The Soaring Twenties Social Club Omnibus is sponsored by… my book!
The paperback edition of my debut essay collection is out now. The first fifty essays all collected into a beautiful paperback package. Click the button below to see how gorgeous this thing is and pick up a copy for yourself.
Letter From The Founder
Last week we made a statement. And I’ll admit that when it came to this weeks sophomore issue I was a little concerned that we might not be able to match that high benchmark.
Well I needn’t have worried.
The Soaring Twenties Social Club has some of the freshest new voices and most talented essayists and storytellers around. And the reception to our debut roundup last week seems to have galvanised them. I’m blown away by the depth of quality that our roster boasts.
You’ve got insight, wit, humour, beauty, heart, candour and style here, all in one completely free weekly package. What more could you ask for?
So pour yourself your favourite libation, take a seat in your favourite chair and get ready to settle in and luxuriate in the art and essays that we bring to you this week.
As time goes on I hope that this will become a part of your weekend ritual- the slow, meditative, mindful, deliberate imbibing of what the Social Club has created this week.
We’re in this for the long haul. And we hope to convince you to become similarly committed.
Until next week,
Live well,
Tom
Essays
The gray space in between by Lyle
Lyle is back with his Hey Lyle advice column. In this one he tackles the thorny issue of choosing between the lucrative path versus doing what you actually want to do. And he tackles it in his trademark empathetic, wise and understanding style. I hope he does more of these.
Bookmark #287 by Deepansh Khurana
Deepansh’s bookmark project shows no sign of letting up. In this short piece he relays the experience of attending a writers workshop and why he hasn’t been to one since. Good stuff.
On Writing While Hungover by Tony Zentelis
Tony ‘talk of the town’ Zentelis opens up his laptop to hit us with another stream of consciousness. This time while hungover. I, for one, found the very idea that our Tony would overindulge in alcohol to be a shock. But even the morning after the night before he can still really write.
History, The Undiscovered Realm by Theofuturist
In a quiet and unassuming, yet also confident and optimistic fashion the man who goes by the handle Pr0ph3t is really building a body of work here. In the piece he discusses history, nostalgia, faith and more with his trademark subtlety and precision.
Hit, Smash, Like, Subscribe by Craig Burgess
The Barnsley Barnstormer continues his on-going, eventually book length project dissecting this algorithm driven, engagement bait ‘content’ landscape that we have built for ourselves. Good to see someone mocking what needs to be mocked and clearly Craig does so because he cares deeply about art and the people who create it.
The asphyxiating influences of forms and formats by Vita
An utterly unique piece by our resident scythe wielded and wood-chopper. In it he uses martial arts as a jumping off point to discuss forms, formats and how one must go from embracing them in the beginning to eventually transcending them. ‘Numbers to leave numbers, form to leave form’ is an idea that will stay with me.
Book Review: A Posthumous Confession (Marcellus Emants) by Charlie Sherritz
Very pleased to have a book review to include in this weeks issue. And Charlie, like myself, is clearly a big fan of the NYRB imprint which makes it all the better. I had never heard of this particular book but on the strength of this piece it is now on y ever-growing list of books to buy.
On apologists & outreachers by Simon
In which Zohar Atkins distinction between ‘Apologists’ and ‘Outreachers’ is discussed. ‘Outreachers want to convince, apologists want to accompany’. As someone who arguably oscillates between the two forms (fiction= apologist, essays= outreach) I found this an extremely interesting discussion
Shape of Things to Come by Paul Publisher
Our resident astrologist Paul discusses truth, beauty, TikTok, H G Wells and much more in his utterly unique and captivating style. Even the most ardently astro-sceptic can gain insight (as well as aesthetic pleasure) from delving into Paul’s prose. This is not your newspaper horoscope bs here, I can assure you.
The End of the Road by Gavin Brennan
Gavin concludes his series on his Camino pilgrimage. Mixed emotions honestly and thoughtfully rendered by a man who has seen a thing or two. Personally I can’t wait to see where his travels take him next. A flaneur’s flaneur is Gavin.
Dead Precedent by Kieran Moran
I almost don’t want to spoil this one by talking about it. Kieran is a funny man. Comic writing is an art all of its own and Kieran here is very, very good at it. That’s all that needs to be said here.
Eisenstein about Joyce- Translated from the Russian by Ivan
I like Ivan’s essays. I really like Ivan’s short fiction. But I have a real soft spot for his translated works. Not only does he have the taste to unearth neglected gems but his voice in rendering Russian in English is excellent, as you will see in this piece wherein legendary Russian filmmaker and cinematic innovator Eisenstein discussed the novelist James Joyce.
Reader Questions- The Problem With Contemporary Writing by Charles Schifano
‘To care about the state and quality of writing today is to scream into a void while knowing that the void does nothing but laugh’ Man, that is how you write an opening sentence. Which means you know you are in wise company as Charles here rightly weighs in on contemporary writing and its discontents.
Fiction
Maury by Brady
This is the debut short story from Brady, who regulars will recognise from his searching and eloquent philosophical essays. But this fiction takes quite a departure. Yes, there is philosophy here, and themes if you want them, but this can also be enjoyed as a scary horror genre romp. I for one enjoyed seeing this side of Brady.
Podcasts
Content with a K so it’s Kontent by Madspace
Self avowed ‘voice supremacist’ is back in the car talking to himself about dentists, heavy cream, lamb logistics and more. This free cappuccino acquisition scheme goes from strength to strength.
Content with an F (Big Birthday Special) by Craig Burgess
Evidently Craig here also listens to Madspace as his day-later title implies. Do we have the beginnings of a friendship or a (fake) beef (for engagement) brewing between our two resident podcasters? Who knows. What I do know is near-birthday Craig threw the kitchen sink at this week’s Wednesday Audio.
Thank you for reading/listening. Feel free to share this email and the individual authors work and also feel free to leave comments either here or on the authors own sites.
Finally, Craig and I will be recording another episode of the Podcast That Must Not Be Named tomorrow at 6pm GMT. We’ll host it and record it live from the Discord and then post it onto this Substack on Monday.
All exclusive for STSC premium subscribers.
So if you want to hear that either live or via recording (and if you want to join our ranks and contribute your work) then click the button below and choose either monthly, annual or founder member.
I look forward to seeing you over at the Social Club Discord.
Cheers!