BAX 2018: Best American Experimental Writing

BAX #3

by Seth Abramson (Editor), Jesse Damiani (Editor), Myung Mi Kim (Editor)

An anthology of dynamic, forward-thinking writing

Best American Experimental Writing 2018, guest-edited by Myung Mi Kim, is the fourth edition of the critically acclaimed anthology series compiling an exciting mix of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and genre-defying work. Featuring a diverse roster of writers and artists culled from both established authors―like Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, Don Mee Choi, Mónica de la Torre, Layli Long Soldier, and Simone White―as well as new and unexpected voices, including Clickhole.com, BAX 2018 presents an expansive view of today's experimental and high-energy writing practices. A perfect gift for discerning readers as well as an important classroom tool, Best American Experimental Writing 2018 is a vital addition to the American literary landscape.

Genres: Poetry

360 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2018

About the author

Seth Abramson is author of The Suburban Ecstasies (Ghost Road Press, 2009) and a contributing author to The Creative Writing MFA Handbook (Continuum, 2008). In 2008 he was awarded the J. Howard and Barbara M.J. Wood Prize by Poetry. His poems and prose have recently appeared or are forthcoming in Best New Poets 2008, Poetry, American Poetry Review, AGNI, Poets & Writers, and New American Writing. A graduate of Harvard Law School and the Iowa Writers' Workshop, he is currently a doctoral student in English Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

some good, some bad, some absolute nonsense.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of experimental writing, although ultimately a mixed bag like all anthologies are. I definitely enjoyed some of the selections much more than others, my favorite being Alexander Weinstein's hilarious "Understanding Great Art and the People Who Make It," which appears toward the end of the book.

Here are two suggestions that would, I believe, strengthen and improve the collection, and future volumes of BAX:

(1.) Include a brief introduction or headnote to each piece to put it into context and explain, possibly, why the work was selected for inclusion, and what makes the work "experimental." For example, I couldn't see why a satirical piece from Clickhole was considered "experimental." Would an Onion article fall into the same category?

(2.) The guest editor explains in her general introduction that she has, as previous guest editors, excluded any writers whose work has appeared in previous volumes. I'm not sure of the purpose of this practice; it seems to me that to exclude any writers for consideration would disqualify the anthology from being labeled "best." If your purpose is to publish the best writing of a given year, everyone should be considered. Otherwise, you're not getting the "best."

[Jade Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Favorites (listed in order of appearance in the anthology):

- "Syntax Errors" by Rachel Allen
- from _Dramaticules_ by Zaccaria Fulton
- "ghost purchase" by Marwa Helal
- from _Whereas_ by Layli Long Soldier
- "The Honeymooners" by David James Poissant
- "Understanding Great Art and the People Who Make It" by Alexander Weinstein
- "Leo DiCaprio's $11 Million Malibu Beach House and the Soul-Crushing Agony of Being Human" by Julia Wick

[Seema Yasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading for the powerful introduction alone. This collection highlights some fantastic experimental prose and poetry which inspired my approach to writing and my discussions about writing this year. In particular, it changed the way I thought about my next book, Muslim Women Are Everything. I found myself reading, rereading and then gifting this book to other writers. Highly recommend.