What do you think?
Rate this book
Forever Overhead
Short story.
Unknown Binding
4 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
David Foster Wallace
131 books13.3k followersDavid Foster Wallace was an acclaimed American writer known for his fiction, nonfiction, and critical essays that explored the complexities of consciousness, irony, and the human condition. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative literary voices of his generation, Wallace is perhaps best known for his 1996 novel Infinite Jest, which was listed by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels published between 1923 and 2005. His unfinished final novel, The Pale King, was published posthumously in 2011 and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
Born in Ithaca, New York, Wallace was raised in Illinois, where he excelled as both a student and a junior tennis player—a sport he later wrote about with sharp insight and humor. He earned degrees in English and philosophy from Amherst College, then completed an MFA in creative writing at the University of Arizona. His early academic work in logic and philosophy informed much of his writing, particularly in his blending of analytical depth with emotional complexity.
Wallace’s first novel, The Broom of the System (1987), established his reputation as a fresh literary talent. Over the next two decades, he published widely in prestigious journals and magazines, producing short stories, essays, and book reviews that earned him critical acclaim. His work was characterized by linguistic virtuosity, inventive structure, and a deep concern for moral and existential questions. In addition to fiction, he tackled topics ranging from tennis and state fairs to cruise ships, politics, and the ethics of food consumption.
Beyond his literary achievements, Wallace had a significant academic career, teaching literature and writing at Emerson College, Illinois State University, and Pomona College. He was known for his intense engagement with students and commitment to teaching.
Wallace struggled with depression and addiction for much of his adult life, and he was hospitalized multiple times. He died by suicide in 2008 at the age of 46. In the years since his death, his influence has continued to grow, inspiring scholars, conferences, and a dedicated readership. However, his legacy is complicated by posthumous revelations of abusive behavior, particularly during his relationship with writer Mary Karr, which has led to ongoing debate within literary and academic communities.
His distinctive voice—by turns cerebral, comic, and compassionate—remains a defining force in contemporary literature. Wallace once described fiction as a way of making readers feel "less alone inside," and it is that emotional resonance, alongside his formal daring, that continues to define his place in American letters.
Born in Ithaca, New York, Wallace was raised in Illinois, where he excelled as both a student and a junior tennis player—a sport he later wrote about with sharp insight and humor. He earned degrees in English and philosophy from Amherst College, then completed an MFA in creative writing at the University of Arizona. His early academic work in logic and philosophy informed much of his writing, particularly in his blending of analytical depth with emotional complexity.
Wallace’s first novel, The Broom of the System (1987), established his reputation as a fresh literary talent. Over the next two decades, he published widely in prestigious journals and magazines, producing short stories, essays, and book reviews that earned him critical acclaim. His work was characterized by linguistic virtuosity, inventive structure, and a deep concern for moral and existential questions. In addition to fiction, he tackled topics ranging from tennis and state fairs to cruise ships, politics, and the ethics of food consumption.
Beyond his literary achievements, Wallace had a significant academic career, teaching literature and writing at Emerson College, Illinois State University, and Pomona College. He was known for his intense engagement with students and commitment to teaching.
Wallace struggled with depression and addiction for much of his adult life, and he was hospitalized multiple times. He died by suicide in 2008 at the age of 46. In the years since his death, his influence has continued to grow, inspiring scholars, conferences, and a dedicated readership. However, his legacy is complicated by posthumous revelations of abusive behavior, particularly during his relationship with writer Mary Karr, which has led to ongoing debate within literary and academic communities.
His distinctive voice—by turns cerebral, comic, and compassionate—remains a defining force in contemporary literature. Wallace once described fiction as a way of making readers feel "less alone inside," and it is that emotional resonance, alongside his formal daring, that continues to define his place in American letters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 17, 2019
A very short story that made my heart pump like crazy...The slow motion is agonizing, the description is just beautiful. Such great writing.
February 27, 2023
Short story with so much depth of description, it’s like this author is a kind of visionary of the present moment
June 28, 2025
Leer a DFW es mi manera de obligarme a mirar unos minutos y solo sentir. ¿Angustia o tranquilidad? ¿Hiperconsciencia o disociación?
“The lie is that it’s one or the other.”
“The lie is that it’s one or the other.”
June 23, 2018
Exquisite piece written in second person, present tense
March 24, 2020
Beautiful.
October 29, 2021
really had me crawling with anxiety.
February 13, 2022
El abismo en un trampolin... Que locura de Foster WALLACE
August 30, 2023
first DFW ever: at max’s behest. sitting open on computer for a month or so, read on a tired morning. unfortunately, did indeed leave an indelible impression. i guess no experiences are unique, etc., etc., it’s a good thing anyways
February 13, 2025
I like the visionary (in a both literal and metaphorical use of the word…) description going on—the more I think about the story the more mythic depth I discover. Had a religious experience discussing this in class.
March 2, 2022
I have to analyze this now lol but I really enjoyed it
captured anxiety very accurately
captured anxiety very accurately
November 11, 2022
Helped me get to grips with 2nd person narratives.
Read
January 1, 2024Hello.
June 10, 2024
Stunning
August 30, 2024
Reading this made time slow down. Was not expecting to be so captivated by such a short scene. Good read.
April 26, 2024
What?
That was my initial response to just how mystified I am by the allure of this short story. I feel like it tied a very strong rope to my feet and forcefully dragged me into itself and left me in the crux of my enthrallment.
We follow an unnamed interlocutor. (The story is in second-person.) It is his birthday. His thirteenth. And everything is very new and exhilarating and ceremonial to him due to his age. For his birthday, he and his family are at the pool. The story spans the amount of time it takes for this boy to get in line to dive off of the board in the facility and actually do it.
I will just say that without fishing for metaphors and profundity, I am genuinely dizzy from how much I am feeling. I don't know what it is that I am feeling, but I can tell it is strong. And I already know that this will not be the only time I've visited this story.
That was my initial response to just how mystified I am by the allure of this short story. I feel like it tied a very strong rope to my feet and forcefully dragged me into itself and left me in the crux of my enthrallment.
We follow an unnamed interlocutor. (The story is in second-person.) It is his birthday. His thirteenth. And everything is very new and exhilarating and ceremonial to him due to his age. For his birthday, he and his family are at the pool. The story spans the amount of time it takes for this boy to get in line to dive off of the board in the facility and actually do it.
I will just say that without fishing for metaphors and profundity, I am genuinely dizzy from how much I am feeling. I don't know what it is that I am feeling, but I can tell it is strong. And I already know that this will not be the only time I've visited this story.
December 13, 2022
Всё это время шло время...
January 1, 2025
The writing is gripping, poetic & so sharp- it hurts
April 10, 2025
Leyendo “La niña del pelo raro” me acordé de este cuento.
Qué cuentazo. Hermoso. Para leer y releer y releer, en español como en inglés.
Qué cuentazo. Hermoso. Para leer y releer y releer, en español como en inglés.
October 8, 2025
Jesus this is good
January 9, 2026
The Phenomenology of the Adolescent Spirit. Dasein is henceforth thrown into existence.
July 25, 2025
This officially made me a fan of DFW, this is some of the best prose I have read about such a simple plot
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews