The magazine ends with a story by the editor, A Long Way From Home. This is excellent. It concerns two women who meet at a gynecological clinic, one waiting for an abortion, the other for an HIV test result. It's characterized by irony, astute organization, and an effective use of detail and closes the magazine very strongly.
There are three poets featured, Tim Ostrander, Kate Rogers and Madeleine Slavick. Ostrander has a poem echoing Wallace Stevens, Rogers' contains moments of wry humor, but the poet I enjoyed most was Slavick. Her elegant verses, deceptively simple, have a real nobility and dignity.
The main thing to say about Pressed is that it's a very welcome addition to the English-language scene in Taiwan. Its distribution is still an unresolved problem, apparently, but it is free of charge, and will be available at places where expatriates congregate. More importantly, though, it's a vehicle for writers of many kinds. The second issue will contain the best submissions for a Postcard Fiction contest. Stories are asked for that feature Asia and are under 250 words. For up-dated information on availability, and details of how to send in contributions, send an e-mail to the editor at pressed@asia.com.
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