Reading room: a surfers' guide

The Dublin Review of Books will boast a regular blog where readers can carry on live discussion of particular articles or topics…

The Dublin Review of Books will boast a regular blog where readers can carry on live discussion of particular articles or topics between issues.

But it isn't the only online magazine vying for the attention of literary audiences - there are dozens of sassy outfits out there, each with its own distinctive perks and quirks.

www.lrb.co.ukOpens in new window ]

Described by Alan Bennett as "the liveliest, the most serious and also the most radical literary magazine we have", the London Review of Books is famous for its personal ads section, complete with Naughty Lola (a run-of-the-mill beardy physicist, apparently).

www.nybooks.comOpens in new window ]

The mother of all literary mags, the New York Review of Books retains its venerably ancient facade online. Inside, however, it's bang up to date with plenty of extras to tempt the keen book buff, including a shop which sells NYR watches and - de rigueur, this - NYR book-bags. There's also downloadable audio content with Susan Sontag and James Fenton, among others, reading from their own essays.

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www.bu.edu/agniOpens in new window ]

The electronic complement to the acclaimed literary magazine published at Boston University, this is a great site to check out fresh new literary voices. It's named after the ancient Vedic god of fire and guardian of mankind. What more can we say?

www.edge.orgOpens in new window ]

Founded by John Brockman, this has established itself as a major force on the intellectual scene in the US and as required reading for humanities heads who want to keep up to speed with the latest in science and technology. Current debates on the site feature stellar contributors Noam Chomsky, Scott Atran and Daniel C Dennett.

Find your own favourite

There are online magazines which cater for everyone from the haiku fanatic to the obituary addict. They range from cheerful, as in Toasted Cheese (www.toasted-cheese.com), to terminally serious, as in Voltaire's Inkwell (www.voltairesinkwell.com), a journal of art and poetics for the self-actualised mind, if you don't mind. Happy hunting . . .