Various: Pendell, Dale (Editor); Blue Cloud, Peter; Daughtry, Philip; Snyder, Gary et al.)

Kyoi-Kuksu: A Journal of Backcountry Writing No. 3 (Spring 1974, "Mushrooming")

Nevada City, CA: Lenox Press, 1974. First Edition. Softcover. "Backcountry is not simply high mountains and pine trees; more, it is an approach, a perspective." (pg. 1). Offered today is an issue of the underground-underappreciated-backcountry journal Kyoi-Kuksu: A Journal of Backcountry Writing No. 3 (Spring 1974, "Mushrooming"). The brainchild of founding editor, Dale Pendell (1947–2018), author of the award-winning "Pharmako" trilogy, a literary history of psychoactive plants. His poetry is widely anthologized, most recently in The Wisdom Book of American Buddhist Poetry. Combining the teachings of San Francisco Renaissance poet Gary Snyder (b. 1930), Zen teacher Robert Aitken (1917–2010) & philosopher Norman O. Brown (1913–2002), Pendell seeks his answers in “wild mind.” Per page 1, "Kyoi is changing its name to Kuksu. This issue, as the transition issue, is called Kyoi/Kuksu. The change in name reflects the change of editorial consciousness behind the magazine." Pendell had started the magazine to represent under-represented writers from the Sinkyoko Basin of the Eel River in northern California, but interest from writers outside this region quickly grew, so he changed the name to allow more writers to submit their work. This transitional issue focuses entirely on hallucinogenic psylocibin mushrooms and is replete with poetry by the likes of: Peter Blue Cloud (1933-2011), with the poems Coyote Man & Saucy Duckfeather (pgs. 38-46) & Dawn (pg. 47); Philip Daughtry (a.k.a. Philip Suntree; b. 1942) with Horse-Man & High Pasture (pg. 59); the aforementioned Snyder and The Wild Mushroom (pg. 25) & The Flowing (pgs. 67-69); a poetic offering from Pendell, What I Desire is the Rainbow of Your Arms (pg. 23) & lyrics to 3 songs (pgs. 70-71), among many other poems, essays & reviews by a litany of other great writers. For an example of Kuksu post Kyoi please see Item No. 7231, Kuksu: A Journal of Backcountry Writing No. 6. See also Starting From San Francisco (item No. 3071), published by TMB, wherein Thomas Rain Crowe provides a complete anecdotal history-memoir of the BBG/SSFR & its critical collaborations/mentorships with key members of the original Beat Generation/ San Francisco Renaissance. From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the great American scholar, bibliographer, author & publisher who until recently was the foremost remaining authority on literary giant Charles Olson (1910-1970), with whom we're honored to have been acquainted. Staplebound Journal in Wrappers: First Edition, first & presumably only printing per publication custom. A most psychedelic collectible in its rarest contemporary form with very distinguished provenance. In relatively fine-to-very fine condition with mild rubbing & scratching to front, back covers & stapled spine; mild creasing near top & bottom corners/fine edges of back cover; an occasion of minute spot-staining to center/top fine edge of same; mild age-toning to text block. Interior fine-to-very fine with mild age-toning mostly to blank margins & fine edges of page leaves; very light creasing to fine edges/corners of some of same. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #8913]

Price: $80.00