''Permafrost'' is the farthest north literary journal in the United States. Based out of the

University of Alaska Fairbanks The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF or Alaska) is a public land-grant research university in College, Alaska, a suburb of Fairbanks. It is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska system. UAF was established in 1917 and opened for c ...

, ''Permafrost'' publishes poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and visual art, and has published interviews with such notable Alaskan writers as Gerri Brightwell, Derick Burleson, and Richard Nelson. Recent cover art has been predominantly influenced by Alaskan culture, highlighting the likes of painter David Mollett and photographer Larry McNeil. Having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008, ''Permafrost'' continues to publish notable writers/artists such as

Allen Ginsberg Irwin Allen Ginsberg (; June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997) was an American poet and writer. As a student at Columbia University in the 1940s, he began friendships with William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, forming the core of the Beat Gener ...

Ilya Kaminsky Ilya Kaminsky (born April 18, 1977) is a hard-of-hearing, USSR-born, Ukrainian-Russian-Jewish-American poet, critic, translator and professor. He is best known for his poetry collections ''Dancing in Odesa'' and ''Deaf Republic'', which have ear ...

, and

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the Art movement, visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore th ...

alongside up and coming writers such as Dan Pinkerton, Billy Thorpe, and Siân Griffiths. More recently, Permafrost has published work by BJ Hollars and Brian Oliu. The journal is staffed by volunteers from the UAF English Department and specifically students of the MFA in Creative Writing program.

Permafrost Book Prizes

Each year the journal sponsors an annual book prize. The winner of the 2010 competition was poet Richard Sonnenmoser for ''Science-Magic School.'' Past winners include Briton Shurley (2007), Holly Iglesias (1999), and Laurie O'Brien (1994).

Circulation and Specs

As one of the growing journals in the field, ''Permafrost''s circulation reached 500 copies in 2008. Situated as the farthest north journal, ''Permafrost'' publishers are 350 miles from the nearest city, and separated by country borders beyond that. The journal continues to increase its circulation yearly due to swelling online sales, growing interest from libraries, and the continued support of the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the Alaska Humanities Forum. In 2008, the journal's dimensions were 8.5 by 5 inches, and was 196 pages in length.

Past Editors

{, class="wikitable" border="1" , - , 1977: Neil Williams , 1990: Ellen E. Moore , 2001-2: Tom Helleberg, Jenny Lagergren , 2022: Courtney Skaggs , - , 1978: Elyse Guttenberg , 1991: Steve Baily , 2003: Rachael Alonzo , - , 1979: Greg Divers , 1992: Sandra Keith, Karen Sylte , 2004: Jeff Gaskin , - , 1980: Linda Schandelmeier , 1993: Kip Knott , 2005-6: Steve Goerger , - , 1981: Harley Stein, Tina Matthews , 1994-5: Dafna Rica Ezran , 2007: Brian Keenan , - , 1982: Karl Flaccus, Robert R. Weeden , 1996: Julie Filapek, Jennifer Roberts-Luevano , 2008: Jamison Klagmann , - , 1983-4: Roberta Roth Laulicht, David Sims , 1997: T.J. O'Donnell , 2009: Kyle Mellen , - , 1985-6: R.H. Ober, Alys Culhane , 1998: Tricia Yost, Thomas A. Porter , 2010: Jessica Bryant , - , 1987:

Natalie Kusz Natalie Kusz (born 1962) is an American memoirist. Life She graduated from University of Alaska Fairbanks with a B.A. and an M.F.A. She taught at Bethel University (Minnesota), Bethel College, and Harvard University. She teaches at Eastern Wash ...

, Marcia Mason , 1999: Sydney Glasoe, David Houston Wood , 2011: Sharon Frantz , - , 1988-9: Robin Lewis , 2000: Christian Lybrook , 2012: Christie Hinrichs , - , 2013: Caitlin Scarano , 2014: Caitlin Woolley , 2015: Jaclyn Bergamino

External links

''Permafrost'' official site

UAF English Department

Council of Literary Magazines and Presses
Literary magazines published in the United States Student magazines published in the United States Annual magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1999 Magazines published in Alaska University of Alaska Fairbanks 1999 establishments in Alaska

Permafrost Book Prizes

Circulation and Specs

Past Editors

See also

External links