Offutt writes it all - non-fiction, novels and short stories.
His second novel - Country Dark was published in 2018.
He's not quite as prolific an author as his father, Andrew who wrote over 400 pornographic novels to support his family, including pirate porn, ghost porn, zombie porn, and secret agent porn.
The two below are short story collections.
Kentucky Straight (1992)
Kentucky straight is bourbon with no mixer. Kentucky Straight is Kentucky seen without nostalgic gloss. These riveting, often heartbreaking stories, take us through country that is unmapped. They are set in a nameless Appalachian community too small to be called a town, a place where wanting an education is a mark of ungodly arrogance and dowsing for water a legitimate occupation; where hunting is not a sport but a means of survival. These are stories of coal miners and backwoods medicine men, of gamblers and marijuana farmers, tales of real tragedy and unutterable strangeness that convey their sense of place so vividly that we feel its ground rise beneath our feet.Offutt has received a James Michener Grant and a Kentucky Arts Council Award.
Out of the Woods (1999)
From the critically acclaimed author of the novel The Good Brother and memoir My Father the Pornographer, Out of the Woods is Chris Offutt's fiercely original short story collection the New York Times calls "a magical book".
Arriving seven years after Offutt's debut collection Kentucky Straight, Out of the Woods returns a masterly writer to the form which garnered him not only critical praise but many prestigious awards. Offutt, who "draws landscape and constructs dialogue with the eyes and ears of a native son" (The Miami Herald), is on strong home turf here, capturing those who have left the Kentucky hills and long to return. These nine stories of gravediggers and drifters, gamblers and truck drivers a long way from home, are tales so full of hard edges they can't help but tell some hard truths.
A good collection of short stories can be a real treat, Col. I know I've 'met' lots of authors through their short stories, and been glad that I did. I hope you'll enjoy these. And about Andrew Offett? Um...zombie porn? That must be interesting...
ReplyDeleteAgreed Margot. It's a good way of getting to know someone, though in this case I'll be using them to reacquaint myself.
DeleteZombie porn - who even knew there was such a thing? From my limited knowledge of zombies, I hadn't clocked their interest in carnal matters.
Col – COUNTRY DARK has been on my list and I need to get to it. However, I did read his memoir, MY FATHER, THE PORNOGRAPHER. Any one who can turn out 400 books – on any subject – gets my attention.
ReplyDeleteElgin, I don't think I have a copy of COUNTRY DARK, though I'm sure I would enjoy it. I did look at Offutt's non-fiction but will stick with these for now. I think 400 is very impressive, he gives Simenon a run for his money.
DeleteThose stories sound interesting, Col. Maybe I will give one of the collections a try.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy either/or. I know it's a push for you to get stuck into short stories.
DeleteInteresting..I will be giving one of these collections a try.. soon.
ReplyDeleteKt, thanks for stopping by. I hope you like whichever one you try.
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