* Michael Bishop's "The Pile" (short story, non-genre)

Generally readable description of the life in not well off housing society. Title refers to a location on society premises where households can dump junk that may be useful for someone else - like a TV set that doesn't work. This location serves as a kind of place to socialize.

Fact sheet.

First published: Subterranean magazine, Winter 2008.
Rating: B
Download full text.

Note: Why is this post so short?

Subterranean magazine, Winter 2008 issue

Looks like they fill out the online magazine's table of contents slowly. When I checked on 5 January 2008, it only had one complete written story. Plus sundry other articles.

Here is some commentary on what I found interesting enough to actually bother reading; will likely add to it as the issue gets filled out over the quarter. My rating is in brackets (ABC: A = time well spent; C = don't bother).

1. [non fiction] Elizabeth Bear's "Congratulations" (A); download: 15-point advice for artists on how to handle fans & critics. Very readable.
2. [ss] Michael Bishop's "The Pile" (B); download: Non-genre. Generally readable description of the life in not well off housing society. Title refers to a location on society premises where households can dump junk that may be useful for someone else - like a TV set that doesn't work. This location serves as a kind of place to socialize.
   

Legend: ss = short story.