Journal

Dublin, Ep. 1

2010-03-05T11:00:00Z

A debut for the ages, Dublin's lit-lovers came out in full force to witness Literary Death Match Dublin's inaugural event at The Sugar Club, a storied battle that concluded with Nuala Ní Chonchúir narrowly out-potato-hurling Brian O'Connell in a titan-like clash of Throw the Spud Through the Literary Master's Puncture, winning 3-2, and capturing Ireland's first-ever LDM crown.

But well before the finale, the night — co-sponsored by The Stinging Fly, a brilliant Ireland-based literary magazine — began with Horizon Review rep Ni Choncuir leading off against The Stinging Fly's Colm Liddy. Ni Choncuir wowed a packed house with a fantastic set of poems that

London, Ep. 4

2010-02-24T11:03:48Z

February 24, 2010 — The Literary Death Matches 4th London episode at The Book Club — alongside the brilliant YARN Festival — was jam-packed with onlookers, levity, talent and enough smart-spun judging quips to make the whole matter a must-see. In the end, finalists Richard Milward (representing Faber) narrowly topped The Book Club Boutique's Salena Godden in a wild game of Springtime Olympic Cadbury Egg Bowling® that saw Milward fill both Jane Austen and W.B. Yeats wide maws with rolled choco-eggs, and thus raise himself to the rare standard of Literary Death Match immortality.

But before the tense finale, the event — sponsored by Picador Books and Against Nature — kicked off in grand fashion, with a first round for the ages that

NYC, Ep. 23

2010-02-18T05:29:00Z

February 18, 2010 — Lethal literature was unleashed at the latest LDM NYC's 23rd episode, but the death-defying contestants proved the event’s name fortunately misleading once again. Host and Opium’s own Todd Zuniga was joined by co-host Shelly Oria, who plugged the upcoming LDM Tel Aviv (in August).

SF, Ep. 26

2010-02-13T04:22:00Z

February 12, 2010 — An epic night—referred to some as "the best LDM in SF ever"—ended with Dylan Schaffer out-chocolate-launching Valentine's Day chocolates into the mouths of famous love writers (Pablo Neruda, Danielle Steele, and Sigmund Freud), narrowly edging out Samantha Schoech to snare the LDM championship.

Baltimore, Ep. 1

2010-01-30T20:38:00Z

January 30, 2010—Blizzard-like conditions in Charm City didn't stall Baltimore's epic Literary Death Match debut, as hardcore lit enthusiasts slipped-and-slid into the excellent Windup Space for a Mob City clash that featured Publishing Genius' Mike Young outscribbling Barrelhouse's Dave Housley in a Sharpie-fueled Draw the Judges in 20-Seconds or Less™ throwdown, and made Young the latest LDM champion.

But before the finale was even a thought, the night kicked off with Housley stepping up and reading an insect-fueled story (that also included the mention of a newt) followed by CityLit's Michael M. Hughes who

NYC, Ep. 22

2010-01-21T15:52:00Z

January 21, 2010—An inspired LDM NYC, Ep. 22 was rife with brilliance at New York City's Bowery Poetry Club, as SWEET: Actors Reading Writers rep Nelly Reifler narrowly outshone New York Tyrant rep Christopher Kennedy in an a awards acceptance speech-off that made her the Literary Death Match Champion.

Dallas, Ep. 1

2010-01-15T13:48:04Z

January 15, 2010—The Literary Death Match’s love affair with Texas began with Austin, Ep. 1 (in a church, on Halloween), and continued in a big way with the series debut at the Dallas Museum of Art. Following four brilliant readings, and sharp-witted judging that set hair aflame, the night ended with Dallas' own Will Clarke capturing the LDM title over Houston's Katherine Center by hitting literary wide receivers Sandra Cisneros, Rick Bass and Larry McMurtry in consecutive fashion before launching the final touchdown pass into Miles Austin's chest to win the Tony Romo v. Troy Aikman Fling-the-Foamskin finale.

Chicago, Ep. 4

2010-01-14T06:15:00Z

January 14, 2010—A wild finish, a wilder foursome of readers, and genius judging highlighted Literary Death Match Chicago, Ep. 4 at Fizz, in which featherproof books’ James Kennedy (The Order of Odd-Fish) outdoodled &NOW’s Davis Schneidermanin a hurried and competitive finale of Draw the Judges in 20 Seconds Or Less with Sharpies! — to take home the Literary Death Match medal and be ceremoniously crowned by Ep. 3 winner Spencer Dew.

Before the LDM medal had been placed around the neck of its rightful winner, though, the night began with an opening round that featured Schneiderman leading off against Artifice's Rebekah Silverman.

Boston, Ep. 2

2010-01-13T14:32:00Z

January 13, 2010—Literary Death Match’s return to Massachusetts for Boston, Ep. 2 to celebrate Opium9: The Mania Issue was a wild and talent-rich success that finished with a calamitous Musical Chairs finale led by one-mademoiselle-band Audrey Ryan, who plucked random tunes on her ukelele. When the rubble settled, Handsome’s Janaka Stucky had come back from an improbable 3-1 deficit to beat out Open Letters’ Elisa Gabbert, and be crowned the latest LDM champion.

But well before Stucky achieved literary immortality at The Enormous Room, the night kicked off with

SF, Ep. 25

2010-01-04T22:20:00Z

January 8, 2010—The Elbo Room roared with approval when LA fiction writer/visual team Matty Byloos and Josh Atlas successfully performed The Bell Jar in a heated final round of charades, which fans guessed in just over three seconds, barely beating out Laura Joyce Davis (Catcher in the Rye, 7 seconds) for the Literary Death Match Title.