Moe, David

Plug in the Electric Dictionary

San Francisco, CA: Community Press, 1973. First Edition. David Moe (1937–2013) was part of the Second San Francisco Renaissance as chronicled in Third Mind Books debut publication, "Starting from San Francisco: Thomas Rain Crowe in Conversation with Third Mind Books." (Ann Arbor, MI: Third Mind Books, 2018). According to Crowe, Moe was about ten years older than most of the "Beatitude cadre" (as Jack Hirschman used to refer to Thomas and his generation) and "had gotten a true to life jump-start on the rest of us Babies (Baby Beats)," through "hanging with Kerouac, Cassady and that wild bunch." His poetic activities included publishing Lovelights, the Erotic Poetry/Art Newspaper of San Francisco (at one time the most widely-distributed poetry publication in the world); curating two art galleries; and, in 1978, coordinating the San Francisco Poetry Festival. He published over 30 books of poetry, which include Ozone Allah, The Logic of Snowflakes, Quarks Heart, Immortal Amebas Jigsawpuzzle Electron Gambling Hong Kong—The Cup Lands On The Saucer, and Muse News (City Lights, 1988). Living in Berkeley, CA, he participated in numerous poetry readings throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, contributed to Beatitude Press and edited the Berkeley Review of Books. He also published a book of philosophy, How to Be God Now and worked on a book of Utopian fantasy, Royal Poetopia and the Wild Law Civilization. His death brought forth a spontaneous outpouring of poems, memories, stories, commentaries from the San Francisco poetry community. Offered today is Moe’s 1973 offering, Plug in the Electric Dictionary. A delectably rare and interesting work of surrealist poetry by one of San Francisco’s literary-outlaw-gunslingers, Plug in the Electric Dictionary stands out as not only one of Moe’s greatest works, but also as a testament to how ferociously creative and exciting the Second San Francisco Renaissance and Baby Beat Generation was. From the Thomas Rain Crowe archive (see our item No. 1010), assembled & curated by Third Mind Books, which collectively represents the entire legacy of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance, which Crowe (b. 1949) was at the center of during the 1970s (see our book, Starting From San Francisco, item No. 3071). All of the items in the TRC Archive are being separately curated & offered incrementally throughout this new year of 2025. Softcover. First edition though not explicated as such, presumed first printing though similarly not explicated. Book in very fine condition with only slight wear to fine edges, minor smudging to front and back covers, and light staining/spotting at pages. Very Fine. [Item #7171]

Price: $40.00