realthog

I do hope you're right about publishers wanting something different.

I don't think they are. I said that if they had any sense they would be!

I just needed to read a few no-brainers after running the zine because sometimes wading through that slush pile was a lot of work. I wanted to turn off my editorial/critical eye for a little bit and just have fun with reading again. I had almost forgotten how to do that.

I know exactly what you mean. Quite a few years ago I was a World Fantasy Award judge and so for the best part of a year had to spend every single available waking moment reading with my critical facilities switched on -- even if, as was often the case, the text in question didn't merit such an approach and would shortly be thrown at the wall. After I was done, and we'd drawn up the shortlist, I spent a full six months unable to read a book: newspapers I could manage, and research materials/books for the book I was writing, but every time I reached to the shelf for something just to read I would put the book straight back, almost phobically. Finally, like yourself, I eased myself back into the process with a few no-brainers.

There needs to be some discernment out there among people or else the world threatens to be flooded with garbage

Couldn't agree with you more . . . and I'll skip the farting baby, if I may.