Asymptote and the cause of international writing

In a world where overhyped English-language books playing on a predictable single-note formula (take your pick – 1. Quirky, 2. Topical, 3. Autobiographical) all too often overshadow masterpieces by writers from the wider world, it’s clear that international literature needs its champions. And champions it has, though not that many, and maybe not any who have come to the cause as effectively as Asymptote, the international journal that just celebrated its second anniversary.

Asymptote is a free online journal but obviously not free to produce, so they’re launching an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to keep their efforts ongoing.

Since its founding Asymptote has published work by writers such as Imre Kertész, Czeslaw Milosz, me, José Saramago and Vasily Grossman. (Okay, so my contribution is a book review and theirs are all original works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, and there are other differences too, but I saw a chance to slip myself into that list and I took it; after all, I might not get another).

The journal also recently organized a host of international events to mark its second anniversary, gathering writers, translators and readers as far afield as New York, Chicago, Beijing, Taipei, Singapore, Islamabad, Karachi, Berlin and Barcelona. It’s a truly international magazine being put together from all over the world with a unique perspective and in everything from the quality of the writing they publish to the art and graphics on the site to the special features and excellent interview subjects they get, deserves to be read and supported.

So go support them here and read the latest issue while you’re at it.