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Pathfinders

Photos of the Box and Its Content for Judy Malloy's Uncle Roger


General Comments about the Packaging for Uncle Roger
There are three boxed versions of Uncle Roger. The first, published in 1987, was a standalone package of "A Party in Woodside" that was numbered. In 1988 this version was republished with a few changes. The third version, also published in 1988, addressed a few bugs in the original and included all three files packaged in a clear plastic box. The 1988 version came either with three separate folded inserts, one for each file, or 2) with an accordion fold insert that covered all the files.

Malloy sold Uncle Roger for $15 through Art Com Catalog. Advertised in the catalog as "Software by Artists for Personal Computers," Uncle Roger was originally envisioned as software for which the box served as packaging. However, in making the packaging for each individual box, Malloy drew heavily from her art practice. Additionally, because Malloy exhibited Uncle Roger widely as a work of literary art, it is not a stretch to view the packaging as more than simply a container for software disks but also as an extension of her artistic vision.
 
About the Version Used in this Project
Two complete copies of the box that constitutes the work, Uncle Roger, are archived at Duke University's Rubenstein Library in the Judy Malloy Papers. Another representing the original 1987 version, numbered "no. 10" can be found at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City. Because copies were sold by Art Com, it would be difficult to know how many are still available. The copy used for this project was provided by Malloy to Grigar and Moulthrop for developing the documentation for Pathfinders. This loaned version represents the 1988 version with separate inserts and may be a "second" not intended to be sent to Art Com for distribution. Thus, the anomalies discussed in the packaging reflect this possibility. Missing from this box is the final floppy disk, "Terminals," which Malloy kept with her at Princeton. Her copy of "Terminals" is missing the sleeve into which the floppy would have been slipped when packaged, which is why it is not shown here. Future plans for Pathfinders includes a visit to Duke Library and MOMA to view these copies.
 
Production Method
The label and inserts were designed by Malloy, who hand-lettered or created textual elements with Apple's The Print Shop, a desktop publishing software originally created for the Apple II. She, then, printed the layouts of the label and inserts on her own printer and trimmed the paper to size on a paper cutter or by hand. Because inserts contained four pages of textual information, information for each page needed to be produced and printed on her computer. They were, next, readied for a master layout by cutting them to the size of the paper on which the master copy layout would eventually be printed, then, pasted to the master copy layout. This master copy layout was, then, xeroxed once. If this copy showed lines where the pasted element had been, Malloy would need to eliminate the lines by whiting them out. She would xerox the master copy layout again. The process would continue until the final product was rid of all errant marks. If Malloy ran out of copies of the label to paste onto the box or inserts to include in it, she would remake these items. This production method explains why the box and inserts of Uncle Roger may vary from copy to copy.
 
Special Note about This Section
Of all of the works included in Pathfinders, Malloy's is the most unique in that it was produced by the author with an authoring system she produced, called "Narrabase," and each copy that was sold and distributed was made by her hand. Because scholars like N. Katherine Hayles call for literary criticism of electronic literature to address the work's material specificities, the approach taken in examining Malloy's work does just that by describing each component of the work through direct interaction with it. It also draws upon ekphrasis, an approach to writing about art dating back to the ancient Greeks that provides a description of a work so that readers without access to it can still imagine it. This concept was discussed at the Electronic Literature Organization's "State of the Arts" conference at UCLA in 2002 during the session, entitled "Multimedia Criticism," moderated by Rob Kendall that included Rita Raley, Joseph Tabbi, Thom Swiss, and Jane Yellowlees Douglas. It provides an excellent method for this project where works of art like Malloy's are not easily available to readers. Misspelled words, typos, changes in style all speak to the uniqueness of the artifact and an aesthetic far from mass production and an industrial graphical aesthetic. The compelling quality of Uncle Roger lies not just in the quality of the poetry––the words Malloy uses to express herself––but in the way in which the work is instantiated as an object of literary art.
 
Box Contents
Four hand-made inserts explaining the work, the last one signed by the author in 1988
1. General introduction to Uncle Roger and instructions for interacting with "A Party in Woodside" 2. Introduction to "A Party in Woodside" with instruction for interacting with it 3. Introduction to "The Blue Notebook" with instructions for interacting with it 4. Introduction to "Terminals" with instructions for interacting with it
Three 5 1/4" floppy disks in hand-made sleeves (only two represented in this archive)
1. "A Party in Woodside" 2. "The Blue Notebook" 3. "Terminals"
Box, Front
The box measures 6 1/4" x 6" x 1/2" in size and is made of opaque white, heavy-duty plastic. The top section of the box closes firmly onto the bottom, holding the contents safely inside. On the top of the box a black, regular bond paper label (4 1/2" x 4 1/4") is affixed. It reads, "Uncle Roger File 1 A Party in Woodside by Judy Malloy." The lettering is white and hand-lettered. The label is placed on the box so that it fits inside a square box embossed in the plastic. The first insert placed inside the box can be seen through the opaque plastic around the black label. On the top above the words, "Uncle Roger," we can see "An Interactive Novel." Running along the right side of the black label we can see six plus signs (+) evenly distributed. At the bottom below "Judy Malloy," we can read "for Apple II computers." Plus signs are found along the left hand side of the label, matching those on the right hand side. Thus, the package shows great care in its design and execution, with detail given to the placement of words and other visual elements.
 
Box, Back
The back of the Artists' Box is unlabeled, but one can see the back of the floppy disk's sleeve through the opaque white plastic. The image shown here represents the back of the floppy disk sleeve for "The Blue Notebook" visible through the plastic box. The back of the box would actually show the art from the "Terminals" sleeve, which is missing from this archive.
 
Left Side of the Box, Inside
On the inside of the left side of the box is a small, white label, 4" x 1 1/2" in size (rounded corners) centered in the space with information about the work's publication divided into two sections. Section one contains the address of the publisher and is divided, due to space limitations, into three lines.  Line one reads: "Distributed by Art Com Software"; Line two: "POB 3123 Rincon Annex"; Line three: "San Francisco, CA 94119". There is a space between this information and the next.  Section two is comprised of one sentence broken into three lines: Line one: "A Party in Woodside Originally"; Line two: "Appeared As A Serial"; LIne three: "On Art Com Electronic Network." This segment is punctuated with a period.
 
1st Insert of Box, Front: "Uncle Roger by Judy Malloy" >Printed in heavy, white card stock
The 1st insert of the box, visible through the front of the box, introduces readers to the novel. The insert's design follows that of the box itself. A black square (4 1/2" x 4 1/4") found at the center of the insert, is surrounded by a white border 3/5" thick in width. Black lettering runs along the top, right, left, and bottom of the border. On the top above the label's first word, "Uncle," we see "An Interactive Novel." Running along the right side of the black label are six plus signs (+) evenly distributed. At the bottom below "Judy Malloy," we read "for Apple II computers." Plus signs are found along the left hand side of the label, matching those on the right hand side.
 
1st Insert of Box, Opened: "Uncle Roger by Judy Malloy"
The insert opens to a size of 11" x 5 7/16"––that is, almost a regular size sheet of paper in portrait mode cut in half. The lettering is typed rather than hand-drawn like the lettering found on the front of the insert.  
 
1st Insert of Box, Left Hand Side: "Uncle Roger by Judy Malloy"
The information on the left-hand side is divided into two sections. The first section reads, "UNCLE ROGER is a computer text novel which is read by retrieving fictional narrative information from three database files. This booklet contains documentation for each file. The files are:". Then listed below this section in three lines are: (Line 1) "A PARTY IN WOODSIDE p.1" (Line 2) "THE BLUE NOTEBOOK p. 3" (Line 3) "TERMINALS P. 5". The "P" is capitalized in the last item in the list. Below "TERMINALS" is a line of 51 plus signs running the length of the insert dividing the first section from the rest of the information on that page. Title information, organized into two lines, "UNCLE ROGER - File 1" and "A PARTY IN WOODSIDE," is set off by another line of 51 plus signs. Following the title information, we are provided some context about the story and an idea of how the story is formulated. Paragraph one reads, "During a long, mostly sleepless night after, a party is remembered fitfully, interspersed with dreams." The second paragraph reads, "The story is read by searching for keywords. The keywords are the names of characters, places, and things which are integral to the the story. As you search the keywords you are interested in, the story unfolds in a text file that is as disjointed as the narrator's night." The third paragraph reads: "Like a guest at a real party, you hear snatches of conversation and catch fleeting glimpses of both strangers and old friends. There are occurrences which you never observe. You meet people whom others may never meet. A fragmented, individual memory picture of the party emerges." The series of 51 plus signs run along the bottom of the last line, providing a border for the textual information.
 
1st Insert of Box, Right Hand Side: "Uncle Roger by Judy Malloy"
The right hand side of the insert is listed as "page 2." It is divided into two parts. The first contains four hand-drawn images of an Apple II computer featuring a "smiley face" displayed on each monitor. These design elements are distributed evenly across the top of the insert page. Below that section are detailed instructions for interacting with the work. It is introduced with the title, "INSTRUCTIONS FOR A PARTY IN WOODSIDE" followed by a line of 51 plus signs (+) serving as a border between the computer monitors and instructions. The instructions are divided into three paragraphs. Paragraph one reads: "Boot the disk. Press <return> when asked until you reach the main menu." Paragraph two: "You are asked to select keywords from the keyword list on the main menu. Type them at the prompts, in upper case, exactly as they appear on the list. You can search the story by one keyword - UNCLE ROGER, forinstance [sic], or, you can combine keywords - UNCLE ROGER and JENNY." Paragraph three: "There are three, self-explanatory keywords prompts. Choose your first keyword at the first prompt. Choose whether or not you want to combine it with another keywords at the second prompt. If the answer is yes, you are given another prompt to enter your 2nd keyword. When your keywords are selected, the records which match the keywords you selected are displayed. After each record, you can choose to continue the search or go back to the main menu. After your search is finished, you can either quit or do another search." Like the left hand side of the insert page, this one also features a border of plus signs along the bottom. The number "2" is found at the bottom, centered.
 
1st Insert of Box, Back: "Uncle Roger by Judy Malloy"
The back of the 1st insert contains instructions for "Terminals." We find the same visual design elements––the four computers with the smiley faces on the monitors––at the top and bottom of this page as we did on the right hand side of the insert (page 2). The text is organized also in a similar manner. Below the four computers at the top of the page we find, "INSTRUCTIONS FOR: TERMINALS" followed by the line of plus signs. Below this section we find the directions articulated in four paragraphs. Paragraph one: "Boot the disk." Paragraph two: "Press <return> when asked to read the introduction and the first record. After you have read the first record and pressed <return> again, the computer will select another record at random and print it out." Paragraph three: "After each record, you can decide whether to see another record or not. When prompted, type STOP to stop or type <return> to continue." Paragraph four: "When you type STOP to quit, you will see one more record. This is the last record, which like the first record you see when you start, is always the same." The border of 51 plus signs follows below the last paragraph and separates it from the four computers at the bottom of the insert page.
 
2nd Insert of Box, Front: "A Party in Woodside" Printed in heavy, white card stock
The 2nd insert of the box introduces readers to Part One of the novel––"A Party in Woodside." The insert's design, once again, follows the general design of the box and 1st insert. A black square (4 1/4" x 3 3/4"), found at the center of the insert, is surrounded by a white border that measures 1 1/4"at the top, 1 3/8"at the bottom, 5/8" on the left and 3/4" on the right. Black lettering runs along the top, right, left, and bottom of the border. On the top above the label we see "Bad Information". Running along the right side of the black label are six plus signs (+) evenly distributed. At the bottom we read "for Apple II computers." Plus signs are found along the left hand side of the label, matching those on the right hand side.
 
2nd Insert of Box, Back: "A Party in Woodside"
The back of the 2nd insert repeats the motif used right hand side and back of the 1st insert: an Apple II computer featuring a "smiley face" displayed on its monitor. The design, however, is larger in size on this insert. Above the computer is the word, "BAD," and below, "INFORMATION"––the name Malloy gave to one of her first digital projects that became the name she continued to give to her practice. A hand-drawn box outlines the computer and company name. The box measures 2 9/16" x 2 7/16". Below the logo's box we find Malloy's address provided in two lines. Line one reads: "BOX 2340" and "2140 SHATTUCK". Line two is centered within the first line and reads: "BERKELEY, CA 94704". The logo box and address are contained in another box, also outlined in black that serves as a border for the insert. This larger box is 3/16" (top) x  3/16" (bottom) x 1/8"(left)  x 1/8" (right).
 
2nd Insert of Box, Opened: "A Party in Woodside"
The 2nd insert opens to a size of 11" x 5 3/8"––that is, almost a regular size sheet of paper in portrait mode cut in half. The lettering is typed rather than hand-drawn like the lettering found on the front of the insert. The typeface differs from the first insert in that it is larger in size and heavier in appearance.
 
2nd Insert of Box, Left Hand Side: "A Party in Woodside"
The left hand side of the 2nd insert is divided into four paragraphs of textual information. Paragraphs 2-4 are very similar to the information in the left hand side of the first insert (Uncle Roger). Unique information to this insert, therefore, is found in the first paragraph, which reads, "for Apple II series computers with at least 64K and upper and lower case display." The second paragraph provides background of the story and more detail than that of the 1st insert. It reads, "A PARTY IN WOODSIDE is file 1 of the database novel, UNCLE ROGER. The party is remembered fitfully, interspersed with dreams by the main character, Jenny, during the course of a long, mostly sleepless night. The story is told naturally, the way it is remembered by Jenny, in a textfile which is sometimes as disjointed as Jenny's night." The third paragraph offers a general understanding for how to interact with the work as a database novel and is more concise that the information found in the 1st insert: "The story is read by searching keywords. As you follow the characters, places and, [sic] things which you are interested in, the story begins to fit together." The fourth paragraph continues with the explanation of the way the database novel is conceptualized: "Like guests at a real party, you hear snatches of conversation and catch fleeting glimpses of old friends. There are occurances [sic] which you never observe. You meet people whom others didn't meet, so that the memory/picture of the party you come away with is both fragmented and individual."
 
2nd Insert of Box, Right Hand Side: "A Party in Woodside"
The right hand side of the 2nd insert is divided into four paragraphs containing much of the same textual information as that found in the first insert (Uncle Roger). Paragraphs one and two are, however, more condensed. Paragraph one in this insert is comprised of one word, "Instructions",  hand-lettered by Malloy. Paragraph two, presenting typed text, simply tells the user to "Boot the disk." Paragraphs three and four both provide similar information as that found in the first insert. Paragraph three reads, "You are asked to select keywords from the keyword list on the main menu. Type them at the prompts, * in upper case,* exactly as they appear on the list. You can either search the story by one keyword - UNCLE ROGER, forinstance [sic], or, you can combine keywords - UNCLE ROGER and JENNY." The inclusion of the asterisks highlighting "in upper case" and the word "either" in the search parameters are unique to this insert. Note that the error, "forinstance", is retained. Paragraph four: "There are 3, self-explanatory, [sic] keywords prompts. Choose your first keyword at the first prompt. Choose whether or not you want to combine it with another keyword at the second prompt. If the answer is yes, you are given another prompt to enter your 2nd keyword. When your keywords are selected, the records which match the keywords you selected are displayed. After each record, you choose to continue the search or go back to the main menu. After your search is finished, you can either quit or do another search." This textual information differs in the substitution of the number "3" for the word, "three" found in the first insert and the addition of the erroneous comma between "self-explanatory" and "keyword." It is also important to note that the type of the 2nd insert is larger than that of the first and suggests that a different computer was used to produce it.
 
3rd Insert of Box, Front: "The Blue Notebook"
The 3rd insert of the box introduces readers to Part Two of the novel, "The Blue Notebook." The insert's design, once again, follows the general design of the box and 1st insert. A black square (4 1/4" x 3 3/4"), found at the center of the insert, is surrounded by a white border (top, 1 1/4"; bottom, 1 3/8"; left, 5/8"; right, 3/4"). Black lettering runs along the top, right, left, and bottom of the border. On the top above the label we see "Bad Information". Running along the right side of the black label are six plus signs (+) evenly distributed. At the bottom we read "for Apple II computers." Plus signs are found along the left hand side of the label, matching those on the right hand side.
 
3rd Insert of Box, Back: "The Blue Notebook"
The back of the 3rd insert repeats the back of the 2nd. The design in the center is the Apple II computer featuring a "smiley face" displayed on its monitor surrounded by a black border. Malloy's address is located at the bottom of the insert. All information contained in a larger box provides a border effect for the insert. As in the 2nd insert we see above the computer the word, "BAD," and below, "INFORMATION". The hand-drawn box outlining the computer and the company name measures 2 9/16" x 2 7/16".  Unlike the 2nd insert, the third offers four lines of textual information at the top, above the logo. Line one reads, "THE BLUE NOTEBOOK first appeared on". Line two, "ART COM ELECTRONIC NETWORK on the WELL." Line three: "The ART COM  DATANET version was funded by". Line four: "the CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL and ART MATTERS." Below the logo's box we find Malloy's address provided in two lines. Line one reads: "BOX 2340" and "2140 SHATTUCK". Line two is centered within the first line and reads: "BERKELEY, CA 94704". The logo box and address are contained in another box, also outlined in black that serves as a border for the insert. This larger box is (top) 3/16" x  (right) 3/16" x (bottom) 1/8" x left (1/8").
 
3rd Insert of Box, Opened: "The Blue Notebook"
The 3rd insert is slightly larger than the 1st and 2nd insert. It opens to a size of 11" x 5 1/2"––that is, exactly the size of a sheet of paper in portrait mode cut in half. The production of this insert also differs from the previous two inserts in the way the information is displayed: The textual information is not centered and margins widely vary. The typeface also differs from the first insert in that it is larger in size and from the second in that it is not as heavy in appearance.
 
3rd Insert of Box, Left Hand Side: "The Blue Notebook"
The left hand side of the 3rd insert is divided into three paragraphs of textual information. Paragraph one repeats the same information found in the 1st insert, while Paragraphs two and three provide background on the story and information about interacting with the work, respectively. Paragraph one reads, "for Apple II series computers with at least 64K and upper and lower case display." Paragraph two reads: "THE BLUE NOTEBOOK is file 2 of the database novel, UNCLE ROGER. In THE BLUE NOTEBOOK The [sic] story is continued by the narrator, Jenny. The narrative is framed by a formal birthday party for Tom Broadthrow at a hotel restaurant. Jenny's fragmented memories––a car trip with David, a visit to Jeff's company in San Jose, an encounter with Uncle Roger in [the, sic] restaurant bathroom––weave in and out of the birthday party recollections. Some of the text is taken from Jenny's blue notebook where, as she herself says, 'The things I wrote in the blue notebook didn't happen in exactly the way I wrote them.'" Paragraph three tells the user that, "The story is read by searching keywords. Each combination of keywords or "search" sends the reader down a different path as s/he follows one of the parallel yet intertwining narratives which relect [sic] the increasing complexity of Jenny's life. The story unfolds differently for each reader as s/he makes choices about which characters, places, or things to offer."
 
3rd Insert of Box, Right Hand Side: "The Blue Notebook"
The right hand side of the 3rd insert is almost identical to that of the 2nd.  It is divided into four paragraphs. Paragraph one reads, "Instructions",  hand-lettered by Malloy. Paragraph two, presenting typed text, tells the user to "Boot the disk." Paragraph three reads, "You are asked to select keywords from the keyword list on the main menu. Type them at the prompts, * in upper case,* exactly as they appear on the list. You can either search the story by one keyword - UNCLE ROGER, forinstance [sic], or. [sic] you can combine keywords - UNCLE ROGER and JENNY." The erroneous period found after the word, "or," is the only difference between this paragraph and that of the 2nd insert. Paragraph four: "There are 3, self-explanatory, [sic] keywords prompts. Choose your first keyword at the first prompt. Choose whether or not you want to combine it with another keyword at the second prompt. If the answer is yes, you are given another prompt to enter your 2nd keyword. When your keywords are selected, the records which match the keywords you selected are displayed. After each record, you choose to continue the search or go back to the main menu. After your search is finished, you can either quit or do another search." This textual information matches the information found in the 2nd insert.
 
 4th Insert of Box, Front: "Terminals"
The 4th insert introduces readers to Part Three of the novel, "Terminals." The insert's design is completely different than that of the other three inserts in that it presents the reader with textual information highlighted in the plus sign (+) border used to punctuate information on the back of the 1st insert. The textual information is also organized into three sections. Section one includes title information; section two, background about the story and directions for interacting with it; and section three, the page number. Line one of the title information in section one reads, "UNCLE ROGER – File 3." Line two: "TERMINALS". This section is followed by 51 plus signs that make up a border separating this section with section two. Section two contains two paragraphs. The first reads, "In January, the narrator, Jenny, left the Broadthrow family and started working for a market research firm in San Francisco. As Jenny sits at her desk on the eighth floor of an office building in Embarcadero Square, memories of a Christmas party in Woodside, a trip back East for the Holidays [sic], and other things that happened come and go in her mind." Paragraph two reads, "The 100 records which make up the story are selected at random by the computer. The information is stored in computer memory and retrieved at random in the same way it comes and goes in the narrator's mind. Sometimes one record will be repeated several times. Or, one part of the story will be submerged a long time, reoccurring unexpectedly." The last paragraph is followed by 51 plus signs (+), setting the section from the other two. The final section is comprised of only the number 5, signifying the page. Since the only other insert with a page number is the 1st insert and the number provided, "2," is found on the insert's third page, the numbering system of this archive does not follow any particular logic. However, the first insert––the one associated with the introduction to Uncle Roger––does alert the reader that there is page numbering connected to particular files and that page 5 "contains documentation" for "Terminals." The issue with the numbering system has led Malloy to suspect that the version of Uncle Roger loaned us is one of the "seconds" not sent to Art Com Catalog.
 
4th Insert of Box, Back: "Terminals"
The back of the 4th insert is similar to the 3rd. It is divided into three sections with the first section providing publication and funding information, the second containing the logo, and the third stating Malloy's address. This insert, however, is signed by Malloy and dated, 1988. Section one reads, "A PARTY IN WOODSIDE, THE BLUE NOTEBOOK, and TERMINALS first appeared on the Art Com Electronic Network on the WELL. The Art Com Datanet version of THE BLUE NOTEBOOK was funded by The California Arts Council and Art Matters." Section two repeats the back of the 2nd and 3rd inserts––an Apple II computer featuring a "smiley face" displayed on its monitor with a black border. Above the computer appears the word, "BAD," and below, "INFORMATION". The hand-drawn box outlining the computer and the company name measures 2 1/2" x 2 1/2", so varies from the other two inserts. Section three containing Malloy's address is provided in two lines. Line one reads: "BOX 2340" and "2140 SHATTUCK". Line two is centered within the first line and reads: "BERKELEY, CA 94704". Malloy's signature begins with the copyright symbol and 1988, followed by "Judy Malloy." The logo box and address are contained in another box, also outlined in black that serves as a border for the insert.  This larger box is (top) 3/16" x  (right) 1/4" x (bottom) 3/16" x left (1/16").
 
 4th Insert of Box, Opened: "Terminals" The 4th insert is the exact size of the first insert, 11" x 5 7/16", so is slightly larger than the 2nd and slightly smaller than the 3rd inserts. Additionally, its typeface matches that of the first insert.  
4th Insert of Box, Left Hand Side: "Terminals"
The left hand side of the 4th insert provides information for "The Blue Notebook." It is divided into four sections: the title, information about "The Blue Notebook" including story background and directions, the design motif, and the page number. Section one presents the title in two lines. Line one reads, "UNCLE ROGER – File 2"; Line two, "THE BLUE NOTEBOOK".  Section two is comprised of three paragraphs and is separated from the other two sections by the same 51 plus sign (+) border used to punctuate information on the back of the 1st insert and front of the 4th. The first paragraph reads, "The things I wrote in the blue notebook didn't happen in exactly the way I wrote them." However, the next two paragraphs are almost identical to those found in the left hand side of the second insert, associated with "The Blue Notebook." It reads, "In THE BLUE NOTEBOOK, the story is continued by the narrator, Jenny. The narrative is framed by a formal birthday party for Tom Broadthrow at a hotel restaurant. Jenny's fragmented memories––a car trip with David, a visit to Jeff's company in San Jose, an encounter with Uncle Roger in the restaurant bathroom––weave in and out of the birthday party collections." The only difference between this textual information and that of the 2nd insert is the revision to the error––the missing "the" before the word "restaurant." The second paragraph reads, "The story is read by searching keywords. Each combination of keywords or "search" sends the readers down a different path as s/he follows one of the parallel yet intertwining narratives which reflect the increasing complexity of Jenny's life. The story unfolds differently for each reader as s/he makes choices about which characters, places, or things to follow." The only difference between this paragraph and the one from the 2nd insert is that the word, "reflect," is corrected from "relect." Following the border of 51 plus signs (+), we find the four Apple II computers with the smiley faces displayed on each of the monitors, centered on the page. The fourth section contains the page number, "3."
 
4th Insert of Box, Right Hand Side: "Terminals"
The right hand side of the 4th insert is organized into two sections: a title and directions for interacting with "The Blue Notebook" highlighted by the 51 plus sign (+) border. The title reads, "INSTRUCTIONS FOR: THE BLUE NOTEBOOK". The second section is divided into three paragraphs and provides some of the most detailed directions for interacting with Uncle Roger than seen anywhere else in the inserts. Paragraph one reads, "Boot the disk. Press <return> when asked until you reach the menu which lists the keywords." Paragraph two continues with the familiar directions, "You are asked to select keywords from the keyword list. Type them at the prompts, in upper case, exactly as they appear on the list. You can search the story by one keyword––UNCLE ROGER, for instance, or, you can combine keywords––UNCLE ROGER and JENNY." We see the erroneous period from 2nd insert associated with "The Blue Notebook" corrected to a comma, but "forinstance"remains unchanged. Additionally, the asterisks used in the 2nd insert are eliminated from this insert's textual information. The second paragraph continues with more detail about how to interact with the work: "A good way to start searching is to combine one of the characters at the beginning of the keyword list (JENNY, JEFF, etc.) with one of the places or things at the end of the keyword list (BLUE NOTEBOOK, BATHROOM, etc.)". A period is missing from the end of this sentence. Finally, the third paragraph reads, "There are three, self-explanatory keyword prompts. Choose your first keyword at the first prompt. Choose whether or not you want to combine it with another keyword at the second prompt. If the answer is yes, you are given another prompt to enter your 2nd keyword. When your keywords are selected, the records which match the keywords you selected are displayed. After each records, you choose to continue the search or go back to the main menu. After your search is finished, you can either quit or do another search."
 
Floppy Disk (File 1), "A Party in Woodside," Front
The floppy disk for "A Party in Woodside" is a standard 5 1/4" size floppy disk, introduced in 1976 and in wide use until it disappeared from the market in the mid-1990s. By 1988–– the same year that Malloy's work was published––it was already being outsold by the 3 1/4" floppy disk. A white label measuring 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" is placed on the top left hand side of the disk. The information is organized into three sections. Section one contains the title, "UNCLE ROGER -- FILE 1". Section two is set off by the border of plus signs (+), one long line of 31 at both the top and bottom and three lines of three on the left and right side. Inside this border we find, "A PARTY IN WOODSIDE". Below the bottom border is Section three, comprised of two lines. Line one reads, "FOR APPLE II COMPUTERS". Line two, "COPYRIGHT 1988 J. MALLOY". There are no other distinguishing features on this floppy disk.
 
Floppy Disk (File 1), "A Party in Woodside," Back
The back has no packaging or design. 
 
Sleeve 1, "A Party in Woodside," Front 
The 5 1/4 floppy disk of "A Party in Woodside" was packaged in a hand-made black sleeve that measures 5 5/8" x  4 3/8". The hand-made quality of the sleeve is apparent in the slightly slanted cut on the back portion. When inserted into the sleeve, the disk appears above the top of the sleeve by approximately 1/2". The title of the disk found on the disk's label is visible above the front of the sleeve. On the sleeve we find the words lettered in white, "I drank too much red wine. The Broadthrow's party is looping in my mind, nested with brief dreams." 
 
Sleeve 1, "A Party in Woodside," Back
On the back of the sleeve we find hand-lettered text like that of the front of the sleeve. We read, "'Destroy that note,' said Uncle Roger. His breath smelled like Kentucky Fried Chicken. 'What are you up to?' I asked." We find space between the exchange between the two characters, and the text is not centered on the sleeve. There is a 3/4" margin at the top and 1/4" margin at the bottom of the sleeve.
 
Floppy Disk (File 2), "The Blue Notebook," Front
This disk is marked by a hand-made black label on the top left hand side, measuring a general size of 2 3/8" x 1 5/8". The corners of the label are rounded, also irregularly. The text is hand-lettered and reads, "The Blue Notebook". The three words appear on its own line and are centered. 
 
Floppy Disk (File 2), "The Blue Notebook," Back
The back of this disk is, like the first disk, unadorned, but it is of a different type. It is marked by a line of six groupings of three small rectangles equally distributed along the left and right sides. The top contains four groupings of three small rectangles, two on each corner. Embossed on the disk is the number "800716". It is clear that the black plastic of the disk has been folded and the markings are actually the method by which the plastic is held together.
 
Sleeve 2, "The Blue Notebook," Front
Like the 5 1/4 floppy disk of "A Party in Woodside", the disk for "The Blue Notebook" was packaged in a hand-made black sleeve that measures 5 5/8" x  4 3/8".  The hand-made quality of the sleeve is apparent in the slightly slanted cut on the back portion. When inserted into the sleeve, the disk appears above the top of the sleeve by approximately 1/2". The title of the disk found on the disk's label is visible above the front of the sleeve. On the sleeve one we find the words lettered in white, "The things I wrote in the blue notebook didn't happen in exactly the way I wrote them." 
 
Sleeve 2, "The Blue Notebook," Back
Unlike the sleeve for "A Party at Woodside," there are no markings on the back of this sleeve.

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