Picture 1 of 1

Stock photo

Benjamin Percy Thrill Me (Paperback) (UK IMPORT) - Picture 1 of 1

Thrill Me : Essays on Fiction by Benjamin Percy (2016, Trade Paperback)

Rarewaves (637161)

98.1% positive feedback

Price:

US $25.51

(inclusive of GST)

ApproximatelyS$ 32.83

+ $4.35 shipping

Estimated delivery Wed, 11 Jun - Tue, 17 Jun

Returns:

30 days return. Buyer pays for return shipping. If you use an eBay shipping label, it will be deducted from your refund amount.

Condition:

Brand New

About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherGraywolf Press

ISBN-101555977596

ISBN-139781555977597

eBay Product ID (ePID)219232144

Product Key Features

Number of Pages160 Pages

Publication NameThrill Me : Essays on Fiction

LanguageEnglish

SubjectGeneral

Publication Year2016

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaLiterary Criticism

AuthorBenjamin Percy

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.5 in

Item Weight8.5 Oz

Item Length8.3 in

Item Width5.5 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2016-931536

Reviews"[A] lively, helpful guide. . . . [Percy] provides precise advice concerning basics like suspense, setting, and style. . . . His evocative personal anecdotes invigorate even familiar material. . . . In each essay we glimpse an industrious Percy at the daily grind of writing, rereading and editing his fiction. . . . . Beyond craft or theory, and perhaps more helpful than any advice, this book serves as a reminder that writing is hard work." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Benjamin Percy] peppers his observations of today's literary scene with homey, witty anecdotes, and he couches his analysis in no-nonsense wisdom. . . . Not only does he frame the ins and outs of the writing process with warm, wry reminiscences drawn from his own life, he refuses to lapse into stereotypical preciousness or pretentiousness. He talks bluntly and amiably about how stories work and why they matter, an approach that doesn't take a fellow writer to appreciate." --NPR Books "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "[ Thrill Me ] is a fine choice for readers and writers looking for a holistic take on writing that spans genres and styles." --Tor.com "Percy dives in head first, and his enthusiasm, in conjunction with his eye for substance and style and his skillful explication, prove a heady mix. . . . Thrill Me is comprehensive in its scope, touching on most of the important pieces of storycraft from stylistic choices to character development . . . with character and vigor, and with a joyful populist tone." -- Electric Literature "Expertly balanced, extensively researched, and written in a vibrant, demanding style that can offer you a flower as easily as punch you in the gut. . . . Everyone can learn from [Benjamin] Percy's essays." -- Kenyon Review " Thrill Me turns the interior, plodding process of writing into a heart-pounding read, and imparts some excellent lessons along the way." -- Washington Independent Review of Books " Thrill Me offers a concise, lucid anatomy of the bones that support narratives ranging from Jaws to Blood Meridian ." -- Locus Magazine "Percy is a master wordsmith and he delivers his messages with the panache and style of the grizzled veteran he is, both as teacher and author, engaging you so intensely that you don't even realize you're learning something, having become so involved in the telling." -- Hellnotes "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "Who would not want to keep company with the muscular imagination of Benjamin Percy while he ransacks literature, film, and music? . . . The book is rich with examples--and Percy himself makes a stirring and committed coach." --Ron Carlson "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis, "[A] lively, helpful guide. . . . [Percy] provides precise advice concerning basics like suspense, setting, and style. . . . His evocative personal anecdotes invigorate even familiar material. . . . In each essay we glimpse an industrious Percy at the daily grind of writing, rereading and editing his fiction. . . . . Beyond craft or theory, and perhaps more helpful than any advice, this book serves as a reminder that writing is hard work." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Benjamin Percy] peppers his observations of today's literary scene with homey, witty anecdotes, and he couches his analysis in no-nonsense wisdom. . . . Not only does he frame the ins and outs of the writing process with warm, wry reminiscences drawn from his own life, he refuses to lapse into stereotypical preciousness or pretentiousness. He talks bluntly and amiably about how stories work and why they matter, an approach that doesn't take a fellow writer to appreciate." --NPR Books "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "[ Thrill Me ] is a fine choice for readers and writers looking for a holistic take on writing that spans genres and styles." --Tor.com "Percy dives in head first, and his enthusiasm, in conjunction with his eye for substance and style and his skillful explication, prove a heady mix. . . . Thrill Me is comprehensive in its scope, touching on most of the important pieces of storycraft from stylistic choices to character development . . . with character and vigor, and with a joyful populist tone." -- Electric Literature "Expertly balanced, extensively researched, and written in a vibrant, demanding style that can offer you a flower as easily as punch you in the gut. . . . Everyone can learn from [Benjamin] Percy's essays." -- Kenyon Review " Thrill Me turns the interior, plodding process of writing into a heart-pounding read, and imparts some excellent lessons along the way." -- Washington Independent Review of Books " Thrill Me offers a concise, lucid anatomy of the bones that support narratives ranging from Jaws to Blood Meridian ." -- Locus Magazine "Percy is a master wordsmith and he delivers his messages with the panache and style of the grizzled veteran he is, both as teacher and author, engaging you so intensely that you don't even realize you're learning something, having become so involved in the telling." -- Hellnotes "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis, "[Benjamin Percy] peppers his observations of today's literary scene with homey, witty anecdotes, and he couches his analysis in no-nonsense wisdom. . . . Not only does he frame the ins and outs of the writing process with warm, wry reminiscences drawn from his own life, he refuses to lapse into stereotypical preciousness or pretentiousness. He talks bluntly and amiably about how stories work and why they matter, an approach that doesn't take a fellow writer to appreciate." --NPR.org "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "Percy dives in head first, and his enthusiasm, in conjunction with his eye for substance and style and his skillful explication, prove a heady mix. . . . Thrill Me is comprehensive in its scope, touching on most of the important pieces of storycraft from stylistic choices to character development . . . with character and vigor, and with a joyful populist tone." -- Electric Literature "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "Who would not want to keep company with the muscular imagination of Benjamin Percy while he ransacks literature, film, and music? . . . The book is rich with examples--and Percy himself makes a stirring and committed coach." --Ron Carlson "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis, "[A] lively, helpful guide. . . . [Percy] provides precise advice concerning basics like suspense, setting, and style. . . . His evocative personal anecdotes invigorate even familiar material. . . . In each essay we glimpse an industrious Percy at the daily grind of writing, rereading and editing his fiction. . . . . Beyond craft or theory, and perhaps more helpful than any advice, this book serves as a reminder that writing is hard work." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Benjamin Percy] peppers his observations of today's literary scene with homey, witty anecdotes, and he couches his analysis in no-nonsense wisdom. . . . Not only does he frame the ins and outs of the writing process with warm, wry reminiscences drawn from his own life, he refuses to lapse into stereotypical preciousness or pretentiousness. He talks bluntly and amiably about how stories work and why they matter, an approach that doesn't take a fellow writer to appreciate." --NPR Books "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "Percy dives in head first, and his enthusiasm, in conjunction with his eye for substance and style and his skillful explication, prove a heady mix. . . . Thrill Me is comprehensive in its scope, touching on most of the important pieces of storycraft from stylistic choices to character development . . . with character and vigor, and with a joyful populist tone." -- Electric Literature " Thrill Me turns the interior, plodding process of writing into a heart-pounding read, and imparts some excellent lessons along the way." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "Who would not want to keep company with the muscular imagination of Benjamin Percy while he ransacks literature, film, and music? . . . The book is rich with examples--and Percy himself makes a stirring and committed coach." --Ron Carlson "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis, Praise for The Dead Lands : " The Dead Lands is a case of wonderful writing and compulsive reading. You will not come across a finer work of sustained imagination this year." - Stephen King "A great read no matter how you approach it." - NPR "A magnificent and cleverly crafted futuristic thriller." - Star Tribune (Minneapolis), "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "Who would not want to keep company with the muscular imagination of Benjamin Percy while he ransacks literature, film, and music? . . . The book is rich with examples--and Percy himself makes a stirring and committed coach." --Ron Carlson "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis, "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." --Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "Who would not want to keep company with the muscular imagination of Benjamin Percy while he ransacks literature, film, and music? . . . The book is rich with examples--and Percy himself makes a stirring and committed coach." --Ron Carlson "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis, "[A] lively, helpful guide. . . . [Percy] provides precise advice concerning basics like suspense, setting, and style. . . . His evocative personal anecdotes invigorate even familiar material. . . . In each essay we glimpse an industrious Percy at the daily grind of writing, rereading and editing his fiction. . . . . Beyond craft or theory, and perhaps more helpful than any advice, this book serves as a reminder that writing is hard work." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Benjamin Percy] peppers his observations of today's literary scene with homey, witty anecdotes, and he couches his analysis in no-nonsense wisdom. . . . Not only does he frame the ins and outs of the writing process with warm, wry reminiscences drawn from his own life, he refuses to lapse into stereotypical preciousness or pretentiousness. He talks bluntly and amiably about how stories work and why they matter, an approach that doesn't take a fellow writer to appreciate." --NPR Books "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "[ Thrill Me ] is a fine choice for readers and writers looking for a holistic take on writing that spans genres and styles." --Tor.com "Percy dives in head first, and his enthusiasm, in conjunction with his eye for substance and style and his skillful explication, prove a heady mix. . . . Thrill Me is comprehensive in its scope, touching on most of the important pieces of storycraft from stylistic choices to character development . . . with character and vigor, and with a joyful populist tone." -- Electric Literature "Expertly balanced, extensively researched, and written in a vibrant, demanding style that can offer you a flower as easily as punch you in the gut. . . . Everyone can learn from [Benjamin] Percy's essays." -- Kenyon Review " Thrill Me turns the interior, plodding process of writing into a heart-pounding read, and imparts some excellent lessons along the way." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "Who would not want to keep company with the muscular imagination of Benjamin Percy while he ransacks literature, film, and music? . . . The book is rich with examples--and Percy himself makes a stirring and committed coach." --Ron Carlson "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis, "[Benjamin Percy] peppers his observations of today's literary scene with homey, witty anecdotes, and he couches his analysis in no-nonsense wisdom. . . . Not only does he frame the ins and outs of the writing process with warm, wry reminiscences drawn from his own life, he refuses to lapse into stereotypical preciousness or pretentiousness. He talks bluntly and amiably about how stories work and why they matter, an approach that doesn't take a fellow writer to appreciate." --NPR.org "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "Percy dives in head first, and his enthusiasm, in conjunction with his eye for substance and style and his skillful explication, prove a heady mix. . . . Thrill Me is comprehensive in its scope, touching on most of the important pieces of storycraft from stylistic choices to character development . . . with character and vigor, and with a joyful populist tone." -- Electric Literature " Thrill Me turns the interior, plodding process of writing into a heart-pounding read, and imparts some excellent lessons along the way." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "Who would not want to keep company with the muscular imagination of Benjamin Percy while he ransacks literature, film, and music? . . . The book is rich with examples--and Percy himself makes a stirring and committed coach." --Ron Carlson "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis, "[A] lively, helpful guide. . . . [Percy] provides precise advice concerning basics like suspense, setting, and style. . . . His evocative personal anecdotes invigorate even familiar material. . . . In each essay we glimpse an industrious Percy at the daily grind of writing, rereading and editing his fiction. . . . . Beyond craft or theory, and perhaps more helpful than any advice, this book serves as a reminder that writing is hard work." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Benjamin Percy] peppers his observations of today's literary scene with homey, witty anecdotes, and he couches his analysis in no-nonsense wisdom. . . . Not only does he frame the ins and outs of the writing process with warm, wry reminiscences drawn from his own life, he refuses to lapse into stereotypical preciousness or pretentiousness. He talks bluntly and amiably about how stories work and why they matter, an approach that doesn't take a fellow writer to appreciate." --NPR Books "[Benjamin Percy] demonstrates he's one of contemporary fiction's sharper critical minds, an author with a rare talent for explaining his craft. . . . Thrill Me is packed with concise, practicable counsel." -- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "[ Thrill Me ] is a fine choice for readers and writers looking for a holistic take on writing that spans genres and styles." --Tor.com "Percy dives in head first, and his enthusiasm, in conjunction with his eye for substance and style and his skillful explication, prove a heady mix. . . . Thrill Me is comprehensive in its scope, touching on most of the important pieces of storycraft from stylistic choices to character development . . . with character and vigor, and with a joyful populist tone." -- Electric Literature "Expertly balanced, extensively researched, and written in a vibrant, demanding style that can offer you a flower as easily as punch you in the gut. . . . Everyone can learn from [Benjamin] Percy's essays." -- Kenyon Review " Thrill Me turns the interior, plodding process of writing into a heart-pounding read, and imparts some excellent lessons along the way." -- Washington Independent Review of Books " Thrill Me offers a concise, lucid anatomy of the bones that support narratives ranging from Jaws to Blood Meridian ." -- Locus Magazine "Percy's essays skillfully dissect the structure, mechanics, and concrete details of what makes good writing sparkle." -- Publishers Weekly "Now we all have the opportunity to learn from Percy, whose genre-busting, electrifying fiction is opening doors for a new generation of writers. . . . This book also reads like a sly memoir, with the killer ratio of brilliant mind to generous heart. Warmly personal and deviously scholarly, Thrill Me is terrific." --Karen Russell "Who would not want to keep company with the muscular imagination of Benjamin Percy while he ransacks literature, film, and music? . . . The book is rich with examples--and Percy himself makes a stirring and committed coach." --Ron Carlson "The magnificent Benjamin Percy has written a warm, personal and deeply considered book on the nature of storytelling, genre and fiction that I recommend unreservedly. It laughs and snarls and sparks fire in the mind. Masterful." --Warren Ellis

Dewey Edition23

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal808.3

SynopsisBold new essays on how to craft a thrilling read--in any genre--from the bestselling author of The Dead Lands Anyone familiar with the meteoric rise of Benjamin Percy's career will surely have noticed a certain shift: After writing two short-story collections and a literary novel, he delivered the werewolf thriller Red Moon and the postapocalyptic epic The Dead Lands. Now, in his first book of nonfiction, Percy challenges the notion that literary and genre fiction are somehow mutually exclusive. The title essay is an ode to the kinds of books that make many readers fall in love with fiction: science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, horror, from J.R.R. Tolkien to Anne Rice, Ursula K. Le Guin to Stephen King. Percy's own academic experience banished many of these writers in the name of what is "literary" and what is "genre." Then he discovered Michael Chabon, Aimee Bender, Cormac McCarthy, Margaret Atwood, and others who employ techniques of genre fiction while remaining literary writers. In fifteen essays on the craft of fiction, Percy looks to disparate sources such as Jaws , Blood Meridian , and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to discover how contemporary writers engage issues of plot, suspense, momentum, and the speculative, as well as character, setting, and dialogue. An urgent and entertaining missive on craft, Thrill Me brims with Percy's distinctive blend of anecdotes, advice, and close reading, all in the service of one dictum: Thrill the reader.

LC Classification NumberPN3355