Chemistry and Other Stories

“13 haunting and picturesque stories that illuminate the terms of survival in that often forgotten landscape”—the Appalachian Mountains (Booklist).

“Ron Rash writes some of the most memorable novels of this young century. . . . One of the major writers of our time.” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ron Rash is one of the greatest chroniclers of modern Appalachia, a writer whose insight and empathy have illuminated this terrain in three transcendent novels. In his new volume of stories, spanning the entire twentieth century, Rash chronicles the onset of the modern era in rural communities, the deterioration of the old ways, and the violent arrival of a broader world.

Three old men stalk the shadow of a giant fish no one else believes is there. A son watches his father take up scuba diving in the town reservoir to fight off a killing depression. A grieving mother leads a surveyor deep into the woods to name once and for all the county and state where her son was murdered by thieves.

In the Appalachian Mountains of Ron Rash’s stories, the collision of the Old and New South, of antique and modern, of family and the wider world, resonate with the depth and power of ancient myths.

“Chemistry and Other Stories is a real winner. Each tale painstakingly made and shows a deep understanding of the heart and character of Appalachia.” —Tim Gautreaux, author of The Clearing

“With Chemistry, Ron Rash assures himself a place among the greatest of Southern writers. I keep shaking my head at the raw and tragic beauty of these stories.” —Janiesse Ray, author of Wild Card Quilt

“Extraordinary . . . powerful . . . charming. . . . No matter the story, Ron Rash grabs you and doesn’t let go.” —Kirkus Reviews