Contained within the pages of IRIS is an amalgam of poetry and short stories. Jos makes it clear in the editor’s note that the pages of this zine are reserved to anyone interested in seeing their work in print. The poetry is more abstract and artsy than what I am used to, forcing me to prefer the prose. In fact, the prose in issue #6 is more entertaining than the sad, often dismal, and even pathetic stories of issue #7. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed every work of prose within both issues, but I felt remorseful at the end of each story, especially after reading “Uninjured by Time.” I’m hoping upcoming coming issues will house more character driven stories with more positive outcomes. (Lara Rock)
litzine, #6 & #7, 32 pages, Jos Kollée, $3, 1530 Swan Road, Denman Island BC, V0R 1T0