HAL: Heuristic Algorithmic Library
American Chapbooks:
Reconfiguring Literary and Artistic Prestige
MICK MCGRATH
AND THE SAMIZDAT TRADITION
Let the guarantee of free speech be in every man’s determination to use it…
. Voltairine de Cleyre
Click on Mick McGrath’s name above to download the free PDF pamphlet.
ABSTRACT
The text explores the samizdat tradition of publishing censored or forbidden literature, tracing its origins in the Soviet Union to its modern application in the digital age.
Historical Context: Originally, authors like Solzhenitsyn circulated self-published texts via typewriters and carbon paper to bypass state censorship.
Modern Adaptation: Today, writers like Mick McGrath, Zero HP Lovecraft, Curtis Yarvin, and the Terror House Circle adapt this tradition using PDF pamphlets and chapbooks, often under the aegis of a sympathetic established publisher, for political and cultural dissent.
Purpose: These modern “samizdat” writers prioritize unfiltered communication to challenge what they view as a monolithic academic and publishing culture, or “Cathedral” culture.
McGrath’s Model: McGrath uses HOT BUTTON PRESS, an imprint of OPEN: Journal of Arts & Letters (O:JA&L)* and the PDF format to distribute “Contemporary Controversies” that critique academic gatekeeping.
Impact: This digital approach creates a “private-public sphere” for fostering human connection and pluralism outside of institutional control.
MICK MCGRATH AND SAMIZDAT TRADITION
The samizdat tradition (Russian for “self-publishing”) originally referred to the underground distribution of censored literature in the Soviet Union. Authors like Solzhenitsyn and Pasternak used typewriters and carbon paper to circulate “forbidden texts” that thumbed their noses at the state monopoly on publishing. Today, like writers Zero HP Lovecraft, Curtis Yarvin, Bronze Age Pervert (BAP), and writers of the Terror House Circle (Matt Forney, C.B. Robertson and others), Mick McGrath adapts this Samizdat tradition for a digital age, using the PDF pamphlet and PDF chapbook, usually with the cooperation and support of sympathetic publishers, as a tool of political and cultural dissent.
MODERN DIGITAL SAMIZDAT: THE PDF STRATEGY
Unlike traditional authors who seek mainstream distribution through established conventional channels, modern “samizdat” writers prioritize unfiltered communication. Mick McGrath is an emerging voice in a specific, right-leaning counterculture that seeks to challenge what it views as a monolithic academic culture.
Although he has yet to achieve the broad cultural status of a figure like Cormac McCarthy (whom his characters frequently cite), McGrath is an important new voice, especially to those who share his profound disillusionment with the publishing industry and the broader “Cathedral” culture.
McGrath’s Model: Through HOT BUTTON PRESS, he utilizes the PDF format to distribute “Contemporary Controversies” that critique academic gatekeeping.
The “Electronic Archive” Connection: Scholars note that digital samizdat, much like the original, creates a “private-public sphere” where authors can foster human connection and pluralism outside of institutional control.
WRITERS IN THE WIDER SAMIZDAT MOVEMENT
While McGrath is a central figure in the O:JA&L circle, other writers and platforms mirror his use of the digital pamphlet or chapbook for dissent.
The O:JA&L/Buttonhook Circle: Writers associated with this journal often produce pamphlet-style fiction and nonfiction that critiques “woke” culture, employing the PDF document as a “counter-public” tool.
Political dissidents: Figures like Douglas Wilson and others utilize small-press and self-published pamphlets to resist contemporary social pressure and promote Christian Nationalism and political theology outside of secular academic channels.
Zine & Ezine Creators: The underground “ezine” movement continues the samizdat tradition by using affordable technology to voice opposition to mainstream culture and commercial ethos.
McGrath.The Deplorable.Installment 1The Deplorable by Mick McGrath is a serialized novel that debuted in 2023 through the Open Journal of Arts & Letters (O:JA&L)*.
The work is presented as a multi-installment series, with the first installment released in September 2023. Through a series of increasingly fragmented and intense installments, The Deplorable explores the psychological breakdown and moral crisis of a writer within an academic and literary setting.
The book was released in installments throughout 2023 rather than as a single traditional volume. It is categorized under prose discourse with elements suggesting a blend of historical and flash fiction.
Formal mainstream reviews (such as from major newspapers or established book critics) are currently limited. Most coverage and critical engagement have occurred within literary journals like O:JA&L, where McGrath is a frequent contributor and associate. Mick McGrath is also a co-founder of the journal Index Librorum Prohibitorum, which also launched in 2023. His work often appears in academic and arts-focused digital pamphlets.
Find the full sequence of installments and related literary analysis through the following platforms:
O:JA&L Archives: The journal hosts the Mick McGrath archives, where the serialized chapters of The Deplorable are available.
Buttonhook Press: This imprint often handles the physical or pamphlet-style distributions of works serialized in O:JA&L.
THE DEPLORABLE: PLOT OVERVIEW
The Academic Setting: The story is centered around the University of Tennessee campus and its creative writing program. The narrator, Brock, reflects on his time there, describing the environment as a “horror story”.
The Central Conflict: Much of the narrative focuses on the narrator’s bitterness toward the modern literary establishment. He critiques what he perceives as a “hostile” environment for conservative or non-conformist writers, at one point stating that conservative students at the university “just about have to wear arm bands”.
A Catalytic Act of Violence: The plot is grounded by a shocking event from 2018: the murder of a student by a radical youth organization called “We Are Not Asking”. The narrator uses this “gory” event to explore themes of political extremism and institutional failure.
The Rivalry with “Alec”: A recurring thread involves the narrator’s obsession with a peer named Alec. He views Alec as a “victorious” figure who will successfully leave a “genetic legacy,” while the narrator predicts he himself will eventually “die from loneliness”.
Literary Disillusionment: The narrator frequently references literary “hoaxers” like James Frey, pondering the nature of truth and whether “lies are acceptable… to tell the truth about the way it felt”.
THE DEPLORABLE: KEY THEMES
“Anti-Woke” Sentiment: The book explicitly positions itself against what the author describes as a “deplorable” state of modern academic culture.
Violence and Redemption: The narrative often shifts into dark, violent territory, with the narrator contemplating manifestos or even self-immolation as a way to “start a conversation” about the state of the Academy.
THE DEPLORABLE: SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CRITIQUE
In The Deplorable, Mick McGrath uses the backdrop of a university creative writing program to critique modern American political and cultural shifts. The novel’s political themes are centered on the friction between traditionalism and what the narrator perceives as a hostile, modern academic establishment.
The “Hostile” Academic Environment
The novel portrays the university—specifically the University of Tennessee—as a place where political conformity is enforced.
Marginalization of Conservative Voices: The narrator, Brock, claims that conservative students are so isolated they essentially “have to wear arm bands” to signal their status.
Gatekeeping in Publishing: Through Brock’s bitter dialogue with “Guam,” a fellow writer, the book argues that conservative perspectives are systematically excluded from the publishing industry, with Brock warning students not to “write anything conservative” if they hope to succeed.
Radicalism and Institutional Failure
McGrath uses a specific (fictionalized) act of violence to anchor his political critique: the 2018 murder of a student by a radical youth group called “We Are Not Asking”.
Critique of Extremism: This plot point serves as a “gory” example of how political discourse has devolved into radical action.
Loss of Institutional Faith: The narrator suggests that institutions like the university have failed to provide a safe or balanced space for diverse thought, instead becoming breeding grounds for extreme ideologies.
Truth vs. Narrative Control
The novel explores the “political” nature of truth itself within the literary world.
The Utility of Lies: Brock references famous literary hoaxers to argue that “lies are acceptable” if they reveal a deeper “truth” about one’s feelings of alienation. This mirrors contemporary debates over “subjective truth” versus objective facts in political discourse.
Class and Legacy: Political undertones appear in the narrator’s resentment of his peer, Alec, whom he views as a “victorious” member of the elite class who will leave a legacy, while he is left in a state of “deplorable” isolation.
Intentional Use of the Term “Deplorable”
The title itself is a direct reference to the “Basket of Deplorables” comment from the 2016 U.S. election. McGrath reclaims the term to describe the socio-political status of the narrator as well as the “deplorable” state of modern arts and letters, which the author (through the O:JA&L platform) presents as being in a state of crisis or decay.
THE DEPLORABLE: MICK MCGRATH’S RELATED WORKS
Mick McGrath’s short stories often function as extensions of the themes found in The Deplorable, focusing on academic friction, cultural critiques, and feelings of social alienation. Most of these works are published as pamphlets or chapbooks through imprints associated with the OPEN: Journal of Arts & Letters (O:JA&L)*.
PRIMARY COLLECTIONS & PAMPHLETS
People with Whom I Am Quite Pissed (2025): A collection of short stories released through the HOT BUTTON PRESS Contemporary Controversies series. These stories often feature embittered narrators and critiques of modern social norms.
Woes Innumerous (2024): A work of “Americana-based fiction” released in the Buttonhook Press Pamphlet Series. It explores the narrator’s experiences in Knoxville and his alienation from the local literary community.
NOTABLE INDIVIDUAL STORIES & SERIALIZED PIECES
“The Future is Mao”: A short story that continues his critique of what he describes as “woke” academic culture and radicalism.
“Perseus with the Head of Medusa”: Part of his “Contemporary Issues” series, often focusing on gender dynamics and classical imagery.
“Democrats Be Trippin'”: A provocative piece that directly engages with contemporary American political divides.
“Let’s Talk About Female Academics”: A story or essay-hybrid that critiques the power structures within university English departments.
“Diversophiles Everywhere!”: A satirical or critical look at institutional diversity initiatives.
SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS (PDF PAMPHLETS)
Several of his recent short story collections are hosted as downloadable PDFs:
People with Whom I Am Quite Pissed: A more recent collection (2025) exploring social and political frustrations.
Woes Innumerous: This PDF pamphlet includes fiction centered on themes ofof Americana and literary alienation in Knoxville
OTHER SITES
McGrath also contributes to alternative literary platforms that focus on “anti-woke” or counter-cultural themes:
Terror House Magazine: His fiction and commentary occasionally appear here, often following similar themes of academic critique.
The Thieving Magpie: Another venue where his shorter literary prose has been featured.
DISTINGUISHING THE AUTHOR
Be careful to distinguish this Mick McGrath from other authors with similar names:
Michael McGrath (Irish Writer): Author of All About Town (2019) and The Clock Tower (2017), which focus on life in Limerick, Ireland.
Michael J. McGrath: A professor at Georgia Southern University known for academic works on Don Quixote.
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* OPEN: Journal of Arts & Letters (O:JA&L) does not define itself as a publisher in the samizdat tradition, though it shares specific philosophical goals with the historical movement, such as providing a platform for voices and aesthetics that might otherwise be marginalized.
INSTITUTIONAL NATURE VS. SAMIZDAT TRADITION
While the original samizdat tradition refers to clandestine, underground self-publishing used to evade draconian Soviet-era censorship, O:JA&L is an established, above-ground institution.
It is a multi-platform journal that operates openly through its official website, social media, a Youtube channel, and print media and digital imprints. Its stated ambition is to popularize contemporary writing and promote contributors to an international audience.
Despite its formal structure, O:JA&L adopts several “independent” practices that mirror the spirit of samizdat including non-traditional distribution.
Its several imprints release pamphlets as free PDFs and “subscriber premiums” without ISBNs, emphasizing accessibility over commercial standard tracking. It then licenses these publications at no cost back to the submitters who are then free to produce printed versions for their own purposes.
The journal and its imprints voice a claim to an eclectic aesthetic. The journal specifically seeks “arresting art and writing of nearly every stamp and style,” often focusing on contemporary controversies and “personal aesthetic” outside mainstream commercial interests.
Through its “Hot Button Press” imprint, OPEN: Journal of Arts & Letters (O:JA&L) actively solicits “articles, editorials, and position papers concerning contemporary controversies,” fostering the kind of open intellectual discourse central to the later samizdat movements.
SOURCES AND LINKS
AUTHORS/INDIVIDUALS
Voltairine de Cleyre: An American anarchist and feminist writer and speaker.
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- Wikipedia Page
- Works on Marxists Internet Archive
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: A Soviet-era Russian author and dissident who helped raise global awareness of the Gulag system.
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- Wikipedia Page
- Official Website
Boris Pasternak: A Russian poet, novelist, and translator, best known for Doctor Zhivago.
Mick McGrath: A writer associated with the Buttonhook Press and the co-founder of Heyoka, an online journal welcoming “anti-woke” content.
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- Articles via Open: Journal of Arts & Letters
Zero HP Lovecraft: A pseudonymous internet writer known for experimental fiction and a neoreactionary Twitter account (@0x49fa98).
Curtis Yarvin: Known online as Mencius Moldbug, a political commentator who writes about “neoreactionary” or “NRx” theory and uses the pseudonym “Gray Mirror”.
Bronze Age Pervert (BAP): A pseudonymous far-right internet personality and author of Bronze Age Mindset, active on Twitter (@bronzeagemantis).
Matt Forney, C.B. Robertson, and others: These authors are associated with the Terror House Circle/Press.
ORGANIZATIONS/PUBLICATIONS
Buttonhook Press: An imprint of OJAL Art Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that publishes chapbooks and pamphlets, often in PDF format.
Terror House Press: A publishing house founded by Matt Forney that aims to publish “outsider literary fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, artwork, and cultural criticism/analysis”.
Image: I’m Sorry, Dave #2 (AI-assisted digital image) by O:JA&L staff creative. 2026. Public domain via Midjourney AI.
Works by Mick McGrath available at O:JA&L:
HOT BUTTON PRESS|2024 Pamphlet Series|Americana|Based Fiction||Mick McGrath|”Woes Innumerous”
OJAL Art Incorporated, publishing since 2017 as OPEN: Journal of Arts & Letters (O:JA&L) and its imprints Buttonhook Press, HOT BUTTON PRESS Contemporary Issues, and HIGH BUTTON PRESS Contemporary Art, supports writers and artists worldwide.
BUTTONHOOK PRESS MASTERS SERIES
Click on the titles to explore or download the free PDF chapbooks.
The Buttonhook Press Masters Series: Brian Clements on Prose Poetry
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Masters Series: Mark Budman on Flash Discourse
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Masters Series: Ray Gonzalez on Prose Poetry
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Master Series: Michael Martone on Flash Fiction
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Master Series: Roberta Allen on Flash Fiction
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Master Series: Peter Conners on Flash Fiction
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Masters Series: Maxine Chernoff on Prose Poetry
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Masters Series: Pedro Ponce on Flash Fiction
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Masters Series: Tom Hazuka on Flash Fiction
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Masters Series: Kent Dixon on Flash Fiction & Nonfiction
With an Interview by Associate Editor Pamelyn Casto
The Buttonhook Press Masters Series: Jim Meirose on Experimental Discourse
With an interview by Associate Editor Warwick Newnham
O:JA&L’S HIGH BUTTON PRESS ART CHAPBOOKS
Click on the titles to explore or download the free PDF chapbooks.
RITES OF CALIBRATION: Images & Excerpts
Fine Art Photography by Rex Wilder
Fine Art Photography by Natalie Christensen
Painting and drawing by Anne-Marie Brown
BY LAND AND BY SEA: Awakening the Sensual
Sculpture and Installation by Mark Yale Harris
Painting and drawing by Bette Ridgeway
Painting and drawing by Kathleen Frank
Painting and drawing by Catherine Eaton Skinner
Implications of Energy
Artist portfolio of Dr. Ernest Williams III
