Under The Light: Stories

by Sam Michel

In a series of interconnected short stories, Harry Drake battles to preserve his ideals, honor, and ardor as he comes of age within the ambiguous context of the new American West

176 pages, Hardcover

First published June 4, 1991

Reviews

[Mike Polizzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snapshots from the life of Harry Drake, from Nevada at the end of the last century. I could see Harry wandering into one of Stephen Shore's or Joel Sternfeld's landscapes. He seems to be a part of the landscape, though a person, believable. Instead of working within a traditional narrative arc, Sam Michel captures Harry at odd moments, as he's becoming then being then losing. The strange power of boyhood is here, I kept thinking of Huck and Tom throughout, but a Huck and Tom reared in the sparseness around Reno.

Michel's language builds. It most often feels controlled, and is at its best as it unspools in its long sentences. Excellent rhythm and meter, the writing isn't there to dazzle, but seems to have been called back from the brink, calmed down-- there's a definite sense of withholding that finally bursts on the page in Willows. One more for Knopf in the 80's-90's, edited by Gordon Lish. Blurbs from James Dickey and Barry Hannah on the back of the jacket.

[in8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

worth it for "Reno, Reno, Reno, Reno" and "Willows" alone.

[Lorelei Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the only thing in this book were the story Change Jockey it would still get five stars and I'd be glad to have it. Fortunately, Change Jockey is not alone, and is joined by so much good writing.