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HOW DO YOU DO. PLEASE TELL ME YOUR PROBLEM I’m the Barker. I’m trying to discover an interesting and witty way to inform electronic book review’s readers of this month’s amazing new essays, reviews, and articles. IS IT BECAUSE YOU ARE THE BARKER THAT YOU CAME TO ME It is. ELIZA, I need your help. WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU IF YOU GOT MY HELP It’d mean a lot to me—I’ve learned a lot about you this month, thanks to David M. Berry and Mark C. Marino. Their article “Reading ELIZA: Critical Code Studies in Action” documents their arduous journey to obtain your source code, the notable aspects within… continue

Dear ebr, I have no idea what’s happening with your latest mailouts and, quite frankly, I don’t like it. In fact, your last mailshot’s grandiose, rambling piece was utter garbage. Too long. Too nonsensical. Too self-indulgent. Your editor is aware she’s writing a newsletter, isn’t she? I suggest she tries sticking to something short and sweet. – D. Stressed   Gee whiz, Mr Stressed! You sure don’t hold back, do ya? No worries! This week, our editor is trying very hard to keep it short and sweet.     Dear editor, I’ve heard that Will Luers is no longer managing editor of ebr! Are… continue

Frame 1              Darkness. The outline of THE BARKER barely visible. Frame 2              Inset. Lights, camera, action. The Barker stands with her arms spread wide and a grin on her face, on a blank, white background. BARKER: WELCOME BACK TO ELECTRONIC BOOK REVIEW! THIS MONTH WE’RE HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU— TITLE: THE INFINITE INFORMATION AGE (Title should be in a sans serif font reminiscent—if not the same—as the ebr branding. White, with some fluorescent offset colors, so it pops against the black background.) Frame 3              Inset, again. The Barker is still talking as, outside the… continue

(Chime. Stage. Click. Lights. Trusty table. Belligerent briefcase. Flurry of paper, paraphernalia, and archontic impulse. The Barker springs. Upright, feet.) BARKER: ELECTRONIC BOOK REVIEW is here to bring you— (Inhale.) Articles! (Inhale.) Meditations! (Inhale.) GLOSSES AND INSINUATIONS! (Stark white spotlight. Automaton imitation. Hard jaw.) BARKER: As an non-AI language model, I am able to introduce you to Nick Montfort’s latest offering with this attempt at both surrealism and summary: (Pause.) the socio-cultural collective unconscious emerges fettered by $2 mal[content]ed moderators to be… continue

(The tick-tick-tick of a counter climbing up as messages are sent. The ding of an inbox visible to only one person. The looming crumple of an email automatically sent to ‘Trash’. A digital veil rises, allowing the brief imitation of contact to be made. Here, THE BARKER stands, center stage.) BARKER: This month, in electronic book review: (The lights drop. A pale blue spotlight bursts into life.) BARKER: Jussi Parikka, Paolo Patelli, and May Ee Wong delve into their captivating post-digital narrative work, The Environmental Audiotour, in “Ecocritique between Landscape and Data: The Environmenta… continue