In this Book
- Stories From Under The Sky
- Book
- 1998
- Published by: University of Iowa Press
- Series: Bur Oak Books
summary
In Stories from under the Sky, John Madson salutes the outdoor life. These thirty-six essays display his healthy respect for the forces of nature, without diminishing his wry awareness of the foibles of beast, bird, fish, and human.
In sections on mammals, the river, and birds, Madson acquaints readers with some real characters—not all of them four-footed! Some are old favorites: the raccoon, the otter, the fawn, and the badger. Others are less familiar—the demonic shrew, the indomitable dogfish, and the exotic blue heron. Even the “unloved” come in for their share of attention: toads, waterbugs, wasps, and turkey buzzards. Madson has a yarn to spin about each one. Where else would you find an essay on “Snake Liars”?
Whatever the topic, Madson’s love of nature shines through, be it coon hunting or an explanation of the incredible bird machine. His obvious affection is tempered with the recognition that not everything “natural” is a pretty sight. All of which leaves readers with a better understanding of life under the sky.
Table of Contents
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- Mammalia
- The Thimble Mill Fox
- pp. 11-16
- Little Brother to the Bear
- pp. 17-23
- A Songdog at Work
- pp. 24-25
- Half-ounce Heller
- pp. 27-36
- Sleepers and Snoozers
- pp. 37-42
- The Fighting Doormat
- pp. 43-48
- Than a Barrel of Monkeys
- pp. 49-54
- The River
- Old Man River's Shell Game
- pp. 67-80
- Outlaw of the Dark Sloughs
- pp. 81-86
- The World of Charley Gibbs
- pp. 87-96
- Aves
- The Gloomiest Bird
- pp. 99-102
- The Grand Passage
- pp. 103-106
- Man and the Mallard
- pp. 107-114
- The Bird Machine
- pp. 115-122
- Child of Adversity
- pp. 123-126
- Heron Summer
- pp. 127-132
- The Unloved
- Br'er Toad's Secret Weapon
- pp. 135-138
- The Turtle Hunters
- pp. 143-150
- Beware the Paper Cities!
- pp. 151-156
- The Locks of Medusa
- pp. 157-164
- Short Arrows from the Long Bow
- The Abashed Savage
- pp. 167-168
- Snake Liars
- pp. 169-170
- The Little Sports
- pp. 171-174
- A Wilderness of Light
- pp. 175-178
- The Unforgettable Feists
- pp. 181-183
- Knife Talk
- pp. 185-186
- Froze Fer Meat
- pp. 187-188
- Romany Rides Again
- pp. 193-198
- The Small Brown Bird
- pp. 199-200
- Outdoor Wishbooks
- pp. 201-202
- A Place To Loaf
- pp. 203-205
Additional Information
ISBN
9781609380304
Related ISBN(s)
9781587295621
MARC Record
OCLC
805830487
Pages
210
Launched on MUSE
2013-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No
Copyright
2006