Let's Keep Literary Criticism Fearless and Independent

Only Three Days Left to Take Action

At the beginning of this year, the Mars Review of Books was nothing but a question. Inspired by a computing project that dared to set its sights on the Platonic ideal of software, we asked “what would the ideal book review look like?”

I’m biased, but I think we’ve taken some strong steps toward an answer. Tao Lin’s essay in Issue 2 proposing links between the autism epidemic and environmental factors may have been the most talked about non-fiction piece of the year from any publication in the country. We’ve received praise from publications such as Politico, Spike Art Magazine, and Grand Journal. We’ve been lucky to count ourselves the first magazine to print criticism from emerging writers like Matthew Gasda, Anika Levy, Carlos Dengler, and many stand-out writers from the Urbit community.

Now we're launching The Mars Review of Books Foundation, a 501c3 US non-profit, and we’re asking for your help. Because we don’t rely on ad sales, we can continue to take risks with our criticism. But for that, we need action from readers like you.

With your help we will:

1. Continue producing a truly independent magazine of exceptional literary quality.

2. Produce beautiful, high quality, collectible print books.

3. Continue producing exciting events. We’ve had three successful events in NYC so far. (The first one was perhaps a little too successful.) We aim to expand into Austin, Miami, SF, and CDMX.

Every dollar helps, and all donations received before December 31st qualify for a tax deduction in 2022.

You can donate now via PayPal. We also accept ETH, USDC, and stars at 0xB1638F99523EFf1238eCfa5A3f05857Ff6338E5C (1/4/23 edit: new address entered. Please use this one) and Bitcoin at 33C2ohEn4aQVLkHvTE34j2hANwLHerz7Tn

The view’s pretty good from up here

Our notorious event at Urbit NY Week in May

Our Issue 2 Launch Party in September

Thank you to all our readers and supporters for an unbelievably fun and rewarding first year. We hope it’s the first of many to come.

Best,

Noah Kumin

Director

The Mars Review Review of Books Foundation