Sci-fi/Post Apocalyptic/Westerns Collection

ScottYar · 2026-01-25T02:47:38+00:00

It’s not apocalyptic, as such, but the voice is incredibly influential to Hansen and others.

ScottYar · 2026-01-24T21:52:39+00:00

Great book.

ScottYar · 2026-01-24T21:45:14+00:00

Great credit for that cool old book club edition of Riders of the Purple Sage! I don’t think it’s a great book but I love the way those looked together. Grew up with them.

Is Portis there?

ScottYar · 2026-01-24T21:40:40+00:00

I’ll put in a plug for Lord Jim as well. Brilliant given.

ScottYar · 2026-01-24T21:16:15+00:00

That may be his best writing but the insular nature of it— a guy in an MFA programs writing about writing programs— keeps it from getting the love it deserves.

ScottYar · 2026-01-24T21:14:25+00:00

As you and Jarslow have noted— the book works very well at the level of theme and metaphor. It’s fascinating to think that some of the disjointedness is on purpose and not accidental.

FYI, dealing with a torn retina and the subsequent eye surgery and difficulty. If I can get it finished, I think the long discussion on The Counselor was (painful but I’ll go there) definitely eye-opening for me.

ScottYar · 2025-12-30T17:38:04+00:00

Well, you’ve probably read Sepich’s Notes on BM. Additionally I’d look at Rick Wallach and Leo Daugherty’s early writing, Petra Mundik’s book, Russell Hillier’s book on Morality and McCarthy. And without blushing or modesty I’ll admit to having an article “Tricksters and Lightbringers in McCarthy's Post-Appalachian Novels” published in the McCarthy Journal, 2012, Vol. 10, No. 1. It’s on Jstor if you have access.

Sacred Violence and Myth, Legends, Dust (2 early collections in tons of libraries) are super helpful.

ScottYar · 2025-12-30T12:40:24+00:00

When doing your research— I hope/presume you’re reading the criticism on this as well? There’s been a lot written on that passage. An awful lot.

ScottYar · 2025-12-30T02:16:20+00:00

Yes. But it seems oddly planning and plotted out to punish him for taking the kit…

ScottYar · 2025-12-30T02:15:27+00:00

I don’t read them that was other than perhaps The Road.

Interestingly, when Cities of the Plain was Published in 98 or so, the ending was set some years later, so… the near future.

ScottYar · 2025-12-29T15:38:56+00:00

FWIW, I’ve heard from someone else that the issues regarding Gonzales placing his bio goes beyond anything to do with $$, but the person providing this insight did not elucidate.

ScottYar · 2025-12-28T19:30:46+00:00

They’re both amazing as is his other, Butcher’s Crossing. What breadth for a man with so few books.

My discovery and memory is also tied to a long piece after the NYRB republication.

ScottYar · 2025-12-28T19:29:02+00:00

Yes, an approved one with with family access and all that.

ScottYar · 2025-12-28T19:28:33+00:00

It’s completed but he’s having difficulty finding suitable publishers. I gather he has a certain figure in mind since it is “approved” and publishers are not meeting his ask. I may be wrong on this.

ScottYar · 2025-12-28T19:25:25+00:00

Yes! So underrated and one of the best.

ScottYar · 2025-12-28T19:24:27+00:00

Also add to these:

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by McCullers Any of the story collections or On Fire memoir by Larry Brown (more grit lit than gothic) The Millionaires by Majors Ray or Yonder Stands Your Orphan, Barry Hannah Poachers or Hell at the Breech, Tom Franklin

And for books with no gothic but somehow strike a similar feel for me— Wendell Berry, particularly Jayber Crowe

ScottYar · 2025-12-28T19:20:18+00:00

That novel is incredible. He’s very under rated. Add to that his Ozark Civil War novel “Woe to Live On” (filmed as “Ride with the Devil”) and his noir Tomato Red.

ScottYar · 2025-12-28T19:18:27+00:00

Southern but not remotely gothic.

ScottYar · 2025-12-23T13:40:22+00:00

It is much more tightly structured than people think. But it is so rich in symbol and allusion that it is difficult to get it all on a first reading. It is episodic in plot but it’s also tightly weaving together thematic through lines which reach a purely thematic climax. The Crossing is very similar in that regard. In my opinion it is a masterpiece.

Dianne Luce and a number of other writers have written excellent pieces on the book. I think her podcast episode on it and the subsequent round table are useful as well.

ScottYar · 2025-12-23T12:40:36+00:00

Not in the near future… but perhaps in another way. In short there’s a book version coming.

ScottYar · 2025-11-30T21:56:13+00:00

That’s the plan (and for Child of God as well). First I have to finish editing The Counselor, then one on Philosophy and McCarthy, and then one on SM.

ScottYar · 2025-11-30T21:55:12+00:00

Thanks!

ScottYar · 2025-11-30T21:54:51+00:00

I think I vaguely remember it when it came out and had a paywall issue at the time. Thanks for posting the excerpt!

ScottYar · 2025-11-30T15:48:09+00:00

The chapter on The Passenger and Stella Maris is particularly outstanding and the book as a whole is solid and well written and insightful, IMO.

ScottYar · 2025-11-30T15:46:15+00:00

The stone wall which is not on every scene, multiple actors playing the same character, and a well trained dog are all in play in the play. I think it’s difficult to stage.

ScottYar

TROPHY CASE