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Simon Fraser University library’s “Contemporary Literature Collection” continues to purchase and archive Stephen Bett’s “personal papers” for scholarly use.

“Stephen Bett is one of the coolest contemporary poets, and a legend internationally. He has a very interesting linguistic technique with a penchant for jazz and words, and if you ask me, jazz-styled writing is where the best of the best is happening right now.

- Karl Jirgens (Editor, Rampike)


Broken Glosa: an alphabet book of post-avant glosa belongs on every would-be poet’s shelf; it’s that essential, and may well be Stephen Bett’s best book to date.”

― Richard Stevenson, Pacific Rim Review of Books


“Stephen Bett’s Broken Glosa from Chax Press: wow! Wow!! WOW!!”

― Ron Silliman (social media post)


The Gross & Fine Geography: New & Selected Poems is heavyweight stuff. These poems are the onslaught of a simply unrelenting force. You can’t pin Stephen Bett down because he comes at you from all angles. The opening poem pretty much says it all about his intentions—a statement of purpose writ large. Then Bett puts his foot down and steamrolls us through thirty-one years with his gargantuan and generous voice… Bett burns with the best. Grace, music and beauty along with a few moments of quiet desperation. And he knows, too, how to be a sweetheart and a lovely jazz rat.”

― Michael Dennis, Today’s Book of Poetry


“I’m already a big fan of Stephen Bett’s poems, so these new ones in Sass ‘n Pass only corroborate that fact. Bett has great energy and is full of life and, my god, he sure knows how to write… I really like the poetry—immensely! Bravo! I’m still reading Bett’s books and still liking reading them—great stuff, in fact.”

― M.G. Stephens (poet, novelist, critic)