{"product_id":"the-book-of-duels-flash-fiction-9781571310934","title":"The Book of Duels: Flash Fiction","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFierce, searing, and darkly comical, Garriga's debut collection of short-short fiction depicts historical and imagined duels, re-envisioning in a flash the competing points of motivation--courage and cowardice, honor and vengeance--that lead individuals to risk it all.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this compact collection, \"settling the score\" provides a fascinating apparatus for exploring foundational civilizing ideas. Notions of courage, cowardice, and revenge course through Michael Garriga's flash fiction pieces, each one of which captures a duel's decisive moment from three distinct perspectives: opposing accounts from the individual duelists, followed by the third account of a witness. In razor-honed language, the voices of the duelists take center stage, training a spotlight on the litany of misguided beliefs and perceptions that lead individuals into such conflicts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom Cain and Abel to Andrew Jackson and Charles Dickenson; from John Henry and the steam drill to an alcoholic fighting the bottle: the cumulative effect of these powerful pieces is a probing and disconcerting look at humankind's long-held notions of pride, honor, vengeance, and satisfaction. Meticulously crafted by Garriga, and with stunning illustrations by Tynan Kerr, \u003cem\u003eThe Book of Duels\u003c\/em\u003e is a unique and remarkable debut.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMichael Garriga \u003c\/b\u003e holds a Ph.D. from Florida State University's creative writing program. His short fiction has appeared in \u003ci\u003eNew Letters, Black Warrior Review, storySouth, Southern Review\u003c\/i\u003e, and elsewhere. Garriga lives with his family outside of Cleveland, OH, where he teaches creative writing in the English department at Baldwin Wallace Unversity. \u003ci\u003eThe Book of Duels \u003c\/i\u003e is his first book. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eTynan Kerr \u003c\/b\u003ewas born in St. Paul, MN. He received a B.F.A. from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He currently lives in South Minneapolis.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Milkweed Editions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50873605685522,"sku":"9781571310934","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_0377ab6d-eff6-4d27-8c22-141a947f3e45.jpg?v=1737943515","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-book-of-duels-flash-fiction-9781571310934","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}