September 25–October 2, 1997 book quarterly|Fall BQ Cover Story Man or Astro-Man? Astro Teller “In many ways, people are unnecessarily scared with the notion of computers being ‘intelligent.'”   Man Or Astro-Man? Astro Teller’s first novel—about a computer program that…

August 7–14, 1997 open book Playing With Themselves When authors toy with their identities, fame is the name of the game. By Jim Gladstone A self-portrait of Philippe Tapon from the jacket of A Parisian From Kansas. If you’re a…

July 31–August 7, 1997 20 questions Jon Berson (John Feffer) By Jim Gladstone In recent years, Jon Berson, a 33-year-old Haverford College graduate and on-and-off resident of Philadelphia for the past decade, has been published by small, prestigious academic presses:…

July 31–August 7, 1997 20 questions Jon Berson (John Feffer) By Jim Gladstone In recent years, Jon Berson, a 33-year-old Haverford College graduate and on-and-off resident of Philadelphia for the past decade, has been published by small, prestigious academic presses:…

May 22–29, 1997 critical mass|open book Riki, Riki, She’s So Fine By By Jim Gladstone The most important bookstore in Philadelphia specializes in theology, women’s issues, poetry, race relations and a handful of other socially conscious niches. But just like…

May 1–8, 1997 critical mass|open book Private Lives The best bios — like a new book on Joseph Cornell — know their limits. By Jim Gladstone Joseph Cornell in his yard, 1969 (Photo by Hans Namuth from Utopia Parkway). Why…

February 20–27, 1997 20 questions   Matt Ruff By Jim Gladstone Background The minuscule bio on the back jacket of Sewer, Gas & Electric (Atlantic) — a stuffed-to-the-seams new novel of eco-terrorism, satirical Ayn Rand worship and laughs-a-plenty — simply…

November 7–14, 1996 open book Ramshackle Dreamland John Hersey’s tales captured the essence of Key West. By Jim Gladstone   Last weekend, Key West held its annual Fantasy Fest. It’s a lazier, more laid back Mardi Gras, a sun-baked, whipped…

February 29–March 7, 1996 open book Hop On The Bus, Gus Forget LitFic and check out this thriller-on-a-schoolbus. By Jim Gladstone Among those bookworms among whom worm is the more pertinent syllable, one often hears the statement, “I don’t read…