The Human Fly and Other Stories

by T. Coraghessan Boyle

New York Times bestselling author T.C. Boyle speaks to a brand-new audience in this anthology of his classic, richly imagined short fiction about teenagers.  

His many, varied novels are part of the American literary landscape—but one of the best ways to appreciate T. C. Boyle is through his richly imagined short fiction. Boyle's kaleidoscopic humor and wit, his keen, unforgiving take on American life, and his all-too-human protagonists all combine to make his a singular voice. Here is a collection of classic Boyle stories about teenagers (including the O. Henry Award-winning "The Love of My Life") that will speak directly to them, as well as to anyone who was once a teenager. Includes the previously uncollected story, "Almost Shooting an Elephant."


"Boyle repeatedly demonstrates his masterful grasp of human nature, exposing his characters' foibles and eccentricities."— Publishers Weekly  

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Literature

179 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

T. Coraghessan Boyle (also known as T.C. Boyle, is a U.S. novelist and short story writer. Since the late 1970s, he has published eighteen novels and twleve collections of short stories. He won the PEN/Faulkner award in 1988 for his third novel, World's End, which recounts 300 years in upstate New York. He is married with three children. Boyle has been a
Professor of English at the University of Southern California since 1978, when he founded the school's undergraduate creative writing program.

He grew up in the small town on the Hudson Valley that he regularly fictionalizes as Peterskill (as in widely anthologized short story Greasy Lake). Boyle changed his middle name when he was 17 and exclusively used Coraghessan for much of his career, but now also goes by T.C. Boyle.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

When T. C. Boyle wants to write a brilliant story, he can write a brilliant story. "Greasy Lake" and "Rara Avis" are top-shelf, knock-out stories--brilliantly conceived and constructed--full-blown LITERATURE. More often than not though, Boyle doesn't set his sights so high. Usually, he's just having fun, scratching out stories about Lassie, about a 56-0 drubbing on the football field, about eating champions and daredevils, even a clownish parody/homage about a drunken revel with Kerouac, Ginsberg, Cassady and Burroughs who, "sat there like a corpse, his irises drying out and his lips clamped tight round the little nugget of his mouth." It's an inconsistent collection, and the afterword--targeted to high school kids--is a bit too condescending. But I'm a sucker for Boyle, and it's hard to dislike a writer who is having as much fun as he clearly is.

[Shannon]

I've only a few of the stories so far. But I want to talk about each story individually. So prepare for a long, annoying review.

The Human Fly- Kind of cute, kind of funny, kind of sad. I liked it.

The Champ - Probably the only story I've ever read about a competitive eating competition. Boyle clearly wanted to poke fun at/make an omage to wresting/Muhammad Ali. It was.. silly. Didn't really care for it.

The Hit Man- This is about The Hit Man at various stages in his life. (Best line "The Hit man does not like peas. They're too difficult to balance on the fork."). This story is divided into a bunch of short fragments with different titles (the previous quote was from, and was the entire, section "Peas"). This is also silly. Everything this guy writes is silly. I'm kind of fond of this one, though.

Achates McNeil: This had pretty interesting premise (a kid has a famous author dad and he hates it). But nothing really happened. He did bang a crazy chick, but I don't know what the point of that was. Also, in this day and age, I can't really think of many authors who are THAT awe-inspiring to the general public. I mean, besides like JK Rowling, I don't think any author is THAT famous or well-recognized. I didn't buy it. I thought the Human Fly story was more realistic.

The Love of My Life: Well, that was depressing. And based on a true story. This kind of thing happens all the time, I know. But in reading the authors notes on this story, he actually based it on a specific true story (but of course took liberties in guessing the motives behind WHY these people did the horrible thing that they did). I think the story was meant to kind of humanize these people, give insight into why they might do such a thing but.. I kind of can't help but hate them for it.

So far I think I like him. Because he is clearly a weird person. You can tell from his stories. They are just WEIRD.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of thirteen short stories that seemed to be unified by a common theme of violence. In each story somebody acts violently or is the recipient of some violence. Some of the violence is man vs man, some is man vs nature, and some is man vs himself. The violence is not graphic, however. These are representative of some of his earlier works, and each bears Boyle's signature twisted view of the world. Several have rudimentary ecological references that figure in at least one of his later, full-length works ("A Friend of the Earth"). These are not meant as erudite literary masterpieces, lending themselves to be deconstructed and analyzed, but as stories that entertain. And entertain, they do! This reader enjoyed each and every one. Some bore the marks of a young author just finding his stride, and others were finely crafted. Some were (as the author admitted in the Afterword) autobiographical, and some were made up out of whole cloth. Each one is complete and whole unto itself. Quite enjoyable reading.

[H. Anne Stoj · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I read T.C. Boyle's work, the more I enjoy his style, his language, and just everything about his work. I found all of the stories marvelously done. The only one that dragged for me was 56-0, but I think it's mainly because I understand football as much as I understand bioengineering. There wasn't anything wrong with the story itself. I just didn't have a place to connect. The other stories, though, I did. Definitely an enjoyable collection for those who like his work and a nice introduction to his style and voice for those who haven't read him before.

[Joe Stinnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A “best of …” aimed at teen-age readers that reminds me what a good, pure writer Boyle is. Didn’t realize it was aimed at teen-agers until I read flap info several stories in. They were written for mags and previous collections, not aimed at teens originally. Anyway, really good.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like short stories, T.C. Boyle is your man. HIs stories are quirky, funny, tragic and worthwhile.

[Tim O'Leary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few writers other than Russo, Vonnegut, and Robbins are compelling enough to make me seek them out. To find what few titles remain to complete all that they've written. Thomas Coraghessan Boyle, aka T.C. Boyle, was not among them. Not even on my radar until only a month ago after delving into his "Tooth and Claw." Enamored as I have become with his short stories, am working my way through a stack of his books purchased, since, in uncharacteristic haste. All that I could find. Including these 13 stories selected from The New Yorker, Esquire, The Atlantic Monthly, Playboy, GQ, North American Review, The Paris Review, Zoetrope: All-Story, and Antaeus where they first appeared. In the book's Afterword which has the templated feel of an overly familiar lecture, the author goes on a bit about his first submissions from his years as a grad student at the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. Quoting same, "Greasy Lake" stands out as his "best-known and most frequently anthologized story; what practically 'all high school and college students find in their literature texts,' and then need to confront for purposes of the exegetic essay." (A trophy vocabulary word and some condescension being duly noted). He humbly apologizes, however, for "inflicting such academic rigors" on his early readers, adding that his intentions are merely to entertain. The story being meant--like all good stories--to be read and enjoyed on its own terms. And, ultimately, to provoke further thought. In this case, the story's epigraph recalls Bruce Springsteen and the early eighties; The Boss's anthemic songs inspiring the youthful "quest for cool and the underlying appeal of hip." Had authors the likes of Boyle instead of Melville been assigned back in my high school years--the mid- to late-sixties--am guessing more of our numbers, today, would be readers rather than streamers. Brains numbed by Marvel spin-offs. Eyes glued perpetually to CGI fantasy on monolithic, plasma screens and/or insanely priced Maxity-Max theaters. Ah, indeed, the pot calling the kettle black. Call me, after three failed attempts, not an avid reader of Ishmael; my aspiration postponed until the unlikely time it beckons like Ahab's finger even in death. My literary "Great White." But this collection, endeavoring to conscript readers in their formative youth, is at times an absolute hoot. Sarcasm and cynicism at its best. "Beat" locks into their manic vernacular as his bongo-thumping, booze-swilling, joint-rolling, poetry-spewing Bohemian compatriots converge on Kerouac's digs; his "big hunkering soul of a mother's" house/crashpad on Christmas Eve. Bing Crosby and Mario Lanza for squares blares on the radio in the kitchen, flapjacks slung at her boy "Jacky" at all hours. And at anyone else who shows up in their blurry-eyed depravity at the table. While at other times readers are witness to a heart-wrenching exhibit of humanity; all that is vulnerable, flawed, alienated and tragic. The one called "The Champ" is a send-up on food eating contestants. Which if you're a devotee of Rob Reiner's "Stand by Me" harkens to Gordie's campfire story he makes up about David "Lard-Ass" Hogan who exacts his revenge for being a ridiculed fat boy in a state fair pie eating contest. Boyhood campfire yarns spun from/into novellas (Stephen King's "The Body") and books called "The Human Fly and other stories" are made for those priceless moments when you can shut the TV off, and tune-out completely the curse of so called "influencers" on social media. "Look at me, look at me, look at me now. It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." To Hell with all that. Suddenly, Melville doesn't sound nearly so much a laborious pursuit of one's time.

[Colin Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 10 of my quick foray into all the middle grade novels I've had on my bookshelf for more than 10 years that I never got around to reading when I was younger so I can make room for more books on my shelf:


A collection of short stories that I will review individually:


The Human Fly:
A story about a daredevil dressed in all red and claiming to be invincible and completing various endurance based challenges. Zoltan ends up doing some pretty interesting stuff, the main development of the short story is that eventually he reaches the limit and perishes because of it. Somehow not through consumer and capitalist greed though, Zoltan insists on doing all these things to 'be famous.' ⭐⭐⭐


The Fog Man:
A story about how subtle racism invades a small town community. The main character doesn't do anything to stop the progress of it invading his life. The sinister nature of it is shown through the fog at the beginning and end. The gas mask on the fog man paints the picture that it is becoming something more and more toxic. ⭐⭐⭐


Rara Avis:
The shortest story yet about a strange bird that appears where it shouldn't. It captivates a crowd of people, but slowly their excitement turns to boredom and then even disgust. Why must we ruin that which is set before us? ⭐⭐⭐⭐


The Champ:
Grotesque. A heavyweight eating competition where a up and coming newcomer tries to go for the established champ. The story ends predictably with a inspiring appearance from Angelo's mom and Angelo finds the strength to win. ⭐⭐


Beat:
Yeah I couldn't really follow this one that well. Is it about the unparalleled joy of adolescence leading to a lifetime of regrets and crushing real world consequences? I have no idea. ⭐⭐


Greasy Lake:
Wildly fuled ride of a poor serious of decisions made by teenagers. Poignant when considered that everything done could have been avoided. The animalistic nature of humans can be revealed at the slightest provocation and the consequences can be disasterous. ⭐⭐⭐⭐


The Love of My Life:
Dark, twisted, painful. Hard to stomach story about an unwanted child that then was discarded without thought or care. Grippingly haunting and sad. ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Achates McNeil:
What can you do when someone who has ruined your life comes back to try and "make amends" but hasn't changed at all? Being used for who you are is not a good feeling, even if it has advantages sometimes. ⭐⭐⭐


56-0:
A simple and somewhat morbidly hilarious account of a god-awful football team losing two consecutive games 56-0 and 57-0. They're bad and you can tell. The name Ray Arthur Larry-Pete Fontinot is also objectively hilarious. ⭐⭐⭐


The Hit Man:
The Hit Man does not like peas. They are too difficult to balance on the fork. ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Almost Shooting an Elephant:
Starts off slow and hard to follow but eventually builds to an interesting standoff between a man and a drunk elephant. Ends well and I'll give it credit for that. ⭐⭐⭐


Juliana Cloth: 
A haunting and probably very relevant tale (at the time it was written) about an STD spreading through a small African village and community. Boyle paints the picture as to why the spread was so egregious and offers an interesting insight as to why things were so bad. ⭐⭐⭐


Heart of a Champion:
That's one lucky kid. That dog has an almost human sense and response to the danger that the kid is in. Almost uncannily so. Why does the dog know how to give mouth to mouth? This story reads almost like a script to a tv show or something. ⭐⭐⭐


The Afterword offers some very good insight into the various reasonings and themes hidden in the stories.

[Sophie Hadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short stories compiled in this book are very human but fantastical at the same time, written using an amazingly diverse and colorful vocabulary, evoking varying emotions and taking the reader on a rollercoaster even in just a few pages' expanse. I found the dynamics of how the stories progressed fascinating, many of them building up to an unexpected plot twist, ending right at the peak of the build-up and/or leaving the rest of the story up to the reader's imagination. Mr. Boyle is not only dedicated to making stories fun to read (as he emphasizes in the Afterword) but is also clearly intrigued by the human experience with all of its good, bad and ugly. And the combination of those two things shines through in his writing and pulls one in. I really enjoyed leaving the real world for the while that these stories captivated my attention!

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't know much about Boyle but I after seeing him interviewed on Overheard with Evan Smith, I was curious, and I thought a book of short stories might be a good introduction.
Enjoyed the collection, and, though none of them blew me away, I plan to move on to one of his novels.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

t.c. boyle is such an imaginative writer - he doesn't take himself too serious and it makes reading him so much fun. i read just now that he cites kurt vonnegut as 1 of his influences and now everything, it makes sense. p.s. juliana cloth is one of my favorite stories ever written!

[Andrei · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH, WOW! It's a crying shame that this book is "rare". I think this may be one of my favourite short story collections. Stories like "Beat" and "Juliana Cloth" really hit different. Thank goodness that most of these stories can generally be found in his other short story collections.

[Matt Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of these stories read easily and nail the vibe of Northeastern winters in New York and New England, but they’re extremely hit and miss. The Fog Man and Heart of a Champion are great, but others I was super grateful to be done with.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

(no. 30 0f 2018)
Includes "Greasy Lake," "Love of My Life," "56-0" and "Heart of a Champion"

[William Mildren · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first short story book

[Mercurymouth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dysfunctional snapshots from times gone by.

[Jennifer Campaniolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband found this on the bargain rack at the Brookline Booksmith (the one outside where all the books are $1). I love T.C. Boyle but I wasn't sure I'd like this one because of the weird Sci-Fi drawing of the human fly in the title. I thought it might be a little too out there for me. And the first couple of stories were. But there were also some real gems that kept me thinking about them and that even managed to appear in my dreams. I'm talking about "Rara Avis" with it's haunting last line, and "The Love of My Life" about a teenage couple deeply in love until a life-altering event pits them against each other. That story came from a news piece Boyle had read. He kept to the facts of the story but explored the "whys" that news articles often leave out. This is the kind of writing I love--the exploration of something that otherwise seems almost inexplicable. It turns out a lot of his stories start out as items from the morning paper.

There are plenty of funny stories and great satire here. Not every story was a slam-dunk, but I like that they are from different periods in the writer's life, starting with some grad school work when he was at The University of Iowa.

This book is perfect for high school students who want to read good literature but are tired of the same old picks from the literary canon.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

From reading this anthology of short stories, I decided that Boyle is completely overrated. However, my opinion could change if I ever get around to reading anything else that's he written. His writing is good, but the content is pretty unoriginal. Of all of the unoriginal stories, though, I enjoyed the cover story and another one about a college student who has to deal with an absentee famous writer father. That one was worth reading. Otherwise, I was rolling my eyes a lot.

[Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

T.C. Boyle is one of my favorite authors for his high-strung, hyper-active short stories. This is an excellent collection (aimed at high schoolers, but not ONLY for them, I assure you). Some of the best stories contained here are the title story, the now classic Greasy Lake, The Hitman (one of the best stories anywhere, really) and The Champ. All are good though. Highly recommend.

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boyle's novels can be too much for me, too much of too much, too satirical, too over the top. These short stories are perfect little gems. They are well-painted, richly imagined, and mostly wonderfully weird. His satire is still everywhere evident, but he doesn't hit you over the head with it. (Okay, maybe he does hit you once or twice, but not very hard or for very long.)

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really get these stories. They were really bizarre.

[Sidik Fofana · Rating 5 out of 5]

(six word review #5) phantasmogorical. (there that's six syllables.)

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it is Boyle. Great and weird, strange and fantastic. I loved it....

[Isabelle Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually like this guy, but not this collection. An early one, I think.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

just started...it says it is geared towards teenagers but it's just as ironic and dark as tooth and claw so i like it...

[sam]

....zzzzz

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy the first two stories, but the next eleven were great. Achates McNeil was my favorite.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Repackaged gift of T.C short stories spanning thirty years.

[Omar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horrific

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm failing to see what the TC Boyle hype is about.