Rain Taxi
Rain Taxi is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit literary organization and book-review publisher focused on innovative writing, independent presses, and literary culture.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Rain Taxi is a Minneapolis-based literary organization whose principal publication is Rain Taxi Review of Books, a quarterly magazine devoted to literary fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and books issued by independent and small presses. Founded in 1996 by Carolyn Kuebler, Randall Heath, and David Caligiuri, the organization developed as both a review publication and a broader cultural institution. David Caligiuri left after the first issue, while editor Eric Lorberer joined the staff soon afterward and became closely associated with the magazine's editorial identity. The organization positions itself as an advocate for books and writers that may receive limited attention from larger newspapers, commercial review outlets, or mainstream publishing media. Its editorial emphasis is on innovative writing, unusual or offbeat books, poetry, literary experimentation, and work from independent presses. Rather than building its reputation around aggressively negative criticism, Rain Taxi has generally been recognized for bringing unfamiliar or under-reviewed books to readers' attention. Its stated mission is to strengthen independent literary culture through publications and programs that increase awareness and appreciation of innovative writing. Rain Taxi's print edition is distributed free on newsstands while also being available through paid subscriptions. The organization also maintains an online edition with content distinct from the print magazine, including reviews, interviews, event information, and publication-related material. Its business model includes advertising, with much of the advertising coming from literary presses and offered at rates described as below market. Rain Taxi operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rather than as a conventional commercial magazine publisher. Beyond the review magazine, Rain Taxi has built a substantial program of public literary activity. It began the Rain Taxi Reading Series in 1998, a program that has hosted more than 200 writers. In 2001 it launched the Twin Cities Book Festival, which developed into a major regional gathering featuring readings, author talks, book signings, panel discussions, children's activities, book-arts demonstrations, used-book sales, and a Literary Magazine Fair. These programs extend Rain Taxi's role from reviewing books to creating opportunities for writers, readers, publishers, booksellers, and literary organizations to meet. The organization also publishes limited-edition chapbooks through its Brainstorm Series. Each title is produced in a small edition of no more than 300 copies, giving the series a collectible and experimental character. The authors associated with the series include poets, novelists, and avant-garde writers such as Paul Auster, Alice Notley, Donald Revell, James Tate, Anne Waldman, and Clayton Eshleman. The series complements the magazine's interest in independent literary production and formally unconventional writing. Rain Taxi has received recognition for its contribution to alternative literary coverage. It won the 2000 Utne Reader Alternative Press Award for Best Arts and Literature Coverage and has been named Best Literary Journal by Minneapolis publication City Pages. Eric Lorberer was also included in Publishers Weekly's list of the Twin Cities' top ten literary figures. Although the organization is primarily associated with advocacy-oriented criticism and programming, it has occasionally generated debate. A notable example was a 2001 review by David Foster Wallace of The Best of the Prose Poem: An International Journal, whose experimental bullet-point and numerical format provoked responses from contributors to the anthology; Rain Taxi published those responses in a subsequent issue. Rain Taxi therefore operates at the intersection of literary journalism, nonprofit arts programming, independent publishing, and community development. Its brand is defined less by commercial scale than by editorial discovery, support for small presses, public events, and sustained attention to innovative writing.
History
Rain Taxi began in Minneapolis in 1996 as a literary magazine created by Carolyn Kuebler, Randall Heath, and David Caligiuri. Caligiuri departed after the first issue, and Eric Lorberer joined the staff soon afterward. From its beginning, the publication distinguished itself by concentrating on literary fiction, poetry, nonfiction, innovative writing, and books from small or independent presses. Its editorial purpose was not simply to summarize new releases but to help readers discover work that might otherwise be overlooked by more commercially oriented review outlets. The magazine evolved into a nonprofit literary organization rather than remaining only a periodical. It operates as a 501(c)(3) and combines publishing with public programming, community events, and support for independent literary institutions. The print edition is issued quarterly, distributed free on newsstands, and offered through paid subscriptions. Rain Taxi also maintains an online edition containing material that is separate from the print magazine, including reviews, interviews, event information, and other literary resources. Advertising supports part of the operation, and the organization has been described as offering below-market advertising rates, particularly to literary presses. In 1998, Rain Taxi established the Rain Taxi Reading Series. The series became a continuing forum for writers and has hosted more than 200 authors. This activity reinforced the organization's role as a local literary institution while connecting Minneapolis audiences with writers from outside the region. The magazine's contributors and interview subjects have included writers such as Lydia Davis and Tao Lin, while reviewers have included Sharon Mesmer, Jacob Appel, Spencer Dew, and Mark Terrill. Rain Taxi expanded its public reach in 2001 by launching the Twin Cities Book Festival. The festival brought together readings, author conversations, book signings, panel discussions, children's programming, demonstrations of book arts, a used-book sale, and a Literary Magazine Fair. It became an important expression of Rain Taxi's broader mission: to create an environment in which readers, writers, independent publishers, literary magazines, and booksellers could interact directly. The organization also developed the Brainstorm Series, a chapbook imprint for limited-edition publications. The chapbooks are generally issued in editions of 300 copies or fewer, supporting a small-scale model suited to poetry, experimental prose, and work that may not fit conventional commercial publishing. The series has included authors such as Kees 't Hart, Alice Notley, Donald Revell, Dara Wier, Nathaniel Tarn, Paul Auster, Russell Edson, Anne Waldman, Rikki Ducornet, Kai Nieminen, James Tate, Stephen Dixon, Paul Metcalf, and Clayton Eshleman. Rain Taxi's reputation grew through both its editorial mission and its role in alternative literary culture. It received the 2000 Utne Reader Alternative Press Award for Best Arts and Literature Coverage and was recognized by City Pages as Best Literary Journal. Eric Lorberer was also named among Publishers Weekly's top ten literary figures in the Twin Cities. These distinctions reflected the organization's influence beyond the circulation of its magazine. The magazine has generally favored appreciative, discovery-oriented criticism and has published comparatively few dismissive reviews. One notable episode of controversy occurred in 2001, when David Foster Wallace reviewed The Best of the Prose Poem: An International Journal in an unconventional bullet-point format that reduced the anthology to a numerical index. Several contributors objected to the approach, and Rain Taxi published responses in its Fall 2001 issue. The episode demonstrated the publication's willingness to accommodate experimental reviewing as well as experimental literature. Across its development, Rain Taxi has remained a hybrid organization: part literary review, part nonprofit arts institution, part event producer, and part small-press publisher. Its enduring identity rests on independent editorial judgment, support for underrepresented books and presses, and programming designed to sustain a visible and connected literary community.
- 2001
Twin Cities Book Festival launches
[1]Rain Taxi launched a festival combining author events, book sales, children's activities, book arts, and a literary magazine fair.
- 2001
Debate follows an experimental David Foster Wallace review
[1]A format-driven review of a prose-poetry anthology generated responses from contributors, which Rain Taxi published in its Fall issue.
- 2000
Utne Reader alternative press award
[1]Rain Taxi received the Utne Reader Alternative Press Award for Best Arts and Literature Coverage.
- 1998
Rain Taxi Reading Series begins
[1]Rain Taxi started a continuing public reading program that has hosted more than 200 writers.
- 1996
Rain Taxi is founded
[1]Carolyn Kuebler, Randall Heath, and David Caligiuri founded the Minneapolis literary magazine and organization. Caligiuri later left after the first issue.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit, independent literary platform that discovers and promotes innovative writing, small-press books, experimental literature, and a participatory literary culture.
Quarterly literary magazine · 1996
Rain Taxi Review of Books
The organization's flagship print publication reviews literary fiction, poetry, nonfiction, experimental writing, and books from small and independent presses. It is distributed free on newsstands and is also available through paid subscriptions. Its editorial approach emphasizes discovery and tends to give attention to books that may be underrepresented in mainstream review media.
Digital literary publication
Raintaxi.com online edition
Rain Taxi's website provides content distinct from the print magazine, together with information about events, publications, and the organization's programs. It extends the publication's reach beyond its physical distribution and serves as an online hub for its literary activities.
Limited-edition chapbooks
Brainstorm Series
The Brainstorm Series publishes small-format literary works in limited editions of 300 copies or fewer. Its catalog has included poetry, experimental prose, and other independent literary projects by established and avant-garde writers.
Marketing campaigns
- 2001Twin Cities Book Festival
Twin Cities · Minnesota
The festival combines readings, talks, signings, panels, children's activities, book-arts demonstrations, a used-book sale, and a Literary Magazine Fair.
Outcome. It established a major public-facing event through which Rain Taxi connects readers, writers, publishers, booksellers, and literary organizations.
- 1998Rain Taxi Reading Series
Minneapolis–Saint Paul · United States literary community
Rain Taxi created a recurring reading program to bring writers and readers together in person. The series has hosted more than 200 writers and became a durable part of the organization's cultural programming.
Outcome. The series broadened Rain Taxi's role from magazine publisher to public literary institution.
Brand decisions
2001
Launch the Twin Cities Book FestivalOtherBackground
The organization aimed to build a broader literary community around its Minneapolis base.
Action taken
Rain Taxi introduced a multidisciplinary book festival with author events, children's programming, book arts, used books, and a literary magazine fair.
Aftermath
The festival became a central public expression of Rain Taxi's nonprofit literary mission.
1998
Expand into live literary programmingStrategyBackground
Rain Taxi sought to advance independent literary culture through programs as well as publications.
Action taken
It established the Rain Taxi Reading Series.
Aftermath
The series became a long-running program that hosted more than 200 writers.
Recent events
- 2001
Rain Taxi launches the Twin Cities Book Festival[1]
Campaign · Other
The organization introduced a regional book festival featuring readings, talks, signings, panels, children's activities, book arts, used books, and a literary magazine fair.
- 2001
David Foster Wallace review prompts contributor responses[1]
Other
A highly unconventional review of an anthology of prose poetry, written as a bullet-pointed numerical index, drew objections from contributors. Rain Taxi published responses in its Fall 2001 print issue.
- 2000
Rain Taxi receives Utne Reader alternative press award[1]
Other
Rain Taxi was recognized with the Utne Reader Alternative Press Award for Best Arts and Literature Coverage.
Rain Taxi receives recognition as a leading literary journal[1]
Other
Rain Taxi was recognized by Minneapolis publication City Pages as Best Literary Journal, while editor Eric Lorberer was included in Publishers Weekly's Twin Cities literary leadership list.
Sources2 sources
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