Rick Bass Book order (chronological)

En el remoto valle del Yaak, Montana, habitan apenas treinta personas y una variedad indeterminada de fauna salvaje. La mayoría de las casas carecen de electricidad y teléfono, pero sus habitantes, que incluyen leñadores, tramperos y veteranos de Vietnam, no ven esto como un inconveniente. Todos han llegado huyendo de algo, y el aislamiento les brinda una sensación de seguridad. Rick Bass y su esposa se sienten irresistiblemente atraídos por esta realidad indómita y deciden entregarse al silencio y misterio del lugar, simbolizado por la lenta caída de la nieve que parece detener el tiempo y ofrecer perdón. Alquilan una casa, conocen a los excéntricos vecinos y se preparan para un invierno que nunca han experimentado, enfrentándose a temperaturas de treinta grados bajo cero con solo una lámpara de aceite y una chimenea. Rick comienza a escribir sobre su encuentro con el invierno y el paisaje blanco y feroz que exige sacrificios. Recuerda una antigua historia sobre tramperos en Yellowstone, cuyas palabras se congelaban y debían ser recogidas para recordar lo que habían dicho. Así, Rick también recoge sus palabras en este poderoso canto al níveo secreto del Gran Frío, en un tiempo donde el invierno se vuelve cada vez más frágil y esquivo.

In this anthology, 26 writers illuminate the motivations at the heart of their creative lives in original essays that are as surprising and varied as their fiction. The contributors include Pat Conroy, Norman Mailor, Rick Moody and David Foster Wallace.

The narrative centers on a complex familial struggle between a father, Dudley, and his daughter, as they vie for the souls of two men, Matthew and Wallis. Dudley, a Texan obsessed with oil, has left a trail of ruined lives in his relentless pursuit. As Wallis begins to unravel the dark secrets of Dudley's past, the story unfolds against the backdrop of Swan Valley's vivid landscape and wildlife. Rick Bass's poetic prose brings depth to each character and their intertwined destinies, exploring themes of ambition, love, and destruction.

The collection features three short novels that explore profound themes of love, loss, and the struggle for identity. A woman reconnects with her roots on a Texas ranch, while a man embarks on a treacherous journey through a winter wilderness to find his wife. Additionally, a young oilman faces off against his aging mentor in a surreal setting where an ancient ocean lies buried in the Appalachian foothills. The narratives showcase the author's magical, passionate, and lyrical storytelling.

In this extraordinary fiction debut, Rick Bass establishes himself in the first rank of American writers. Rooted in the creative traditions of the South, his stories introduce us to men who belong— in spirit if not always in fact— to the American outback, to the deserts of Utah, the swamps of Mississippi, the remote ranges of the Rockies. Strong and inventive, funny and lyrical, these luminous tales stir the heart with wonder as they resonate with hard-won truths. With a title story that is “an American classic” ( Newsweek ), The Watch is a landmark in contemporary short fiction.