Literary Extravaganza

During the summer, you might spend much of your leisure time reading your favorite novels and indulging in romance, science-fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, horror, and other genres. At other times, you might prefer to sample more literary, eclectic pieces of writing. Here at the Magazines & Newspapers Center, we offer a variety of titles that will supplement your literary fix through titles such as Fourteen Hills, Glimmer Train, Tin House, Zoetrope, and ZYZZYVA.

Fourteen Hills - A literary journal published by the Creative Writing Department at San Francisco State University since 1994, this publication holds "an impressive reputation among international literary magazines for publishing the highest-quality innovative poetry, fiction, short plays, and literary nonfiction."

Glimmer Train - A quarterly literary magazine featuring short stories by "luminaries and fresh new voices," interviews with writers and other artists, and spotlights on short fiction writing from different parts of the world. This publication also sponsors periodic fiction-writing competitions across a wide range of genres.

Tin House - This quarterly magazine presents stories, poems, and profiles/interviews with writers. Book reviews highlight lesser-known authors and books. Past selections from Tin House have been anthologized in the O'Henry, Best American Short Stories, Best New American Voices, and Pushcart Prize collections.

Zoetrope - A well-crafted, quarterly literary magazine founed by film director Francis Ford Coppola intended to "explore the intersection of story and art, fiction and film." Features short stories, essays on the story genre, reprints of classic stories adapted for the screen, and one-act plays.

ZYZZYVA - Last but not least, the San Francisco-based ZYZZYVA, published three times a year, highlights West Coast (namely, California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii) writers and artists and offers a broad selection of fiction, poetry, essays and art.

Finally, on Sunday, August 23, the San Francisco Public Library will be hosting the 25th anniversary celebration of ZYZZYVA. Come celebrate this literary festivity and visit the Magazines and Newspapers Center if you would like to discover even more literary magazines to whet your leisurely reading appetite.