Adam Johnson Books

The son of an influential father who runs an orphan work camp, Pak Jun Do rises to prominence using instinctive talents and eventually becomes a professional kidnapper and romantic rival to Kim Jong Il.

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION 2015 By the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner of THE ORPHAN MASTER'S SON - for fans of international literary fiction, especially Hanya Yanigahara, Jonathan Franzen and Karen Jay Fowler. 'Unputdownable is an overused word, but at their best these stories are completely gripping.' Sunday Times 'Ironic, witty, super-intelligent' - The Times Adam Johnson takes you into the minds of characters you never thought you would meet âe" a former Stasi prison warden in denial of his past, a refugee from North Korea unsettled by his new freedom, a UPS driver in hurricane-torn Louisiana looking for the mother of his son. These are tales of love and loss, natural disasters, the influence of technology, and how the political shapes the personal. Tender, wry, utterly compelling, they show us humanity where you might least expect it.

This year's edition of the well-known anthology engages with contemporary issues rather than adhering strictly to academic formalism. Series editor Pitlor notes that each of the twenty stories is "risky in its own way," showcasing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of crises. Among the diverse entries, two stories inspired by Hurricane Katrina stand out for their contrasting approaches. "Rubiaux Rising," the shortest at eight pages, delivers a powerful narrative about an Iraq veteran detoxing from painkillers in an attic during the storm. This compelling piece is the author's first submission, highlighting the anthology's value in uncovering new talent. In contrast, Adam Johnson's "Hurricanes Anonymous," the longest story at 40 pages, explores the emotional aftermath of two Louisiana storms, weaving intricate connections and losses. Other tales delve into themes of war and foreign affairs, featuring both emerging voices like Zambia-born Namwali Serpell and familiar authors such as Jill McCorkle, Richard Powers, and Annie Proulx. The collection includes multiple selections from esteemed publications like the New Yorker and Tin House. As always, readers are likely to discover new favorites within these pages. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*The debut novel by the author of THE ORPHAN MASTER'S SON: winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2013 After trashing his cherry '72 Corvette, illegally breaking into an ancient burial site, and snacking on 12,000-year-old popcorn, Hank Hannah finds that he's inadvertently unleashed the apocalypse. Hank, a professor of anthropology back in the days when there were still co-eds to ogle and now one of only twelve humans still alive on earth, decides to record the last days of human civilization for whomever - or whatever - might replace us.