Black Jesus and Other Superheroes: Stories (Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction)

"Winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, Black Jesus and Other Superheroes chronicles ordinary people achieving vivid extrasensory perception while under extreme pain. The stories tumble into a universe of the jaded & the hopeful, in which men & women burdened with unwieldy & undesirable superhuman abilities are nonetheless resilient in subtle & startling ways. Venita Blackburn's characters hurl themselves toward the inevitable fates they might rather wish away. Their stories play with magic without the sparkle, glaring at the internal machinations of the human spirit. Fragile symbols for things such as race, sexuality, & love are lifted, decorated, & exposed to scrutiny & awe like so many ruins of our imagination. Through it all Blackburn's characters stumblealong currents of language both thoughtful & hilarious."°°° Venita Blackburn is the author of the story collection Black Jesus & Other Superheroes, which won the Prairie Schooner Book Prize & was a finalist for the 2018 Young Lions Fiction Award & the PEN/Robert W. Bingham. Winner Of The Prairie Schooner Book Prize In Fiction, Black Jesus And Other Superheroes Chronicles Ordinary People Achieving Vivid Extrasensory Perception While Under Extreme Pain. The Stories Tumble Into A Universe Of The Jaded And The Hopeful, In Which Men And Women Burdened With Unwieldy And Undesirable Superhuman Abilities Are Nonetheless Resilient In Subtle And Startling Ways. Venita Blackburn's Characters Hurl Themselves Toward The Inevitable Fates They Might Rather Wish Away. Their Stories Play With Magic Without The Sparkle, Glaring At The Internal Machinations Of The Human Spirit. Fragile Symbols For Things Such As Race, Sexuality, And Love Are Lifted, Decorated, And Exposed To Scrutiny And Awe Like So Many Ruins Of Our Imagination. Through It All Blackburn's Characters Stumblealong Currents Of Language Both Thoughtful And Hilarious.-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Acknowledgments -- Black Jesus -- Brim -- A Savior, Belief, Tupac, And Balloons -- We Buy Gold -- The Hurt Will Make You Stronger -- Chew -- Take Me To The Water -- In The Middle Of Everything There Are Ribbons Of Light -- String Theory -- A Brief Excerpt From The History Of Salt -- Ephemeros -- Dog People -- Barbers -- End Of The World -- Ways To Mourn An Asshole -- Rites -- They Only Look Like They're Smiling -- The Immolator -- There Are No Ninjas In The End -- Hold 'til Warm -- Ravished -- Not Like You, Not At All -- The Annie Oakley Gun Training For Women -- Scars -- Run Away Screaming. Venita Blackburn. 2018 PEN America Literary Award Winner–Los Angeles Winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, Black Jesus and Other Superheroes chronicles ordinary people achieving vivid extrasensory perception while under extreme pain. The stories tumble into a universe of the jaded and the hopeful, in which men and women burdened with unwieldy and undesirable superhuman abilities are nonetheless resilient in subtle and startling ways. Venita Blackburn's characters hurl themselves toward the inevitable fates they might rather wish away. Their stories play with magic without the sparkle, glaring at the internal machinations of the human spirit. Fragile symbols for things such as race, sexuality, and love are lifted, decorated, and exposed to scrutiny and awe like so many ruins of our imagination. Through it all Blackburn's characters stumble along currents of language both thoughtful and hilarious. "Winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, Black Jesus and Other Superheroes chronicles ordinary people achieving vivid extrasensory perception while under extreme pain. The stories tumble into a universe of the jaded and the hopeful, in which men and women burdened with unwieldy and undesirable superhuman abilities are nonetheless resilient in subtle and startling ways. Venita Blackburn's characters hurl themselves toward the inevitable fates they might rather wish away. Their stories play with magic without the sparkle, glaring at the internal machinations of the human spirit. Fragile symbols for things such as race, sexuality, and love are lifted, decorated, and exposed to scrutiny and awe like so many ruins of our imagination. Through it all Blackburn's characters stumble along currents of language both thoughtful and hilarious."-- Provided by publisher "Winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, Black Jesus and Other Superheroes chronicles ordinary people achieving vivid extrasensory perception while under extreme pain. The stories tumble into a universe of the jaded and the hopeful, in which men and women burdened with unwieldy and undesirable superhuman abilities are nonetheless resilient in subtle and startling ways. Venita Blackburn's characters hurl themselves toward the inevitable fates they might rather wish away. Their stories play with magic without the sparkle, glaring at the internal machinations of the human spirit. Fragile symbols for things such as race, sexuality, and love are lifted, decorated, and exposed to scrutiny and awe like so many ruins of our imagination. Through it all Blackburn's characters stumblealong currents of language both thoughtful and hilarious."-- Résumé de l'éditeur Alors qu'il fouille des ruines dans la jungle, Carlos tombe dans un grand trou. Il appelle la Pat' Patrouille au secours, mais un autre chien va lui venir en aide : il s'appelle Tracker. Avec ce nouveau membre de la patrouille, toute l'équipe va essayer de résoudre le mystère de la jungle. [4ème de couverture] Alors qu'il fouille des ruines dans la jungle, Carlos tombe dans un grand trou et appelle la Pat' Patrouille au secours. Mais un autre chien va lui venir en aide : il s'appelle Tracker. Avec ce nouveau membre de la patrouille, toute l'quipe va essayer de rsoudre le mystre de la jungle.