Customer Reviews

The Language of Elk (Carnegie Mellon University Press Series in Fiction)

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The Language of Elk, the debut book by writer Benjamin Percy, contains 8 stories about the people and life in a place called Oregon. As the jacket text reads, "The Language of Elk assembles its cast from the mountain towns and low-life taverns and high desert ranches of Oregon -- a state that in isolated pockets remains a still-unfinished place, the frontier."

The stories in this book show us some unique characters and surprising situations. There a man who digs up and steals Native American relics, including the mummified corpse of a dead man, in his living room, a former small town high school football hero trying to find his way in adulthood, the owner of a ranch where soft men come to play cowboy and hunt their own game for a few days, a man who hunts for Sasquatch, a man who work together on a marijuana farm, and a man who falls in love with the bearded lady at a circus that comes to town.

Benjamin Percy is a promising young author who can tell a story and whose descriptions of relationships are very strong. His prose is sharp, right on, his settings strong, and his characters unique and memorable. These are stories that will linger in your mind for a long while after reading them. Overall, this is a strong first book from a talented young man, whose work engages his readers' imaginations and hearts, and will have you wanting for more. This book is highly recommended!


--Mitchell Waldman, author of A Face in the Moon

Percy is blessed with the ability to engage his reader via striking use of similies and metaphors that leave you grinning at his brilliance. His collection of short stories is unlike any you'll ever encounter.

A remarkable read.

more great, clever stories from Benjamin Percy...

"The Language of Elk" has alot of really good stories, unfortunately I was spoiled by reading his new book, "Refresh, Refresh" first. I then found about this book!

This book has eight short stories, all good and very well written in my opinion!

My favorites were:

The Language of Elk
The Colony
Winter's Passing
The Bearded Lady Says Goodnight (this story is outstanding and genius!!!!)

if you read / or have read "The Language of Elk", do yourself a favor and read his new book "Refresh, Refresh", its excellent

more people need to know about Benjamin Percy's writing, I know I'll read anything he writes from now on.....

You may find it a bit unusual to find a comparison with Stephen King and Ray Bradbury but that is exactly what popped up in my mind while I was reading "Language of Elk" and "Refresh, Refresh".

Is it the story itself, the similes, the metaphors, gritty language, blend of reality and subconscious voice in the story, I do not know.

All I know there is that buzz that makes you turn pages wanting for more. Benjamin Percy is an author to watch.

These stories will shake you in a good way.