The Edible Exile: A Byliner Original

by Carl Hiaasen

Cuervo is a pampered Nicaraguan moneyman, funding a guerrilla war from his cushy Miami penthouse. Sixto is his hulking, pistol-packing attendant, whose job satisfaction is on the wane. When an aging mobster enters their lives with a promise to help the rebel cause—with a planeload of chickens originally intended for voodoo sacrifice—a tense situation turns combustible. From the wickedly funny mind of Carl Hiaasen comes “The Edible Exile,” a raucous story of sleazeball nihilists, lovable thugs, and jungle-weary freedom fighters who collide in a battle of wills, ego, and the almighty dollar.

This cheeky tale, written twenty-five years ago, set aside, and recently rediscovered, is a time-capsule glimpse of Miami during the over-the-top 1980s, when everyone was on the make and gross excess was the order of the day. In an intriguing twist, Hiaasen had lost his original ending to the story. “So I decided to write a new ending,” he says. “As a friend said, ‘How often does a writer get the opportunity to collaborate with a younger version of himself?’”

“The Edible Exile” is a wild romp through Hiaasen Country, sure to appeal to the outlaw in all of us.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Humor, Short Stories, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Novella

Audio

First published December 9, 2013

About the author

Carl Hiaasen was born and raised in Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida, he joined the Miami Herald as a general assignment reporter and went on to work for the newspaper’s weekly magazine and prize-winning investigations team. As a journalist and author, Carl has spent most of his life advocating for the protection of the Florida Everglades. He and his family live in southern Florida.

Reviews

[C-shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short feature by one of my favorites, Carl Hiaasen, updated from a story he wrote 20-something years ago. This was really no more than a short story, would have been better fleshed out into one of his hilarious novels.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story so short, it seems incomplete. 4 of 10 stars

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short, 40 minute novel by Hiaasen. Narrated by Scott Brick.
3 stars, wish it had been longer.

[Paloma Meir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truthfully the actual story isn't that great but the introduction is worth the price of the book (.99). He or was it someone else? found this long forgotten novella in a drawer. It was was written nearly thirty years ago. If you like to read the early writings of authors you love, and you love Mr. Hiassen as I do, then you should read it.

[Magpie67 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the world of drugs and guns.... there is always someone trying to be top dog making the money. Some do it for themselves, others do it for the cause. What happens when cause and personal gains mix? This story for one: Sixto is for the cause and the man he works for only wants the money and thee fame. He has expensive tastes while those fighting the cause are living in the jungles with rats to eat.

Sixto decides the fate of two men who swindle the cause for their own gains. He learns, if you know the right people, you can make anything happen. Sixto has met an old mobster who is always interested in making money with quick results. He teaches Sixto the value of this lesson and yet a new someone is born in the dealings of the dark web and under belly of the trade of arms... if not chickens.

Love Carl's mind and that his younger mind and older-wiser mind collaborated to re-release this short story that resulted from an arms deal that went sideways during the Reagan administration. So many of those stories..... Love that reporter side of Carl's mind.

[Kai Achen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t realize how short this was until it was over

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short story, available only in audio format. It's okay as stories go, although the subject matter is pretty dated since it deals with Iran-Contra during the Reagan years.
Still, Hiaasen is always worth a look, or in this case, a listen.

[Koeeoaddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Entertaining shaggy dog [short] story. Saw the ending coming in the first paragraph -- in the title, come to think of it. Typical light weight Hiaasen fun, but I'm glad I checked this one out of the library.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha ha ha, the bad guys pay the price - and then some! Good narration by Scott Brick.

[Glenn Neiman · Rating 3 out of 5]

So short, one can barely get into it.

[Alan Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very early Hiassan short story, now available as a "Kindle Single" (or other platforms). Lacks his roll on the floor laughing humor, but has his amazing ability to draw a character in a few paragraphs, put them in an odd situation. And let things develop. Worth the 20 minutes to read.

[Tommy Carlson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hiaasen found an old short story of his and decided to publish it. It's not very good. The found copy was missing its ending, so he added a new one. It's also not very good. I mean, it's entertaining enough, but overpriced for what you get.

[Tim Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Hiaasen. If that is even close to how things were then I believe justice was done.

[Cori'sCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio Length:00:41:00

[Rachel Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more of a short story than a novel. The audiobook clocked in at only 40 minutes. As a Hiaasen fan, the story behind the story is really my favorite part. Hiassen "rediscovered" this story that was written for a magazine almost 25 years ago but never published and realized in the process that the story was either unfinished or the ending was missing. Unable to remember his original ending, he set about to finish the tale. Set in the mid 1980s, right around the time of the Iran-Contra Scandal that rocked the Reagan Administration, The Edible Exile tells a small piece of the tale, following a self-proclaimed freedom fighter who is funding what becomes a mess of a war down in Nicaragua. The tale is short and simple but I could see Hiaasen developing all the characters into a larger novel at some point, if he wanted to go down that path. It was a fun (but too short) read. If you're already a Hiaasen fan, this is a must-read. If you've never read his work, this could be a fun starter story but go and read his other works for a better judge of his writing.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing short by Hiaasen -- the manuscript was written many years ago during the 1980s, highlighting the Sandinista/Contra conflict in Nicaragua. But the magazine Hiaasen submitted it to - Esquire, I believe, did not publish it. And it was returned to Hiaasen many years later. But missing the ending. Hiaasen searched his papers but could find nothing pertaining to the story - so he wrote a new ending. An intriguing premise, for sure!
Sixto is Nicaraguan and works for Cuervo - a fat sleazeball living in luxury while theoretically funneling money to freedom fighters in Nicaragua. But Sixto has family who are part of the guerillas that are fighting -- and he knows that they are starving and need weapons. He tries to get Cuervo to help but is brushed off. But then Sixto has a chance encounter with a retired mobster who provides live chickens for santeria sacrifices -- and things get very interesting!

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story about the Contras during the Reagan administration. Cuervo is a moneyman who is helping to fund the war while living very high. Sixto is Cuervo's body guard. Sixto's cousin comes from the war, very thin and almost starving. She tells Sixto the fighters are starving. Sixto meets a mobster who says he can get live chickens to the Contras in two days. He gets the chickens there. Sixto turns on Cuervo because he is using the money that could feed and arm the Contras.
This book is famous because the story was found after 25 years without the end. Hiassen gets to collaborate with himself of 25 years ago to write the end as he doesn't remember what he originally wrote.

[Randy Warpool · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually a short story. It's very much a story of it's own place and time, occurring in the 80s and dealing with America's response to the crisis in Nicaragua with regard to the Contras, etc. There's little of the humor Hiaasen usually infuses throughout his work but plenty of outrage as usual toward those who capitalize on humanitarian crises. A decent read, but not Hiaasen at his best.

[Sailco26 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A "quickie" resurrected from the reject pile of Hiaasen's early history, we're taken back to Iran-Contra times for a glimpse into Carl's early humor and sick mind. A fun short read. Ironic that the found manuscript was missing the ending and had to be completed by a more mature Carl. I wonder what the young one would think? I'm sure he'd approve.

[James Harper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't Bother

Not what one would expect from Mr. Hiaasen. It starts slow and ends too soon. I was not expecting a short story but that's what this turned out to be, and it left me wanting more of a story than I got.

[F Thomas Andino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Keep Them Coming Mr. Hiaasen

Fun, funny, interesting and relevant with the biting sarcasm one comes to expect from Hiaasen books. I have read them all and this one meets the expectations

[Erika Powers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to this five days ago and already forgot how it ended! I dont recommend. I have to remember I don't care for this author no matter how much I want to. He's supposed to be funny but just isn't.

[Deirdre E Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously funny, a look at the other side of the many levels of guerilla warfare, random acts of kindness and lack of collective consciousness.
Thank you for your words Carl Hiaasen and Scott Brick your eloquence, very much appreciated gentlemen. (-:

[Clayton Yuen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little story .... brought back memories of the long long past for me ....

[Diane Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of Hiaason co-authoring the book with his younger self but it just didn't do it for me. I guess I was expecting more tongue in cheek that Hiasson is known for.

[Tony Rampling · Rating 4 out of 5]

His only short story - quite political too!!

[Eileen Trusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable short story

Only wish it could have gone on longer. Carl Hiassen is a master writer. I have enjoyed everything he has written.

[Makayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to replay the end of the audiobook several times to make sure I didn't miss something. Turns out there was nothing to miss. 40min I will never get back.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, if not particularly profound. Maybe deserves 4 stars instead of 3.

[Loreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love a guerilla with a heart!!