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It is a rich brick of a book. VanderLans told me, "The most difficult part was editing out all the work that deserves reprinting but simply wouldn't fit. It's the opposite of doing the
magazine, where I often had to stretch content to fill it."
It seems inconceivable that 25 years have actually elapsed. Many who will today appreciate the inventions of Emigre weren't even born then, and others may wonder what the fuss and criticism was about. In fact, out of all the design magazines published during the late 20th century, Emigre was the trigger for the digital revolution that is so endemic to design look, feel, and thinking today.
Always the astute editor, VanderLans not only allows the material in the book to tell the story of the magazine's--and the field's--evolution, he also footnotes the history with a little extra booklet (cleverly tucked in a pouch in the binding) titled "Dear Emigre: A Selection of Letters to the Editor." The Emigre letters (with one of my own included) could in retrospect be seen as the precursor to the blogosphere.
Emigre magazine may not publish any longer, but this volume keeps the history, legacy, and vitality alive (not in that order).
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