The much–and deservedly–praised English writer Martin Amis, newly moved to Brookyln (his wife is American), offers his latest novel, Lionel ASBO:  State of England.  Although it’s nearly impossible to critique or argue the quality of Amis’ prose, and one delights in his splendid word choices and tight structures, this novel falls flat and is a real disappointment.  And this reviewer is a hard-core Amis fan.

I remember when Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, and Julian Barnes were still the angry young men of English literature.  All three are now in their sixties, and their early promise has more than panned out.  But England is still giving us young writers of great merit; two of them, Jo Baker and Harriet Lane, have new novels out, and both are excellent.

Editor’s note: Aeqai welcomes Maxwell Redder to its stable of writers and critics.  Redder, a recent DAAP graduate, is an outstanding poet, and since art and poetry often intertwine, we are introducing Maxwell’s Poetry Corner as a regular aeqai feature.  For awhile, all the poems will be Redder’s.