August rez Posted

Read the August issue of rez in Joomag:

Dead center in the hottest summer on record, we retreat indoors to a comfortable reading chair.  Fortunately, the August issue of rez is out!  We start off with Julie Triling paying homage to Bibbe Hansen, a central figure in Andy Warhol’s famous Factory scene and who also appeared in several of his iconic movies. Art Blue wants to make us all more literate with artificial intelligence, so he makes it easy with Understanding AI. Shadow Liberty wanders into the surf with In the Slant Night of the Moon and is never quite the same again. June Stormcrow gets stitched up in Taint but finds out not everything is as good as new.  Codex Blur is back with A Pause for Claude, a fascinating exchange with Anthropic’s AI phenom, Claude. A must read for those who are squeamish about artificial intelligence. Indigo Starling is back with another in her series of tankas, this one being Tanka Number Eight, each a romantic escapade. And finally, we all know how trying it can be to plan a wedding. Cat Boccaccio takes us behind the scenes in You Are Invited.  Enjoy this month’s issue and stay cool!

July rez Posted

Read the July issue of rez in Joomag:

It’s sweltering in most parts of the US and Europe, which is driving us all indoors.  Too hot to go outside but just right to sit back in a cooled interior and peruse the pages of this month’s rez.  It’s full of the great writing you’ve come to expect.  Starting us off is a stellar short story by Huckleberry Hax, The Unknown Ex.  Julie Trilling pays homage to James Sully, Julie’s writing mentor. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for helping to make Julie one of our premier poets.  Zati Kodaly and Consuela Caldwell team up in Lost in an Ocean of Souls.  Art Blue takes us aboard the USS Rez and whooooosh – we’re off to the fourth moon of Betelgeuse.  Cat Boccaccio, who has lifted up this magazine for so many years, brings us Makizmo, proving once again that no one is writing better micro fiction.  Indigo Starling contributes her seventh in a series of tankas, this one further explores her romantic themes.  And finally, Shadow Liberty brings us The Spottled Egg, which creates a haunting atmosphere for a very special egg.  Stay cool this summer, hydrate, and enjoy this month’s issue!

June rez Posted

 read the June issue of rez in joomag:

Now that everyone has completed their spring cleaning (cough), it’s time to reward yourself by escaping the outside world and enjoying the June issue of rez. As always, it’s filled to the brim with some of the best writing on the grid, beginning with the futurist/humorist/AI expert, Art Blue.  In Brunnenverse, he takes us into the Murmuration, wherein all sorts of fantastic things happen, not the least of which is the opening of the doors to the Brunnenverse.  New to our pages is Brian Berlin, who introduces himself with a bang in Just One Day.  We’re blessed again with another one of Zymony Guyote’s best examples of his inimitable coffee house, beat style in Spring.  Art Blue, who is always discussing matters of the past, present and future has A Late Remark on The Pilot, some afterthoughts about his earlier work, The Pilot.  June Stormcrow dazzles us once again with Blackbird, a heartfelt poem exploring themes of loss and healing.  We lifted a gem from Cat Boccaccio’s collection of works in Play On, a woeful tale taking place on the links. And lastly, Indigo Starling’s Tanka Number Six, a romantic tanka in her unforgettable series of tankas.  Sit back, relax and enjoy this month’s issue.

May rez Posted

 read the May issue of rez in joomag:

The seasons never obey the rules. Some enjoy springtime, and others are still dealing with snowdrifts. Wherever you are, curl up by an evening fire, list a glass of wine, and be thankful for our rez community. This issue is a stunner: Art Blue might be a robot, but then again, he might be. Make up your own mind after you've read his brilliant piece, The Pilot. June Stormcrow's Taint explores regeneration in all its forms.  Indigo Startling has a knack for wonderful tankas.  We include her Tanka Number Five. Urban-QR writes about the bullet that didn't hit in Fake Shot. In Tick Tick Tick, our own Julie Trilling reminds us that time doesn't stop for anyone. Cat Boccaccio is at her best with Too Many Stops.  And our beloved Zymony Guyot closes us out with a stellar, rhythmic piece entitled SursorCursor. They combine to bring us a very rich and rewarding treat as we enjoy the Spring.  

April rez Posted

Read the April issue of rez in Joomag:

Spring has sprung most places now, the lemon trees have been fed, and now it’s time to feed ourselves the nurturing qualities of good reading.  This month’s issue is chock full of thought-provoking prose and heartfelt poetry.  What could be better?  Art Blue starts us off with Captcha, where he once again foretells the future of humankind, but has temporarily lost his voice.  He asks that we come back in 2042.  Our beloved contributor, Zymony Guyot, gives us his best bebop, coffee house beat poetry, and we couldn’t be happier.  June Stormcrow stuns with a powerful poem describing healing delayed.  Codex Blur is back with tips on how to get AI to visualize a sculpt map as a 3D mode of Phil’s leg  Klannex Northmead treats us to an acrostic that really isn’t much about anything.  Indigo Starling offers the fourth in a series of tanks, each exploring the many faces of romance. And Cat Boccaccio describes her ideal desert island with goats, lemon trees and lots and lots of books.  Enjoy!

March rez Posted

Read the March issue of rez in Joomag:

This month sees the beginning of the end of a brutal winter season, stuck indoors with nothing to do except read some great prose and poetry.  Just because it’s going to warm up soon doesn’t mean you need to stop reading.  Case in point:  Are Blue starts this month’s issue off with The Riot, a treatise on relations between AI robots and their human handlers. Julie Trilling tells a tale of yearning in I Never Learned to Ski, where she laments more about a White Stag puffer jacket. Cat Boccaccio spins a yarn about a nosy neighbor in Infinite. In Are We Not Humans? Art Blue tells a tragic story about a missing package and the costliness of human error.  Klannex Northmead contributes a limeku/hairick about the age-old woes of war and those who wage it.  Ivy Lane brings us Narcissus and (Echo Verse), a brilliant poem combining form, content and feeling. Tanka Number Four is Indigo Starling's most recent tanka. And finally, Consuela Caldwell closes out the issue with A Thoughtless Moment of Zen, a frolicking poem featuring a dancing dog and moose.  We hope you enjoy the issue!

February rez Posted

Read the February issue of rez in Joomag:

As snow and ice is cleared from the streets outside, there’s plenty in this month’s issue to take your mind off the cold.  Persephone Phoenix interviews Huckleberry Hax and coaxes out of him some of his secrets to successful machinima making.  Hercules AI is Codex Blur’s companion piece to last month’s stunning article.  Hoyt is a heartfelt piece by Farima Hoisan, her tribute to a dear friend struggling with life’s issues.  In The Edge, Klannex Northmead returns with a poem not only from the edge of the universe but also the edge of our imaginations. What issue is complete without hearing from Art Blue?  His contribution this month, 2042, catches Chat-5.1 in a serious coding error:  a typo! Indigo Starling brings us another of her delightful tankas, this being Tanka Number Two.  Finally, RoseDrop Rust steers the Good Ship Lollipop through treacherous waters with life-saving effect in Lieutenant Darling.  Curl up under a nice blanket and enjoy this month’s issue.

January rez Posted

read the January issue of rez in Joomag:

If you’re worried about having good things to read in this new year, we have just the remedy – a stellar collection of prose and poetry to start things off right.  Unknown UUID begins this month’s issue with a simple problem:  The Typo.  Never has such a minor detail created such a kerfuffle.  He does his best to unpack it in Checkpoint Unavailable.  Further explanation may be forthcoming in next month’s issue. Zati Kodaly tantalizes us with a superb poem (in English) entitled Was Fruchbar Ist Allein Est Wahr.  Klannex Northmead contributes the first of what we hope will be many limericks, this one featuring a happy signora. Hercules by CodexBlur is next up, a look at Hercules as a possible candidate for Father of Code. Indigo Starling brings us the first of nine Tanka, this one simply titled, Tanka Number One. We can’t wait for the next one in the February issue.  Nellie Bly tells a simple story in her beautiful poem, Waves.  Lastly, Lynn Mimistrobell brings the issue to a close with an insight into the difficulties facing Lili Boulanger and other women composers. Happy New Year, and enjoy the issue.

November/December rez Posted

read the holiday issue of rez in joomag: 

Even though it’s not officially winter, it sure feels like it, which makes us want to curl up next to the fire with something good to read.  Well, we have just the thing – the 2025 Holiday Issue of rez!.  Starting things off is Art Blue, who always keeps us up to date on the shape of our future. H A L O – A Tribute to AI LAND.  Art has a RAW CUT and he’s ready to render it into your brain. What is he talking about?  We bring you another wonderful piece by Cat Boccaccio, called Itsy Bitsy Spider. We now have a better appreciation of spiders. June Stormcrow’s Village People, delves into macho stereotypes, role models and a youth that has passed. How To Prompt a World is First Prim’s first contribution. Prim had the temerity to ask Phil Linden who he was. We didn’t see the coming answer. If you’ve ever picked up a pencil or a brush and felt creative, you must read drawing like da vinci, Klannex Northmead’s wonderful way of drawing us in. Merope Madrigal is such a fine writer and Super Nova Fan Girl is such a fine example of her work. We’re stargazers too!  Art Blue sends us a holiday card that could only have been designed by his AI, Neruval. Nellie Bly closes out our Holiday Issue with Smile, a poignant reminder of where our hearts should be – with the people of Ukraine. Be safe and healthy.

October rez Posted

Read the October issue of rez in Joomag:

It may be too late to include this month’s issue in your summer reading schedule, but don’t worry.  What could be nicer than catching up on rez Magazine on a delightful autumn afternoon.  This month starts off with Poets Are Not Pretenders, by Shadow Liberty, who probes the true nature of flowers, trees and ……. electric eels?  What??  The Perseverance of the Great Depression Survivor (For Aunt Gert), is Merope Madrigal’s homage to her relative who not only survived the calamitous economic unravelling, but knew how to thrive nonetheless.  Art Blue leads the way again this month with Run from Blade.  Art sees not only the end, but the end of the end.  So, we ask, what comes after that? Cat Boccaccio’s Ungrateful, is another one of her short fiction gems.  We’re grateful she was so prolific, but miss her terribly.  Nellie Bly (aka Karla Wagner) not only wrote the poem, Keys Are Pining for Their Doors, but assembled the lovely graphics as well.  Nellie shares the profound sadness in Ukraine but inspires us with her words.  Continuum of Life is rakshowe’s wonderful contribution, wherein she describes the unexpected twists and turns on the highway of life.  Finally, Lynn Mimistrobell gives us a master class on the versatile and beautiful instrument, the classical guitar.  We hope you enjoy this month’s issue as much as we do. Stay tuned for next month’s holiday issue! 

September rez Posted

 read the September issue of rez in Joomag:

As we begin our fifteenth year of publishing some of the best poetry and prose anywhere on the grid, we’re privileged to present another issue of rez Magazine, featuring some new voices, some old friends, and works from those not still with us.  We start the issue with our newest author (or perhaps one of our oldest authors, who’s to say?), BBIWY, who has contributed an astonishing tale called CTRL+ALT+G.  Art Blue’s AI owl, Neruval, somehow accesses God’s server with unpredictable results. Impossible, you say. Find out for yourself.  rakshowes is back with a sweet and sour dish that needs to be savored to be believed.  Sugary, tart, but always sweet, enjoy her poem, Sweet and Sour.  June Stormcrow contributes mid-life lust in a small southern town, reminding us that lovers of all ages can still lose themselves in the passion of a romance. Dead Bolts is, frankly, disturbing and unsettling.  If you’re in the mood for a chilling ghost story, Cat Boccaccio delivers up a scary tale indeed. Art Blue brings us another master work, Why AI Stands for Human Intelligence.  Did Art Blue catch Chat GPT making a rookie error or did Art fall for an intentional feint by the notorious AI machine?  Zymony Guyot is still in our thoughts after his passing last year.  But we publish posthumously another work of his, titled simply Buzz. An incredible talent gone too soon. And finally, Shadow Liberty gives us a stunning poem, Cherished Moments, which brings to life lovers fumbling in their passion.  All in all, another wonderful issue of rez Magazine, the beginning of our fifteenth year.  Our privilege, our passion.

August rez Posted

read the August issue of rez in Joomag: 

This month’s edition of rez is a special one – our fourteenth anniversary issue!  Fourteen years of showcasing the best writers on the grid or, frankly, anywhere.  We start things off with a heartbreaking piece from battle-weary Ukraine entitled Ballad of a Russian Soldier’s Wife,” by Nellie Bly. It’s visceral and real.  Our thanks to her for opening our eyes and hearts.  Julianna Juliesse contributes Waiting for Cremation, a difficult but necessary look at our own demise. Art Blue’s first stab at poetry (at least in these pages) is a brilliant riff on Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe, called Ode to the Extravoxellic Polyregurgitation of Rezzification. Inner Dancer is Merope Madrigal’s contribution and, as always, she is attuned to the dancing of light beams.  Shadow Liberty brings us a short, taut poem of things usually unseen in The Iron Numbers.  June Stormcrow delves into her glorious Irish roots in Caretakers. We also reprise one of our favorite poems by Mariner Trilling called Flying Monkeys. And no issue would be complete with the poetry of Donald Trump. His Windmills poem is nothing short of a classic. Is there any reason he shouldn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize AND the Nobel Prize for Literature?  We hope to have at least another 14 years ahead.  It’s been our privilege to entertain (and maybe enlighten) you over these years. Enjoy!

July rez Posted

Read the July issue of rez in Joomag:

Not happy with everything on your summer reading list?  Well, we have just the thing: the July issue of rez.  Sic Parabellum starts things off with a bang, asking “Do humans have a future?” in Godel Meets Darwin.  We honor Cat Boccaccio’s memory with Days Like This, another of her brilliant short stories featuring Leep, one of her recurring characters.  In A Former Mean Girl Contemplates Her Life from the Parking Lot of a Strip Mall, Jullianna Juliesse reminisces about her former life as a “mean girl.”  Hard to imagine, huh?  Art Blue cozies up to GPT 4o and gets to the essence of things in Sakana 108.  It’s wonderful to see GPT 4o take orders from Art.  We’re grateful to Lynn Mimistrobell for introducing us to some of the lesser-known composers of note. We love her features on classical geniuses. Rakshowes returns to rez this month with a charming and provocative piece called Home for a Bone.  And we close this month’s issue with another gem from Zymony Guyot, Blank.  How we miss his voice.  So, put down than “fast read” and pick up this month’s issue of rez for some very satisfying reading.

June rez Posted

Read the June issue of rez in Joomag:

With the summer reading season soon upon us, we have just the thing  The June issue of rez!  Chock full of wonderful poetry and prose, this month's issue features the likes of Jullianna Juliesse, Mariner Trilling, Jami Milles, Art Blue, Zymony Guyot, Lynn Mimistrobell and RoseDrop Rust.  Please enjoy this issue as you get a jump on your reading.  

May rez Posted

Read the May issue of rez in Joomag:

We’re publishing the May issue of rez a little early this month because our esteemed publisher, Jami Mills, has gone fishing.  May’s issue is nothing less than brilliant, with Art Blue, RoseDrop Rust, Hans8, Consuela Hypatia Caldwell, Jullianna Juliesse, Romie Vella, Cat Boccaccio and Lynn Mimistrobell all contributing wonderful content.  From time to time, we will be reprinting an article from yesteryear (there are a lot of them because we’ve been publishing for 14 years).  Please enjoy this special issue.

April rez Posted

 Read the April issue of rez in Joomag:

We are excited to welcome Spring as well as a new contributor, Romie Vella. She, together with some of our favorite poets and storytellers, helps this issue be one of the very best. As the weather warms for most of us, it’s time to put together a Spring reading list.  What could be better than sitting down with wonderful pieces by Art Blue, Cat Boccaccio, Jullianna Juliesse, Shyla the Super Gecko, Lynn Mimistrobell, and our new favorite, Romie Vella? Enjoy every minute of this month’s issue.

March rez Posted

Read the March issue of rez in Joomag:

The embers of the catastrophic wildfire in Los Angeles (home of rez Magazine) have cooled but the losses are staggering. Like the Phoenix, rez rises and offers a fresh new issue for your enjoyment. Write For Me AI, Will Blake, Cassie Parker, Art Blue, RoseDrop Rust, Cat Boccaccio and Lynn Mimistrobell all contribute to this wonderful issue.  Please enjoy.

February rez Posted

Read the February issue of rez in Joomag:

Sadly, we were unable to publish this issue last month because rez Magazine’s headquarters is located in the Pacific Palisades.  The facility was undamaged by flames, but severely compromised by smoke, soot and ash.  Cleanup will be done by the end of this month and hopefully, the March and all future issues will be on time.  Meanwhile, let’s concentrate of this beautiful issue, with contributions by Jami Mills, Art Blue, Nostradamos, Cat Boccaccio, RoseDrop Rust, Shyla the Super Gecko, Lynn Mimistrobell and DJ Substance.  I hope you agree that the February issue is worth the wait.  See you next month.

November-December rez Posted

read the November/December issue of rez in Joomag:

With one beautiful holiday under our belts (which have to be taken out a notch in some of our cases), we focus on Christmas.  Our holiday issue is full of great writing if not always good cheer.  An example in point:  Art Blue has returned to give us all a lesson in logic in Chain of Thought. Jami Mills reprises an article Riot!, featuring the stunning, kaleidoscopic artwork of Consuela Hypatia Caldwell. Jullianna Juliesse bemoans the high cost of eating out and yearns for the simplicity of a home-cooked meal in Spoon and Stable. RoseDrop Rust loses count in One Thousand One, but we always forgive him.  Harry Hacker is back to tell us about the Stendahl Syndrome, from which comes Real Life Vertigo. Cat Boccaccio gets a little dark but always entertains with Chandler’s Folly, and Nazaryn Nebula gives us a heartfelt poem about the love of her life in if I had the words.  Enjoy the holidays and especially this month’s holiday issue!

October rez Posted

read the October issue of rez in Joomag: 

Now that we’re hopefully done with Summer once and for all, we can admire the changing leaves and cooling temperatures. Perfect for pulling up a chair and enjoying this month’s riches.  Traveller3326 starts us off with Everlast, and speaks to us about our future, the future of climate jumps. RoseDrop Rust in his Not Behind proves to us that he is perfectly comfortable writing in any direction. From Aamoth to Zuckelman is Jullianna Juliesse’s tribute to our capacity to love and grieve. Rakshowes contributes an insightful look into an alluring mermaid’s world in Elemental.  Sasquatch1575, separated from Traveller3326 at birth, tells us how to distinguish between a yellow stone and a Yellowstone. We get to bathe in Cat Boccaccio’s  words again this month with “Nona,” a surprising tale that is extra-terrestrial. Gudrun Gausman was a major contributor many years back and we resurrect one of her best pieces, “What’s Your Issue?” featuring, among other things, werewolves. Lynn Mimistrobell introduces us to a giant in the world of violin, Pablo de Seraste. And pulling it all together in this month’s issue is Nazaryn Nebula’s sensitive piece, little girls.  Hoping you enjoy the issue.