Edited by author 06-02-2003 03:45 PM
I recommend nearly anything by Rick Bass, particularly his collections of enigmatic short stories. In my opinion he's the best naturalist/writer since Thoreau--his writing is imbued with a keen awareness of the interaction between his characters with the world they inhabit. For the most part he avoids overt environmental proselytizing (with the exception of the short, strange novella "Fiber"), writing instead so lovingly and knowledgeably about nature that he inspires a reverence for its beauty and fragility. And his characters are so quirky and authentically human that they seem like someone you almost remember knowing. He's a master of telling enough of a story to flesh out the characters and set the scene, yet leaving enough to the imagination that your mind carries the tale forward for days after finishing it. At his best, he's breathtaking.