Possibly the greatest literary periodical in existence

I finally received a subscription to this amazing magazine as a gift, and I've read my first issue cover-to-cover over the span of two days. This month's (February 2003) issue includes, among other things, an essay on the inevitable doom that humans will eventually face when our planet experiences its next major cosmic collision.. Unless, of course, we manage to annihilate ourselves via environmental, militaristic, pathological, or technological means, pre-empting the arbitrary extinction caused by an asteroid or comet.

Every issue of Harper's contains excellent essays, fiction, political discussion, and of course the Harper's staples, such as the Index. Many of the stories and essays win major literary prizes such as the O'Henry award, and get included in high-profile anthologies such as the *Best American* series. Certainly, for a writer, if you are chosen to appear in Harper's, you are at the pinnacle of your craft.

Although the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, and many other smaller literary magazines consistantly offer excellent content and visually pleasing formats, Harper's seems to lead the pack -- maybe because of it's no-nonsense approach, limited advertising, regionally non-specific content, and diversity of topics. The fact that Harper's is aided by a non-profit organization must contribute to its quality; certainly any independence from advertisers can only improve the open-endedness and creativity that Harper's excels in.

Best Magazine I've Ever Subscribed To

I ordered Harper's from Amazon nearly a year ago and I have come to treasure each issue for its unique blend of essays, art, and literary criticism. My subscription has become a de facto extension of my liberal arts education, as the magazine's pages are graced with politics, history, literature, and the arts.

Each issue features an essay from editor Lewis Lapham, an essayist of the same caliber as Gore Vidal. Lapham's style and vocubalary are extraordinary, and his writing is often laced with biting satire.

The magazine is illustrated with contemporary art from galleries across the United States, and includes informative features like the "Harper's Index" and the "Readings" section (garnered from documents in the public domain). Each issue usually includes two serious book reviews, sometimes stretching across several pages of small, dense type.

A subscription to this indispensible magazine will enlighten and entertain, equipping the reader to understand the contemporary world.

Variable

During the 1980s and 90s Harpers decayed badly from a journal of literature and opinion into a collection of short pieces and meaningless charts- sort of a journal for the literary pretentious with a short attention span. During the late 90s and the early part of this century, an effort was made to recreate the old Harpers.

Gone now are the annoying fragments and pointless tables, but the quality of the writing is still variable. At its best, Harpers still trails far behind The Atlantic, and at its worst it's pitifully sophmoric. I'll try it again in a few more years.