Hoisted: A Novel

by Peter L. Bensen

Alexander begins his third year in college, having made a vow to his foster father that he will socialize this year and not spend every waking hour in the biochemistry labs. Soon he is forced to play softball with his dormitory team, where he meets an obnoxious little english major named Carl. Carl breaks his finger on a fly ball from Alex, who awash in guilt, takes him to the emergency room. Against all his rational goals, Alexander and Carl become friends. Alexander is not all he seems, his legs end in large hands, not feet and he has learned to apply a glamor to his looks to keep people from paying attention to him, much like the fae of old. When Carl invites Alexander home for Thanksgiving, Alexander learns that his father is not the worst father around. In an attempt to protect his sister, Carl stabs his father in the eye. Inexorably, the justice system sends Carl to jail and filial duty drives Alexander into his father’s filthy laboratory. As circumstances turn from bad to worse, both men learn about themselves, the value of love and that perseverance and family are worth everything. And revenge? Well one can easily get Hoisted on One’s Own Petard - if one is not careful.

310 pages, Paperback

First published October 19, 2012

About the author

Raised in the Virgin Islands, college and graduate school in Chicago. Taught biology, raised money for universities and small charities over the last thirty years, and for the last ten years lived in Missoula, MT.