New York Magazine Kicks Playa-tastic Game at World of Letters; World of Letters Says, “Uh…Thanks”; Good Time Had By All

The current issue of New York Magazine offers a typically glib handicapping of this summer’s debut novels and hot young fabulists, as well as surveys of overlooked books and of writers likely to stand the test of time. I’m least sympathetic to this American Idol style of journalism when it covers well-trod territory; New York’s a speculative “future canon” offers few surprises (Gary Lutz and Helena Maria Viramontes among them). But the lengthy “underrated” list does offer readers an introduction to new writers… as do the excerpts from works in progress by “tomorrow’s literary stars” (including my friend Maaza Mengiste.)

It’s refreshing to read fiction in New York; perhaps they should do this more often. Anyway, if the endless brouhaha surrounding the Times’ attention-grabbing “Best Books of the Last 25 Years” failed to tire you out, click on over to New York and check out the offerings.

is the author of City on Fire and A Field Guide to the North American Family. In 2017, he was named one of Granta's Best Young American Novelists.