IKMQ

by Roger Farr

Poetry. Roger Farr's IKMQ consists of sixty-four brief passages--stories, descrptions, instructions, scenarios, formulae--each involving the characters represented by the letters I, K, M and Q. Various clues, suggested by the rules of grammar and syntax, hint at connections and continuities, and at narrative peaking out from behind the screen of action.But never mind the theory--enjoy the ride, as I, K, M and Q convert houses to commercial grow-ops, manufacture explosives, go all in on the flop, get up early to catch chinook, plan, build and sell subdivisions, conduct meetings according to Roberts, plot a prison break, score an all-important goal, get the door for the pizza delivery boy, and get on with transforming the world through their revolutionary action.

Roger Farr's new book IKMQ is now shipping from New Star’s post-firebomb warehouse in East Vancouver. Consisting of exactly sixty–four prose vignettes – narratives, instructions, games, events, formulae –IKMQ falls along a continuum that includes the parable and fable traditions, the history of experimental prose, and the style manual. Selections from the book have appeared in The Capilano Review, Matrix, PRECIPICe, and West Coast Line.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2012

About the author

Described as 'a poet of great heart and aesthetic / political commitment', Roger Farr is the author of SURPLUS (poetry; Line Books, 2006), IKMQ (prose-poetry; New Star, 2012), and MEANS (poetry, radio script, prose; Line Books, 2012). As a cultural critic, his writing on radical social movements and the avant-garde has appeared in numerous literary and 'movement' periodicals, and has been broadcast on the airwaves of several pirate radio stations on the West Coast of North America. He teaches in the Creative Writing and Culture and Technology Programs at Capilano University, Vancouver BC, and edits CUE Books.

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I joined the English Department at Capilano University full-time in 2004 and have been affiliated with the Creative Writing, Culture and Technology (RIP), and Liberal Studies BA programs. I've published two books of poetry, a collection of prose vignettes, a collaborative research project, along with numerous articles and essays. From 2010 - 2013 I edited CUE books, and am currently an Advising Editor to the Capilano Review. As a researcher my project revolves around the relationship between literature, aesthetics, radical social movements, and everyday life.

I have a somewhat unorthodox education history, and I like to think my teaching methods embody that. For more on my ideas about learning and teaching, see this article in the venerable Capilano Courier. You could also check out this book, which is one of my favourites on education.

Reviews

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger is a friend of mine so this review is possibly maybe going to be fairly biased. I thought this collection was great. The number 64 appears again and again - 64 vignettes, repeated references to 64 of something in the text, plus other numerical mentions that added up to 64, etc - so when I was done I texted to ask him what the significance of the number 64 was. At first he was like I don't know what you're talking about? and I was like IKMQ! and he was like OH. So, 64 is 8 squared and the book is square and there is math so much math and don't think about it too much because who likes math? Just read it. There are 4 characters named only by the letters I, K, M, and Q, and the 64 snapshots are all brief very structured narratives of them performing a task. It's technical, confusing, entertaining... a total mystery to me but I loved the ride.

[Joel Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

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