ReviewStack: McAllister's Mates Eighteen
Hi all
Two great pieces - one from the irrepressible poet and D.J. , and a slight departure for McAllister’s Mates with Scientist and Journalist (albeit one with poetic sensibilities)
These reviews are part of Reviewstack run by the great writer and pillar of the Substack Community :
An ongoing series of reviews of some of the wonderful articles, poems, and stories I’ve discovered on Substack (and other places) and more importantly the beautiful souls behind the works.
Please take a few moments to read the works of these authors and if you find their work as life-affirming and life changing as I do, then please let them know. We need to support and cherish these voices.
You can meet some of my other friends in the previous instalments: 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
If you want to keep me in caffeine (and keep the ghostly voices whispering for the poetry side of things) - consider clicking below. For any who do so, you have my deepest gratitude.
Ben's publication occupies an interesting space between a scientific journal, political observation, and a contemporary magazine. While this might seem like those facets would come into conflict or dilute each other, his skill as a writer blends them seamlessly. This is a publication that delivers passionate, inspirational scientific observation of the natural world and calm, rational political commentary. This particular article showcases his unique focused yet diverse brand of journalism.
He opens with some succinct and clearly well informed points on the benefits of communally owned and managed forests. (Practical and realistic environmental solutions are a particularly welcome feature of his writing). Clear, detailed writing with a fresh perspective.
This transitions elegantly into a series of fascinating points on “plant mutualisms” and how various species of plants and insects actively work in mutual support and “societal” (for want of a better word) benefit. Like perhaps a lot of people, I always imagined the ecosystem as a never-ending arms race between various subspecies of plants and animals. I always thought that balance was achieved solely through the dynamics of that struggle with no elements of active cooperation. It's a fascinating concept that may feature in an anthology of seasonal art and poetry I'm working on. (Which just goes to prove the old adage - to become a writer read GOOD writing).
Following this a headline roundup that is less joyous and inspiring than the above I'm afraid. Ben is not only an enthusiastic scholar and teacher on the subject of nature’s power and elegance. He is also a practical, fact driven scientist and we must face certain realities (and certain actors in the world) before we can change things. This publication is beautiful but never at the expense of a duty to inform. He also offers some useful resources to submit meaningful public challenges to the current loud, public political narratives, again - practical action.
Rounding things off - a review of a novel: critical but fair. While I might focus on the things I enjoy, I do appreciate and find high value in pointed critique. An astute writer himself, Ben has more than earned the right to take mass published fare to task which he does in a balanced, detailed, and insightful book review. Again I must praise not only the breadth but the depth of this newsletter.
There's a lot to feel cynical and apathetic about in this world. I'll not deny having my own dark days where things feel pointless and “they” seem too powerful and ubiquitous, and switching off seems the best answer. Ben is a reminder that there are things to be done. Caring, true knowledge, and fine logic ARE a blade to burst the balloon of greed, lies, and chicanery that is swelling dangerously. This man is very worthy of your time.
This is a fun juxtaposition, a classically structured sonnet about delivery drones. The idea itself is very Josh Datko, a subversion of modern technology and society in service to the disciplines of classical forms and ideals. The acronym and the version number in the title point to the poem’s sly wit and sarcastic observations, however, this is a piece crafted with the same discipline and vivid imagery as Shakespeare’s famous sonnet collection.
The poem tells the story of drone fleets on various missions - surveillance, deliveries, and maybe even engaging in combat with each other. The poem carries an echo of WH Auden’s Night Mail in the poem (for those not familiar with that poem its ingenious use of cadence creates the clanking rhythm of a railway steam train). frequent use of “te” sounds and sharp staccato rhythm of the pentameter creates a steady beat like the pulse of an approaching drone’s copter blades.
Conflicting missions and cargo are juxtaposed, from the dark, to the mundane, and even revolutionary: like arresting immigrants, home baked goods, and (politically subversive?) independent music (on Josh's beloved cassettes of course). We are living through swirling and arguably toxic debates around social media, AI's absorption and redistribution of cultural works, and internet monopolisation. This poem is a timely reminder that technology is simply a mirror and an opportunity for humanity to reveal itself. Even where it seems like the rich and powerful control every facet of the media, retail, and even the art world - we can still find corners of the internet where independent voices shine. Waste 2.0 paints a similar story with drones, while the majority of the machines haunting the skies are under government or corporate control, some still work covertly for the masses. Yes - technology can, and sadly often is used against the human spirit and the plant itself, but with clever minds and tenacious souls we can fight back.
This poem is everything I love about Josh - contemporary, sly, witty, rebellious, open-hearted, and yet nodding to tradition. Josh Datko is not only a talented author and audio artist, he is also a generous and discerning curator of other artists’ work in his online radio station bitpunk fm. He really is a vital pillar of the substack community and more than deserving of a return of the support he so generously pours out to others. Check out both his personal work and bitpunk fm, you’re sure to find something inspiring.
I hope you enjoy these beautiful works as much as I enjoyed reading them and writing about them.
You can meet some of my other friends in the previous instalments: 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Substack has proven to be a treasure trove and I already have a few more gifted writers lined up for my next review newsletter.
Thank for that :) Sometimes you discover something about yourself when other people write about you and it's quite a nice thing. Yeah, the community thing is nice as you are doing yourself here. With the lack of physical interaction we lack so much -- if we were to all takeover a pub I'm sure the energy would be 100x.
But here, by default it always feels like a competition, with the numbers and rankings and it's easy to miss that cliche, a rising tide lifts all boats. And the waters have been dry for a long time, and it's important to fill it up for others too.
Long winding way of saying thank you :)