Handsome Johnny: Two Short Stories

This collection of Luke Hartwell's short stories--Jimmy, Michael, Nothing Strikes Back!, Handsome Johnny, Hand, Two Baby Creek, and Toller--showcases his ability to create intriguing characters then tell their stories in a voice so accurate readers are transported. "Jimmy" has been compared favorably to "Brokeback Mountain" for its sparse prose and simple power. "Michael" is simply one of the funniest pieces to appear in the gay literary canon. "Nothing Strikes Back!" is a sweet story of an adolescent boy's infatuation with the somewhat older narrator. "Two Baby Creek" is a brave tale of inter-cultural friendship. "Toller" possesses much of the humor found in "Michael" but also elements of Hartwell's groundbreaking novel Atom Heart John Beloved. "Handsome Johnny" is a brief sequel to that novel. Together, these stories are a testament to Hartwell's engaging style and remarkable voice.