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The Believer is an (almost) monthly illustrated magazine and a sister publication to McSweeney's. Both magazines are published by the McSweeney's group based in San Francisco and are noted for their eclectic style and strong design values.

Originally to be titled The Optimist, The Believer began life in March 2003 as another brainchild of David Eggers, focusing on literature and allied subjects such as music, art and occasionally politics. Regular contributors include British author Nick Hornby (Like A Boy and High Fidelity), comedian Amy Sedaris, and French writer Michel Houellebecq

Holding a newly printed issue, it is clear from the outset that it is no ordinary piece of mass-produced journalism. It is not flashy, but it is stylish. The cover invariably features bold Charles Burns line drawings and simple headline within a 3x3 grid, harking back to the simpler days before glossy covers were the norm.

This style continues into the magazine itself, with illustrations provided by Tony Millionaire of Sock Monkey fame. The articles range between long essays with strange titles, book reviews, interviews and the two page "Schema" which attempts to summarize topics as diverse as extra-nomenclature in film credits, the genealogy of supermarkets and singing drummers.

It is impossible to categorize much of what The Believer publishes, for its youthful willingness to try new things, explore tangents and surprise defies description. More stuff-shirted literary critic may dismiss The Believer as a work by maverick writers with too many ideas, too much time on their hands and too little well-formed opinions. As an experiment and a testing ground for new talent, however, it provides the perfect springboard for those in their twenties and thirties, and part of its charm lies in its often meandering prose. Reading a typical article (if such a thing exists) is like being driven in a car by someone who sorta knows where they want to end up, but is unsure of the route and is certainly not going to use a map or ask directions.

With a cover price of $8 it's probably worth checking out their web site (www.believermag.com), where a smattering of each back issue can be found, and if you like their style, pick up a copy on line.

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