Usually
we plan a little better than this, but we ended up with two major editorial special sections in
the same issue as well as two advertising sections. Thus, as I write this on
Wednesday morning we all look with some trepidation to the end of the day when
we finish this issue: It could be ugly. Any special section, editorial or
advertising has the potential for vicious twists, lashing out with
issue-stopping strength. Now we have four of them: Our special
four-time-a-year, if not always quarterly, Literary Section, this time in
conjunction with the Texas Book Festival; the readers’ and critics’ restaurant
choices from our annual poll; the Beer Festival pull-out program; and a
center-spread of West End and Warehouse District merchants.
The amount of literary talent in Texas is amazing, from world-renowned authors
to local favorites, from the ever-growing mystery community, through the
longtime science fiction community to a small army of the best rock critics in
America. There was once an argument as to whether or not there was Texas
literature. The notion of even conducting this discussion is trampled by a
parade of writers from Larry McMurtry, Bud Shrake, and Cormac McCarthy to Bruce
Sterling, David Lindsey, Mary Willis Walker. From Frank Dobie, Walter Prescott
Webb, Roy Bedicheck, and Katherine Anne Porter through Gary Cartwright, Billy
Lee Brammer, John Graves, and Molly Ivins to Mary Karr, Dagoberto Gilb, Sandra
Cisneros, and Sarah Bird (I’m leaving all Chronicle-associated writers
out of this litany, Marion). This is a state with a passion for the land and
the written word. Few states have so rich a contemporary literature.
When I first heard of Jack Jackson, he was already a legend. “Jaxon” was an
underground comic book artist who came of age in the class of UT’s Texas
Ranger with Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers creator Gilbert Shelton,
published perhaps the very first underground comic book God Nose, helped
start the Rip Off Press in San Francisco, as well as influenced and inspired
the very first generations of underground comic artists. When other Austin
poster and comic artists talk of him, it is not just with respect but with
admiration.
In the very early days of the Chronicle, Jack Jackson drew for us and
most recently he published a spectacular comic book history of Threadgill’s in
Eddie Wilson’s wonderful cookbook. Over the years, the emphasis of his work has
been more and more on little-known aspects of Texas history. Appropriately, he
is interviewed this issue by Jesse Sublett, another self-taught Texas history
expert who has proven how multi-talented he is, whether it is writing detective
novels, scripts for documentaries, or writing songs. We are proud to feature
this in a section that also honors the first Texas Book Festival.
The Restaurant Poll has proven to be one of our most popular and controversial features. Everybody
has an opinion on food. No one is ever entirely happy with the poll. There
is always a category or categories that leave heads shaking — this restaurant
was left off or that restaurant was included. Think of this poll as a choruses
of voices ringing out from all over the city when you ask yourself, the age old
question, “Where should we go out to eat tonight?”
Ordinarily, we like to thank everyone involved with a special section but
there are too many people who went above and beyond the call of duty on this
issue (though we will note restaurant poll tabulators: Kate Messer, Karen
Rheudasil, Leslie Hill, Amy Baldwin, and Jonna Prescott). Fortunately, the
Chronicle boasts a remarkable staff that routinely looks upon
above-and-beyond as normal procedure.
While into personnel notes: Visual Arts and Listings Editor Julie Weaver
recently married her longtime love Shelley Lucksinger. Those of you who follow
this column may remember that the two were involved in a horrific automobile
accident last New Year’s Eve. The groom came down with chicken pox just before
the wedding but given what these two have been through, that was nothing. The
wedding was beautiful and The Austin Chronicle staff wishes them our
best. n
This article appears in November 15 • 1996 and November 15 • 1996 (Cover).