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In the spirit of the demolition derby, where drivers take heedless risks with reckless abandon, welcome to the first convocation of the Secret Society of Demolition Writers. Here is a one-of-a-kind collection by famous authors writing anonymously–and dangerously. With the usual concerns about reputations and renown cast aside, these twelve daredevils have each contributed an extreme, no-holds-barred unsigned story, each shining as brightly and urgently as hazard lights.
Unconventional and unapologetic, this publishing equivalent of a whodunit features an eclectic group of fictional characters, including a delusional schizophrenic narrator, an egg donor with second thoughts about her decision, a pharmacist who forms a weird crush on a woman who beat both of her parents to death, and a little girl who understands that an old safe is the threshold to another, ghostly, world. Equally diverse and surprising are the authors themselves: Aimee Bender, Benjamin Cheever, Michael Connelly, Sebastian Junger, Elizabeth McCracken, Rosie O'Donnell, Chris Offutt, Anna Quindlen, John Burnham Schwartz, Alice Sebold, Lauren Slater, and Marc Parent, the editor of the collection. Never before has such a wide-ranging and talented group of authors been assembled to such explosive and entertaining effect.
The Secret Society of Demolition Writers is an intriguing puzzle in itself, but it's also an important addition to the careers of some of our finest storytellers–even if we never really know who wrote what. Its boundary-smashing fiction offers exhilarating proof that for an artist, withholding your identity can mean gaining your freedom.
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Creators
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Aimee BenderAuthor
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Benjamin CheeverAuthor
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Michael ConnellyAuthor
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Sebastian JungerAuthor
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Elizabeth McCrackenAuthor
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Rosie O'DonnellAuthor
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Chris OffuttAuthor
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Marc ParentAuthor
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Anna QuindlenAuthor
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John Burnham SchwartzAuthor
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Alice SeboldAuthor
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Lauren SlaterAuthor
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Ellen ArcherNarrator
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Alan SklarNarrator
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Publisher
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Release date
September 1, 2005 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781400121786
- File size: 215564 KB
- Duration: 07:29:05
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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An intriguing title, excellent introduction, and Ellen Archer's fine reading are the high points of this quirky short story collection by authors Aimee Bender, Benjamin Cheever, Michael Connelly, Sebastian Junger, Elizabeth McCracken, Rosie O'Donnell, Chris Offutt, Anna Quindlen, John Burnham Schwartz, Alice Sebold, and Lauren Slater. The intriguing twist is that all the authors use fake names, leaving the listener to try to guess who wrote what. Alas, the CD cover is overcrowded and unattractive, and a number of the stories are disappointing--lacking luster and interest. There are, however, some real high points, particularly "Ashes," which is effective and memorable. L.C. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine -
May 9, 2005
Instead of whodunit, this anthology of 12 anonymously penned short stories asks "who wrote it?" Parent gathers tales by well-known authors (including Aimee Bender, Michael Connelly, Sebastian Junger, Elizabeth McCracken, Anna Quindlen, Alice Sebold and himself) under the premise that freedom from reputation and byline leads to exciting storytelling. The device is intriguing—like a blind taste test—but potentially frustrating: the fun of the blind taste test, after all, is when you learn the name of your favorite flavor. And though many pieces deal with dark subjects, it's difficult to feel that anonymity has encouraged much authorial risk. A man falls in love with a women who's killed her parents; a father-to-be unleashes a ghost into the world; two young travelers are caught in a West African war. The finest story in the collection, "Wonderland," centers on a fashion magazine editor—"a fash-mag hag"—recalling a college affair with a custodian that led to unexpected consequences. The quality of the stories varies, but overall is high: why doesn't everyone just slap their names on what they wrote? Maybe because then it'd be just another anthology.
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