Underrated Writers 2006

Sam Savage

Levi Asher nominates this writer. Asher was "among the most enthusiastic" members of the Litblog Co-op that nominated Savage's "sad, funny and original first novel" for the LBC's Read This! pick. Asher continues: "One would think an LBC-selected writer would be vaulted out of the ranks of the underrated, but the bookstores of New York City don't seem to think so. Despite all the LBC's work, I have never once seen Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife on a "New Books" stack (and I've checked a lot of stacks). In fact it's rare to find it on a bookstore shelf at all. I think this is a shameful oversight, and I hope the booksellers of the world wise up."

More about Sam Savage

+ Review round-up of Firmin at Coffee House Press
+ The Bat Segundo Show interview with Savage
+ A Firmin-related site called The Old Rat's Hole

Katharine Weber

Levi Asher recommends this underrated writer. "Triangle got very positive reviews when it came out earlier this year . . . This short and compelling story appeared to be about a factory fire that killed over 100 women in New York City a century ago, but it took a few sharp turns and ended up taking the reader to several unexpected territories. . . My appreciation for her increased when I caught her delivering an inspired reading from Dalton Trumbo at a bookstore event in September."

More about Katharine Weber

+ Weber's personal site
+ NPR review of Triangle
+ Interview with Weber at Conversations with Famous Writers