Comments on: Wow, Game Mag. Wow.

By: Mark Saltveit

Mark Saltveit — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:43:01 +0000

Hi again! The Palindromist magazine has a new article about this guy: Barry Duncan -- Master Palindromist, Fraud, or Mediocrity?

By: Mark Saltveit

Mark Saltveit — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:29:18 +0000

PS Demitri Martin just wrote an excellent, 500-word palindrome describing a creepy guy at a strip club who gets his comeuppance. It's in his new book "This Is A Book" and is much better than "Dammit I'm Mad" in my humble opinion.

For literary merit, readers might enjoy Howard Bergerson's 1973 classic "Palindromes and Anagrams" (only $10 or so from Dover), and issue #4 of The Palindromist. Both contain many elegant (and less elegant) poems that are complete palindromes.

By: Mark Saltveit

Mark Saltveit — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:25:55 +0000

Thanks for the shout-out and a wise perspective on the Believer article. It struck me as another uninspired take on the loser-geek stereotype. I expected the article to go on to say that Mr. Duncan lived in his parents' basement, played Dungeons and Dragons, and wrote blogs in his pajamas.

I do think palindromists form a (small) community of practice (nice term), coalescing around my magazine and the much older Word Ways. We discuss and share work, correspond and get together in person. I play poker regularly with the editor of the MockOK palindrome website, visit Jon Agee and Will Shortz, etc.

In an earlier generation, Leigh Mercer ("A Man, A Plan, A Canal: Panama"), JA Lindon ("Cigar? Toss it in a can. It is so tragic.") and Howard Bergerson ("Ah, Satan. No smug smirk rims gums on Natasha", the book "Palindromes and Anagrams") were close friends, collaborators and competitors, frequently comparing notes with authors Martin Gardner, Dmitri Borgmann and Willard Espy.