Tom Lynch

Newman's "The Fountain at the Center of the World" is his first work published in the U.S.--his two previous novels were only released overseas. A political activist who made a living as a stand-up comedian for sixteen years (and played alongside the late great Bill Hicks), Newman traveled around the globe to research "Fountain," an ambitious, fiction-based-on-fact evaluation of anti-globalization. The book itself skips countries like they're heartbeats--the U.S., Britain, Costa Rica, and Mexico all make appearances, and Newman's extensive studying and knowledge of cultures and language prove undeniably priceless. A recent BBC film documented Newman's entire writing process, which seems fair, given that the investigation is just as interesting as the finished product. A live reading could only improve the book's impact, because Newman has something serious to say, and he wants to say it aloud.

Robert Newman reads from "The Fountain at the Center of the World" at Quimby's, 1854 West North, (773)342-0910, on March 12, at 8pm.

(2004-03-09)

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