The Sky, the Stars, the Wilderness

by Rick Bass

Book Overview

GQ called the three short novels in this collection "wondrous." A woman returns to live on her family's west Texas ranch . . . a man tracks his wife through a winter wilderness . . . an ancient ocean buried in the foothills of the Appalachians becomes a battleground for a young wildcat oilman and his aging mentor. Here is Bass at his magical, passionate, and lyrical best.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395924758
• ISBN13: 9780395924754
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

WIldness both savage and subtle captured and held before your eyes

Rick Bass is an incredible artist. He is capable of capturing the wildness of nature - tooth, claw, and heart and rendering it in the way of poetry. These stories capture and display the tapestry of life in a way that will stick with you, will become part of you.

Nature writing at its best

This book is actually three novellas. The 3rd story is The Sky, the Stars, the Wilderness. I read this book years ago, and it remains vivid in my mind. It is one of the top three pieces of nature writing I've ever come across. The characters tell the story of the teeming wildlife on a large Texas ranch in the mid-1900s Texas. When you are through with the story, you will feel a deep kinship with the sense of place the story depicts. It will make you long for it, and long for other places you have come to love.

The Myths of Bears will be a classic!

Although the title story is more descriptive than plot oriented, this book is worth buying just for "The Myths of Bears". The brutal violence and the animalistic-like characteristics of the two main characters makes for one of the most original reads you are likely to find. The story is INTENSE! The second novella, "Where The Sea Used To Be", adds a great balance to this book, providing the reader the chance to cool down their nerves after "The Myths of Bears" with a greatly relaxing story about an oil seeker. A great book!

The usual from Rick Bass--a great read

I've followed Rick Bass since the publication of his first short story collection--The Watch--and enjoyed every book, both fiction and non-fiction. This collection is no exception. When I read Bass, I have to do it slowly. His stories always affect me emotionally, and I have to wait between readings to catch my balance. The first story is actually rather shocking in its violence. The second story is my personal favorite--truly a fine piece of literature. The third, the novella, gives the reader a feel of the wild. The only quibble I have with it is the sense that the author has difficulty writing from a woman's perspective. But that's a small thing! I recommend this book highly.