Pow Wow: American Short Fiction from Then to Now

by Ishmael Reed (Editor), Carla Blank (With)

Using the yardstick that a short story is any fiction under 15,000 words, Ishmael Reed—with the assistance of Carla Blank—has assembled an anthology that reexamines the history of the form across a broader, more inclusive spectrum. The result is a collection that stretches the boundaries of the American literary landscape, including work ranging from animal stories of the Northwest Coast Eyaks to African-American folklore to reflections on the American Muslim experience. Pow-Wow is the sequel to Reed’s From Totems to A Multicultural Anthology of Poetry Across the Americas, 1900 –2002 , a volume that included both Tupac Shakur and T. S. Eliot, and was named one of the best poetry anthologies of 2003 by Library Journal . Its fiction-focused follow-up once again demonstrates the broad range of American writing, from such stellar names as Langston Hughes, Gertrude Stein, Russell Banks, and Alejandro Murguía to newly discovered writers of all races, genders, and backgrounds. By presenting many different sides to the American story, the fiction of these writers challenges official history, shatters accepted myths, and provides alternatives to mainstream notions of personal and national identity. Gathering these voices together, Pow Wow offers a fascinating and vital opportunity to traverse the fault lines that separate, distinguish, and define a nation made of many Americas.
 

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

536 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2008

About the author

Ishmael Scott Reed is an American poet, essayist, and novelist. A prominent African-American literary figure, Reed is known for his satirical works challenging American political culture, and highlighting political and cultural oppression.

Reed has been described as one of the most controversial writers. While his work has often sought to represent neglected African and African-American perspectives, his energy and advocacy have centered more broadly on neglected peoples and perspectives irrespective of their cultural origins.

Reviews

[Shirleynature · Rating 4 out of 5]

This large anthology of short stories from very diverse authors is an alternative to the mainstream. I highly recommend the story “Night of the FEMA trailers” by Vivian Demuth, about Hurricane Katrina. Also checkout stories by Gertrude Stein, E. Donald Two-Rivers and Ntozake Shange.

[Ummu Fatihah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since my reading theme recently is short fiction, then i tend to grab any short fiction collection in the bookstore which is not that many. So far i am into the third stories.
The first is about Asian Muslim in America during their Ramadhan and the fight a boy with himself to perform his fasting.
The second one is about Mexican teenage fight with himself when he turned himself into what the outside people want them to be. Is was only after he discover the magical world of language in the prison that he realize that he is able to be what he want to be.