which won the Boston Review prize. "Strickland is one of contemporary poetry's her poetry displays an astonishing command of scientific knowledge (for instance Kurt Goedel's Incompleteness Theorem), technical know-how, especially in the realm of electronic poetics, and unusual verbal virtuosity. The piece de resistance in ZONE : ZERO is the interactive generative Flash poem `slippingglimpse,' in which text and video, made by using motion capture coding, combine so as to create a genuinely new and distinctive eco-poetry. Readers/viewers will find themselves totally mesmerized"--Marjorie Perloff.

Genres: Poetry

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Konstantin R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

[rating = B-]
The first part of this collection really innovates on the traditional poem (structure and diction) and uses "found material" (scientific articles and facts) to impart a very unique voice and style. The middle was less thrilling and bordered on tedious. I just couldn't understand where her energy went. Yes, the form was interesting (bouncing back between "Sand" and "Soot"), and her way of describing each subject was well done, but the whole did not seem finished, nor was it really satisfying. Anyways, the latter sections regained some footing, returning to more scientific interests with clearer intentions. This was a good text for its small rewards of unique perspectives and interesting if not odd facts about Space and various theories. I look forward to further poems by this polymath!

[west20trees · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know Strickland's online digital work, two of those poems are included on CD with this print collection (Ballad of Sand and Harry Soot and slippingglimpse). Being able to read back and forth between the digital versions and hard-copy yields renewed pleasure and additional layers of meaning. The notes in the back of the book provide (much appreciated) insight into Strickland's animating concerns and themes. Deeply engaging.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing piece of work. And the accompanying CD is fascinating.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing ear!