McSweeney's Issue 17: Made to Look Like It Came in Your Mailbox

McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern #17

by Dave Eggers (Editor), Eric Hanson

Issue 17 is not an ordinary issue of McSweeney's. It is, however, an ordinary-looking bundle of mail, stacked and rubber-banded, containing the usual:
- a recent issue of Yeti Researcher;
- a large envelope, called Envelope, containing fine oversized reproductions of new art;
- a sausage-basket catalog;
- a flyer for slashed prices on garments that are worn by more than one person at a time;
- a new magazine of experimental fiction called Unfamiliar; -
- a couple letters... the usual.

This might be the strangest and most pleasure-giving issue yet.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Literature

280 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2005

About the author

Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is best known for his 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Eggers is also the founder of several notable literary and philanthropic ventures, including the literary journal Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, the literacy project 826 Valencia, and the human rights nonprofit Voice of Witness. Additionally, he founded ScholarMatch, a program that connects donors with students needing funds for college tuition. His writing has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, including The New Yorker, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine.

Reviews

[MJ Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

This issue is an exercise in world-class parody, with top marks for invention and attention-to-detail. Arriving in a clump of documents belonging to one Sgt Maria Vasquez, the issue spoofs the spam mail letter in the form of a ‘spam manuscript’ (a novel excerpt printed on double-sided A4) and a series of automobile and trout photographs.

The stories themselves are entirely incidental, included in a spoof literary quarterly called Unfamiliar. It is what McSweeney’s might have become without the vision and money of Dave Eggers. The stories are presented in a split-page format, and are largely short and unfocused. They are also noticeably weaker than the other McSweeney’s works, which feels like a conscious effort to lampoon the editorial standards of their sham magazine, although I might be wrong. (They cop out on the credits page by listing ‘McSweeney’s contributors.’ Boo!)

The centrepiece of this issue is a painstakingly compiled scientific magazine, Yeti Researcher. A full-length ur-spoof, this tedious and fascinating document explores the bigfoot myth, squeezing every last drop of plausibility from its long discursive essays. The end result is laudable for going full-out and making the whole endeavour entirely convincing. There is no way of knowing this would be a parody to outsiders.

Other items include a padded envelope of gorgeous modern art and a thigh-slapping advert for a garments company specialising in stick-together clothes with shared armholes and hoods. Top marks. (Minus one for the actual featured writing).

[Nate D · Rating 3 out of 5]

It just needs to be stated that "fake mail pile" has to be one of the most amusing and underutilized literary journal formats.

Bonus points for working in the classic "Nigerian Email Con" but turning it into some kind of Bangladeshi marriage scheme motivated by impending flooding by a World Bank dam proposal. And making this the cover letter for a manuscript.

...

Format: ****
Surprising inclusion of contemporary art reproductions, inlcuding a Camille Rose Garcia painting I've always loved: ****
Actual stories: ***

I mean, meticulous faux Crytpozoology periodical Yeti Researcher was amazingly convincing, but also sort of boring in an accurately academic manner. How many pages of scrutiny can I really give such a dubious topic? I bet these were fun to write though. And the actual stories, in Unfamiliar? Even more haphazard than usual, with no really solid standouts, I'm afraid. Only the separate, novel-excerpted "Accident" seemed especially notable to me.

Still, a really entertaining package of items to sort through, and some alright vignettes tucked away in there.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the amazing 'Pile of Mail' issue. The whole issue is printed and assembled like it's someone's mail. Literally. There are short stories in envelopes that are sealed and stamped and post-marked. There are publications like "Yeti Researcher" and "Unfamiliar", and catalogs for shirts with 4 armholes. Even an envelope of postcards of amazing new artworks. All bound together in a giant rubber band. This truly an awesome issue.

[David Markwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really brilliant issue of McSweeney's. The Journal of Yeti Research and the Unfamiliar both make for great reads as do the letters. Probably most interesting is the art sent in the manila envelope. A great Mcsweeney's.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first McSweeney's Quarterly Concern; I think I stepped in at a good time. The preperation on this one is impeccable.

[Bess · Rating 2 out of 5]

this came with one of my quarterly orders. it was funny but really just a loose jumble of papers and photographs that were hard to keep on the bookshlef.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed everything except the Yeti issue - I found it rather boring.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 3 out of 5]

McSweeney's 17 is designed to look like a bundle of junk mail. So you have a couple of letters which are actually stories, you get a clothes catalogue for conjoined twins, attractively designed chocolate baskets brochure, a Yeti magazine, a magazine of short stories called "Unfamiliar", and a manila envelope with beautiful artwork printed on card. Suffice it to say, no one is doing what McSweeney's is doing in the literary world.

And some might well roll their eyes at the list above but chances are you're a fan if you're even reading this. McSweeney's is always concerned with the design and presentation of their quarterleys as much as the content but this edition is mostly concerned with presentation.

The two stories I enjoyed, out of a dozen or so, was an extract of a novel by Peter Ferry called "Accident", which takes the form of a letter. It's a meandering story of a teacher telling his class about an accident he witnessed and about his life. "Handlebar" by Eric Hanson in the magazine "Unfamiliar" is about George W Bush growing a handlebar mustache and thus distracting the nation from heinous activities his administration is committing. It's a witty satire and well written.

It's almost worth it just to spend the time unwrapping and exploring the various bits and pieces that make up this issue. It's like a literary toy. It would've been nice if there were some great stories here but unfortunately most are just average.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliantly conceived epistolary issue of the journal. Before I knew what was happening I was standing over the stove, steaming open the letters of one mysterious Sgt. Maria Vasquez like some kind of criminal. Well, who wouldn't, for an assortment of photographs of red cars (and fish), provided we're willing to waive all liability?

The items included are clever and at times hilarious. On format alone this would get five stars. The only unfortunate thing is that we don't learn more about Vasquez herself - she likes yetis and fiction, fine art, pretentious gift baskets, red cars, fish, and multiperson clothing, but who is she?

Some of the short fiction is good - I loved "The Snowcone Cart" by Rebecca Curtis and also enjoyed the accident story by Peter Ferris.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally got around to reading this after having it on my shelf for several years. I loved the individual packaging of each element but overall wasn't wild about much of the content. I did love the Peter Ferry story for it's examination of the story-telling process. "Bits of Quality Time" was also a nice piece.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 was obnoxious with all its loose parts but really great nonetheless, especially the Yeti Researcher thing and the never-repeated "twice monthly magazine" Unfamiliar.

[Rachel McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most unique quarterlies EVER. I picked this up in a package deal right from McSweeney's and was the best treat to recieve... I like to put it in the magazine rack in my bathroom during parties and see who notices and what they say.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was wary about this one at first, and I found the yeti book to be pretty lame, but the more I dug in, the more I liked. The envelope of art was especially awesome. Too bad this idea never took off.

[katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Points for creative format, loss of points for lack of interesting reading. A big pile of paper joke.

[Christian Lipski · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Yeti Researcher volume was so realistic that I had to look on the internet to see if it was real. The other bits were lovingly crazy. Some nice stories indeed.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the format!

[David Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better in the format than the content.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best McSweeney's issues ever... don't miss this one.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

great design more than anything

[Ben Bush]

The yeti stuff was surprisingly interesting.