Jerry Stahl ist für seine düster-komischen Erzählungen über Sucht bekannt, die von Kritikern gelobt wurden und eine treue Kultgemeinde gefunden haben. Sein Werk findet großen Anklang und bietet einen fesselnden, schonungslosen Blick auf die menschliche Verfassung für diejenigen, die sich isoliert und überfordert fühlen. Stahls unverwechselbare Stimme durchbricht den Lärm und liefert Erzählungen, die sowohl roh als auch dunkel humorvoll sind. Er meistert die oft ungesehenen Kämpfe des Lebens mit einem einzigartigen und unvergesslichen Stil.
Jerry Stahl's seminal memoir of drug addiction and a career in Hollywood, Permanent Midnight is a classic along the lines of Hubert Selby, Jr.'s Last Exit to Brooklyn. Illuminating the self-loathing and self-destruction of an addict's inner life, Permanent Midnight follows Stahl through the dregs of addiction and into sobriety. In 1998, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Maria Bello starred in a film version of Permanent Midnight to much acclaim. Nic Sheff, author of Tweak, writes the introduction to this edition.
A guided group tour to concentration camps in Poland and Germany allows the author to confront personal and historical demons with both despair and humor. This unbelievable true story unfolds as a bus tour to Nazi concentration camps, narrated with an acid wit that is both deadly serious and hilariously absurd. The destinations are real, and the author fearlessly explores his own troubled soul. In September 2016, he felt anxious about the trip, not only due to the stops at Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Dachau but also because he would be traveling with two dozen strangers in a tour group—something he typically avoids. The decision to visit such somber sites was difficult, especially as he grappled with deep depression and a sense of despair about his life and the state of the world. He sought a place where his feelings of sadness, regret, and fear could resonate, and where better than the land of the Six Million? Blending global and personal history through his unique lens, this narrative stands out as a triumph of strange reporting, taking readers from lively polkas to unsettling experiences at Auschwitz. Prepare for a raw, surreal, and redemptively hilarious journey. Get on the bus.
An ex-cop and struggling addict, Manny Rupert takes on an undercover mission to investigate whether a California inmate is the notorious war criminal Josef Mengele, who allegedly faked his death. As Manny delves deeper, he uncovers a disturbing conspiracy tied to genocide, drugs, eugenics, and human experimentation, revealing dark connections between America and Nazi atrocities. The narrative navigates through intense and harrowing themes, juxtaposing Manny's personal battles with the chilling legacy of historical horrors.
Set against a backdrop of dark humor and crime, the story follows two hapless thieves who unwittingly steal a compromising photo of George W. Bush and plan to blackmail the Republican Party. Their scheme is interrupted by Nurse Tina, a cunning woman with a deadly secret involving her late husband. As ex-junkie detective Manny Rubert investigates the suspicious death, he finds himself entangled in a chaotic mix of love and danger, leading to unexpected twists in their intertwined fates.
Set against the backdrop of 1970's counterculture, the story follows sixteen-year-old Bobby Stark as he navigates the chaotic landscape of desire and angst. Amidst the fading ideals of the hippie movement, Bobby grapples with his identity and sanity in a vibrant yet tumultuous world. The narrative explores themes of love, youth, and the search for meaning in a society that feels increasingly disjointed.
The collection features a range of short stories that explore themes of eccentric romance, the struggles of adolescence, mid-life crises, and family dysfunction. With a blend of perverse humor and poignant moments, the author delves into the complexities of human relationships, presenting a unique perspective on life's challenges and quirks.
From Cocaine, the most troubling and fascinating of substances; through Speed, an oft demonized and misunderstood drug; and on to Heroin, long seen as the most 'literary' of narcotics - the contributors to this all-new original anthology reveal that those who partake are forever changed, but the price of paradise is often steep. The Hard Drug Chronicles runs to over 700 pages and contains more than 40 all new stories from Lee Child, Jerry Stahl, Ken Bruen, Laura Lippman, Nina Revoyr, James Franco, Sherman Alexie, William T. Vollmann, Megan Abbott, James Greer and more.
From acclaimed writer Jerry Stahl comes a breakout novel that elevates crime fiction to new heights of twisted brilliance. With sharp wit and vivid detail, Stahl delves into the minds of addicts, detectives, fetishists, and killers, presenting a vision of American misfits amidst violent crime, corruption, and drug-fueled schemes, all intertwined with genuine love. The plot, described as crack noir, follows two pipe-heads who accidentally steal a photo of George W. Bush's presidential package and attempt to blackmail the Republican Party. However, their plans are thwarted when a clever nurse, Tina, takes the photo for herself. Tina has her own troubles, having just killed her online husband with Drano-laced cereal. When Manny Rubert, a scarred ex-junkie turned detective, is called to investigate the husband's death, he finds himself unexpectedly falling for Tina. As they plot their future and the fate of the presidential photo, they face relentless obstacles from police chiefs and dangerous crackheads. This tale blends violence and comedy into a shocking love story, showcasing contemporary insanity in a thrilling narrative. Critics praise it as a radical mix of humor and weirdness, with some calling it hilariously funny and a potential contender for literary accolades.
