I'm going to begin this review by talking about hierarchies. Why? I hear so much about the zine scene being egalitarian. Every zine is as legitimate as every other zine. And on one level, this is true. It's a miracle that so many people pour so much of their talent into creating images and words on paper. But on another level, we all have personal preferences. For example, I'm not going to review zines that are about how cute the writer's new girlfriend is, or zines that try to prove to the reader that the author is a victim of this-or-that (including their own gender) and I'm unlikely to review the 200th zinester that chronicles every centimeter of their latest bike trip or punk rock show.
Chris Mikul's zines embody the reason for this blog and are of the highest quality being published today. Biblio-Curiosa explores four unique books and their authors. These authors were immersed in the muse of their craft - they had to write - and their zealous literary creations are fascinating. Most of these books are extremely obscure and will definitely not be found at your local Barnes & Noble. Based on Chris Mikul's research and description, if I came across a copy of Adams Farr's 1944 novel The Fangs of Suet Pudding in an attic or a flea market somewhere I would jump for joy.
Biblio-Curiosa is 44 pages, half legal, an essential read. Send at least $5.00 (I suggest 8 to 10, seeing how the cost of postage is outrageous) to Chris Mikul, PO Box K546, Haymarket NSW 1240, AUSTRALIA.
