Moloch is a unique collection of poems by Richard Pinner that explores the intersection of human creativity and technological interference. Originally published in 2018 by Registration Press, with cover design and typesetting by William Brady, the initial limited run is now a collector’s item. The second edition is currently available as a print-on-demand and eBook through Hungry Wolf Press.

Digital Flarf Poetry from before AI got good
This collection was conceived in 2017, prior to the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. At that time, machine translation was notably imperfect, and Pinner harnessed these imperfections to craft poems that reflect the nuances and idiosyncrasies of human-machine interaction.
The book is divided into four parts:
- Lost in Translation: Poems subjected to degradation through multiple rounds of machine translation, highlighting the distortions and unexpected meanings that emerge.
- Trojan Hijack: Texts subtly altered by digital manipulation, exploring the vulnerability and malleability of digital language.
- Dictated Works: Poems created by dictating to a computer, often resulting in humorous misinterpretations that underscore the limitations of voice recognition technology.
- Impetus: Works where computers have both assisted and impeded the creative process, showcasing the complex relationship between human intent and machine execution.
Moloch offers a thought-provoking exploration of the evolving dialogue between humanity and technology, making it a compelling read for those interested in digital culture and the poetic possibilities within technological constraints.
Experience the unique interplay of human creativity and machine interference in Moloch. Available now in print and digital formats through Hungry Wolf Press.
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An Exploration in Poetic Miscommunication: Moloch is a poetic experiment that turns the flaws of early machine translation into art. Richard Pinner transforms botched translations into haunting verses, exploring the depths of misunderstanding between human intention and technological interpretation.
Poem Highlights:
- Global National Anthem: This powerful piece is a patchwork of national anthems from around the world, symbolizing a united, yet fractured, global voice. It’s a lyrical echo of hope and hostility, unity and division, that captures the collective consciousness of our time.
- Zeitgeist: Compiled from popular Google searches between 2001-2012, this poem is a time capsule of digital obsessions and cultural milestones. It’s like reliving the internet’s growing pains and humanity’s virtual footprint—a reflection on what we prioritize and remember.
- Lost in Translation Series: Perhaps the most evocative section, these poems use multiple rounds of translation to degrade famous texts, including Romeo and Juliet and A Tale of Two Cities. The result? Familiar words twisted into bizarrely beautiful forms, a poetic reflection of how technology skews meaning.
- Be Machine A: Here, Pinner personifies machinery with visceral language, turning engines and exhaust into throbbing, living entities. This gritty work captures our uneasy coexistence with machines and the question of who controls whom.
Why Moloch? Moloch isn’t just poetry—it’s a conversation with the digital age. The collection resonates deeply in today’s world, where machine learning shapes and sometimes distorts human creativity. If you’re intrigued by the intersection of technology, art, and existential musings, Moloch is for you.
Ready to Own a Piece of Literary History? Get your copy of Moloch now, available in print and eBook through Hungry Wolf Press.
About Digital Flarf Poetry
Moloch dives into the world of Digital Flarf poetry—a subversive, experimental genre that thrives on the chaotic energy of internet language. Originating in the early 2000s, Flarf poetry uses snippets from search engines, spam emails, and random digital detritus to create poems that are absurd, provocative, and often darkly humorous. It’s a style that revels in the messy, unpolished, and sometimes uncomfortable aspects of digital language.
Flarf was pioneered by poets like Gary Sullivan, who coined the term, and other key figures such as K. Silem Mohammad, Sharon Mesmer, and Drew Gardner. This group used Flarf to challenge traditional poetic norms, poking fun at both the internet’s bizarre quirks and society’s obsession with digital culture. In this spirit, Moloch explores the possibilities of Digital Flarf, using early machine translations and algorithmic “misunderstandings” to create a poetic dialogue between human and machine. The result is a raw, fragmented voice that captures the essence of our digital age, bringing out humor, absurdity, and moments of unexpected beauty.
Why did Hungry Wolf Publish this?
At Hungry Wolf Press, we’ve always been fascinated by the evolving landscape of creativity and technology—the strange, often unpredictable intersections where human imagination meets machine intervention. Moloch epitomizes this curiosity, capturing a moment in digital history when machine translation was gloriously flawed and full of unintended poetry. In today’s world of slick AI, the rough edges that defined Moloch’s creation have all but vanished, making a collection like this impossible to replicate.
But the story doesn’t end here. Richard Pinner is already hard at work on Moloch 2.0, a follow-up that dives even deeper into the weirdness of our technological moment. With the evolution of AI, the new collection promises to be stranger, richer, and perhaps even more unsettling—a testament to how far digital culture has come and a playful challenge to its future. At Hungry Wolf Press, we’re thrilled to be part of this journey, supporting works that push the boundaries of what poetry can be in the digital age.