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McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern #16
McSweeney's Issue 16
McSweeney's Issue 16 is as unlike a regular book as you can imagine. It takes the form of a fold-out cover (not just the jacket, but the actual board), with a drawing silkscreened onto the cloth on one side, and the other divided into four quadrants, each with a pocket. And in these pockets you'll a booklet with stories by Denis Johnson, Roddy Doyle and a bunch of newcomers; a novella (in its own notebook) by Ann Beattie, with a guest appearance by Harry Mathews; a story by Robert Coover, written on the thirteen hearts from a deck of cards that can be shuffled and read in any order; and an ordinary comb. So, in short, McSweeney?s Issue 16 is an elaborate concoction brought to you by the very people responsible for the gorgeous McSweeney's Comics Issue and the enlightening Future Dictionary of America. A real treat, to be sure.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 1983
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234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 14, 2014
McSweeney's loves to mess with the concept of "book" and they've done an exceptional job in this issue. It's sort of a box that unfolds to reveal:
- A book of short stories. Nine stories,164 pages.
- "Mr. Nobody At All", by Ann Beattie with Harry Matthews, a long short story or short novella in a separate paperback.
- An oversized set of 15 cards, comprising the interactive short story "Heart Suite" by Robert Coover. It's the ace through king cards, plus a joker and one explanatory card. Each card has a few paragraphs of the story. You can shuffle the cards and read a different story each time. It is set in the world of "Alice in Wonderland".
- A comb. (Yes, a comb, as in combing your hair).
Each is securely packaged, and it folds up into a shape like a hardback book, so it fits just fine on your bookshelf.
All the stories are fine, but I particularly like "Mr. Nobody At All." It is set at a memorial service, and you hear one person after another speak about the dearly departed. You get a picture of him, but mainly a picture of all the people around him. It's wonderful.
- A book of short stories. Nine stories,164 pages.
- "Mr. Nobody At All", by Ann Beattie with Harry Matthews, a long short story or short novella in a separate paperback.
- An oversized set of 15 cards, comprising the interactive short story "Heart Suite" by Robert Coover. It's the ace through king cards, plus a joker and one explanatory card. Each card has a few paragraphs of the story. You can shuffle the cards and read a different story each time. It is set in the world of "Alice in Wonderland".
- A comb. (Yes, a comb, as in combing your hair).
Each is securely packaged, and it folds up into a shape like a hardback book, so it fits just fine on your bookshelf.
All the stories are fine, but I particularly like "Mr. Nobody At All." It is set at a memorial service, and you hear one person after another speak about the dearly departed. You get a picture of him, but mainly a picture of all the people around him. It's wonderful.
January 19, 2009
it came with a comb
April 28, 2021
A wonderfully unique issue that folds out to reveal two bound books, a pack of oversized cards, and a comb. But more importantly, the stories are quality. The main book is the best, followed then by the standalone story. The cards story was decent, particularly as it references Lewis Carroll, but was maybe just a bit over the top.
December 15, 2025
As usual, some items I enjoyed and some were just confusing.
September 19, 2011
McSweeney's 16 unfolds into 4 sections containing a paperback of short stories, a paperback novella, a pack of cards with a story printed on them, and a comb. Materially, this is one of the best produced and good looking books out there, McSweeney's proving their innovation extends beyond the written word into design. It's a shame the stories don't live up to the brilliant product.
Denis Johnson proves why he's the best known of all the contributors by providing an extract from his novel "Tree of Smoke" entitled "Lucky". The story follows young servicemen in Indo-China before Vietnam escalates into a full blown conflict and includes reactions to the assassination of JFK, prostitutes, squabbling brothers, and a monkey shooting all in 15 pages! Roddy Doyle, usually a very strong short story writer, provides a so so story called "Home to Harlem" while Adam Levin's "Considering the Bittersweet End of Susan Falls" has its moments as the story centres on a legless, abnormally intelligent teen girl in college falling in love with an older girl and then suddenly dying.
Robert Coover writes a story on the playing cards about the Queen of Hearts baking tarts for the King and then having them stolen. The idea is that, besides the first and last card, you shuffle the deck and each time read a different story. It's a great idea but isn't as amazing as it sounds. Each card ends with a character doing something and the event being covered on the next card. Eg. "The Knave of Hearts then..." and the next card beginning "... jumped through the window into the garden". It's ok and a neat idea but basically not that enthralling especially as Coover's story isn't very interesting.
Ann Beattie's novella was so insufferably smug I only managed 10 pages out of 50 before putting it down.
It's a great issue if only for the presentation but there are some interesting stories within. I think style trumps substance in this regard but the style is so good it's worth checking out just for that.
Denis Johnson proves why he's the best known of all the contributors by providing an extract from his novel "Tree of Smoke" entitled "Lucky". The story follows young servicemen in Indo-China before Vietnam escalates into a full blown conflict and includes reactions to the assassination of JFK, prostitutes, squabbling brothers, and a monkey shooting all in 15 pages! Roddy Doyle, usually a very strong short story writer, provides a so so story called "Home to Harlem" while Adam Levin's "Considering the Bittersweet End of Susan Falls" has its moments as the story centres on a legless, abnormally intelligent teen girl in college falling in love with an older girl and then suddenly dying.
Robert Coover writes a story on the playing cards about the Queen of Hearts baking tarts for the King and then having them stolen. The idea is that, besides the first and last card, you shuffle the deck and each time read a different story. It's a great idea but isn't as amazing as it sounds. Each card ends with a character doing something and the event being covered on the next card. Eg. "The Knave of Hearts then..." and the next card beginning "... jumped through the window into the garden". It's ok and a neat idea but basically not that enthralling especially as Coover's story isn't very interesting.
Ann Beattie's novella was so insufferably smug I only managed 10 pages out of 50 before putting it down.
It's a great issue if only for the presentation but there are some interesting stories within. I think style trumps substance in this regard but the style is so good it's worth checking out just for that.
September 10, 2014
The packaging of this issue is probably the true star. It is comprised of a collection of short stories, a novella, a short story published on a shufflable deck of cards, and an inexplicable comb.
Contrary to what many are saying, I felt that the collection of stories was one of McSweeney's stronger issues. The lead story, "Mudder Tongue" was tragic story that didn't fold onto itself because of its strong use of humor. "Considering the bittersweet end of Susan Falls" took a while to get going, but really grabbed me after a point. It explored topics including the cognitive dissonance surrounding the shape of butts in pants. It just reminded me of my early college years and the weird way I tried to categorize the world intellectually using the bombardment of knowledge hurled at us at that time. "Driveway" was an incredible exploration of marriage or at least society's expectations of marriage. "Home to Harlem" had its moments, but I felt it didn't quite get the job done.
"Mr. Nobody at all" had an interesting form, told in a series of speeches at two memorial services. Though it had some interesting moments, occasional humor, I found it to be quite boring, over-long, and unfulfilling. It was well done, each character had a distinctive voice, I was just hoping for a story that equaled the genius of the premise. I saw that is was included in the "Best American Short stories". Given all the quality offerings in this issue alone, they could have picked a better choice.
The deck of cards story was fun and well written. I don't think I"ll be reading the whole thing again and again in different configuration though.
Contrary to what many are saying, I felt that the collection of stories was one of McSweeney's stronger issues. The lead story, "Mudder Tongue" was tragic story that didn't fold onto itself because of its strong use of humor. "Considering the bittersweet end of Susan Falls" took a while to get going, but really grabbed me after a point. It explored topics including the cognitive dissonance surrounding the shape of butts in pants. It just reminded me of my early college years and the weird way I tried to categorize the world intellectually using the bombardment of knowledge hurled at us at that time. "Driveway" was an incredible exploration of marriage or at least society's expectations of marriage. "Home to Harlem" had its moments, but I felt it didn't quite get the job done.
"Mr. Nobody at all" had an interesting form, told in a series of speeches at two memorial services. Though it had some interesting moments, occasional humor, I found it to be quite boring, over-long, and unfulfilling. It was well done, each character had a distinctive voice, I was just hoping for a story that equaled the genius of the premise. I saw that is was included in the "Best American Short stories". Given all the quality offerings in this issue alone, they could have picked a better choice.
The deck of cards story was fun and well written. I don't think I"ll be reading the whole thing again and again in different configuration though.
November 4, 2007
Heart Suit (Robert Coover) will be one of my favorite things for a long time. It changes with every reading! I'm in awe of his raunchy rewrite of the King of Hearts nursery rhyme that is both introspective and interactive. Yum.
Also of note is Roddy Doyle's "Home To Harlem," but I don't know how to describe that one.
Also of note is Roddy Doyle's "Home To Harlem," but I don't know how to describe that one.
August 21, 2010
i think this is one of the most surprising books i have ever held in my hands. firts of all is cover: fabric, folded 2 or even 3 times. there is comb and a bunch of books in different pockets. i have finished one with a lot of stories. good collection. wasn't disappointed at all!some stories are strange as always. liked one about Susan and was laughing a lot with mudder tongue:)
December 9, 2013
I recently wrote a short thing about Dave Eggers and then realized that I hadn't rated or reviewed the many issues of McSweeney's I've read. The early issues were especially influential and inspiring to me. This issue came with a comb!
October 3, 2007
It comes with a comb and a pack of cards. These tie into stories contained in the book. Plus, that's just pretty awesome packaging.
November 28, 2007
This triple(!) gate-fold layout was what made me fall so, so in love with McSweeney's Quarterly Concern.
Want to read
April 9, 2008MY FAVORITE NEW PURCHASE.
June 27, 2008
A bit lackluster in general for a McSweeney's, but Roddy Doyle's closing story was quite good. Apparently I should be finding copies of his novels?
June 27, 2008
This is worth a pickup for the content alone... but the fact that it comes with a comb and a deck of cards to shuffle and read as a story is FANTASTIC.
April 29, 2009
This is now my favorite publlisher. A fine literary journal with the most beautiful bindings and a nice topping of wit.
May 12, 2009
contains my favorite short story ever: "the medicine man" by kevin moffett
January 15, 2010
the packaging somehow makes this issue ten times more fun to read.
Read
May 4, 2011Icelandic fiction. Many fantastic short stories were featured in this issue.
September 13, 2012
this issue comes with a fucking comb.
and there's stories & a novel excerpt.
but: comB!!!
and there's stories & a novel excerpt.
but: comB!!!
January 1, 2013
Mudder Tongue
Lucky
End Of Susan Falls
Driveway
There is No Real Name For Where We Live
Lucky
End Of Susan Falls
Driveway
There is No Real Name For Where We Live
September 16, 2015
In this issue design wins over content. It also came with a sturdy black tooth comb.
February 23, 2016
I collect McSweeney's Quarterly's. Even if I haven't read them (yet) I still love them.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews