Of Grunge And Government
Krist Novoselic, RDV/Akashic Books, $9.95

To most folks, especially those outside of Washington State, Krist Novoselic will forever be known as the bass player of Nirvana, that little band that revolutionized the music scene in the early ’90s. But he also has a long-abiding interest in politics. During his Nirvana days, the band played a range of benefits and, post-Nirvana, Novoselic founded Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee (JAMPAC). He also worked to overturn Seattle’s Teen Dance Ordinance, helped clubs host all-ages shows and was instrumental in keeping yet another “Erotic Music Bill” from being signed into law. He nearly ran for lieutenant governor this year, but instead decided to write a book—and gave me some gainful employment by hiring me to edit it. “Of Grunge And Government: Let’s Fix This Broken Democracy!” is published this month by RDV Books (run by Danny Goldberg, one of Nirvana’s former managers) and Akashic Books, and is a memoir of both Novoselic’s time with Nirvana, and his political coming-of-age.

Music fans will especially enjoy the early chapters, covering his years in Aberdeen, having his eyes and mind opened by Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road,” the music of the Melvins, and, of course, Kurt Cobain (the author says of Kurt’s work, “For all its beauty, I see [a] dark thread through most of Kurt’s creativity”). But the book’s raison d’etre is electoral reform. Want to learn about such concepts as Instant Runoff Voting and Full Representation in easy-to-grasp language? This compact 125-page tome is the perfect place to start; especially if you fall into what Novoselic calls “the grey area between the ideological poles” of the political right and left (broadening our two-party system is a major theme). Community involvement, at every level, is another major topic, driving home the idea that a democracy is what you make it. Read the book’s first chapter yourself at akashicbooks.com and check out the author reading at the Starbuck’s Literary Stage (sponsored by Tablet) at Bumbershoot, September 5, noon. Also check out Novoselic's website at fixour.us. —Gillian G Gaar

Attitude 2:
The New Subversive Alternative Cartoonists
Ted Rall (editor), NBM Publishing, $13.95

In this collection, cartoonist Ted Rall has endeavored to cull together some of the best, and often overlooked, alternative weekly cartoons. In this second edition, he’s done a great job of including as much diversity as possible, from creator Alison Bechdel’s “Dykes to Watch Out For” and from Aaron McGruder, creator of the somewhat mainstream, but definitely anti-establishment, “The Boondocks.” The collection includes copious samples of the weekly strips along with informative interviews with the artists themselves. Some favorites include, but are not limited to, Keith Knight (“K Chronicles,” “(th)ink”); Emily Flake (“Lulu Eightball”); David Rees (“Get Your War On,” “My New Filing Technique is Unstoppable”); the utterly offensive, but hilarious Tim Kreider (“The Pain—When Will It End,” just released in book form); and the not-quite-as-offensive-but-also-hilarious Jason Yungbluth (“Deep Fried”). Great episodic reading that just might make you feel like you’re not so alone in this crazy world. —Kristopher Monroe

The Bradleys
Peter Bagge, Fantagraphics Books, $16.95

The Bradleys have the dysfunctional family genre down pat. The comics open with a sitcom-like scenario that is unashamedly cliché until an argument is aroused. The family members’ selfishness and contempt for one another explodes out of faces with jagged teeth and wide, bloodshot eyes as the anger crescendos into hilarious acts of cartoon violence until someone is shoved into an oven, stabbed in the arm, or sets the house on fire. This introductory collection, with selected comics from 1984-1989, subjects readers to delightfully despicable characters with a necessary pinch of humanity. —Miranda Staley

Hairstyles of the Damned
Joe Meno, Akashic/Punk Planet Books, $13.95

Brian Oswald’s got problems. He’s a high school junior, in love with his best friend Gretchen (who’s in love with a neo-Nazi) goes to an all-boy Catholic school and has a perpetual, raging hard-on. Oswald goes through all the social and emotional malaise of a troubled teen. His family and social life is always in upheaval so he retreats into the world of music, specifically rock and punk rock. He fights his urges and slowly comes to an uneasy understanding of himself and his friends. Meno has a nice style that conveys the nuances of a teenager—Oswald is a character fraught with both kindness and cruelty.

What makes “Hairstyles of the Damned” compelling is Meno’s ability to create the rhythm of teen-speak without pandering, and his ability to infuse the story with pop-culture references. A good summertime read for those wanting to remember their youthful mischief. —De Kwok

Spring Fire
Vin Packer, Cleis Press, $12.95

“Spring Fire” isn’t just from the era of the closet, it’s from the era of the bonafide deep freeze. This classic lesbian pulp novel—the first!—originally published in 1952, abounds with clichés; the innocent blonde and the worldly brunette, both sorority girls (naturally), drawn together by a fraught desire that’s always “burning” and “breathless,” but will, of course, lead to no good.

Part of that is due to the dictates of the time. In a new introduction, author Vin Packer explains she was told her teenage lovers couldn’t be happy together, because that would be seen as “proselytizing” about homosexuality (that the “real” lesbian only winds up insane, not dead, is thus a minor victory). It’s also revealed that the book’s title was chosen in hopes that the unwary buyer would confuse it with James Michener’s best-seller “The Fires of Spring.” Deliciously melodramatic now, it also stands as a sobering reminder of just how rigid things were in the Frigid Fifties. —Gillian G Gaar