Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

The explosive, hotly-anticipated debut novel from the New York Times-bestselling author of Friday Black, about two top women gladiators fighting for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far-removed from America's own. Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly-popular, highly-controversial, profit-raising program in America's increasingly dominant private prison industry. It's the return of the gladiators and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom. In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in death-matches for packed arenas with righteous protestors at the gates. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites. And if all goes well, Thurwar will be free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares to leave her fellow Links, she considers how she might help preserve their humanity, in defiance of these so-called games, but CAPE's corporate owners will stop at nothing to protect their status quo and the obstacles they lay in Thurwar's path have devastating consequences. Moving from the Links in the field to the protestors to the CAPE employees and beyond, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a kaleidoscopic, excoriating look at the American prison system's unholy alliance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration, and a clear-eyed reckoning with what freedom in this country really means from a "new and necessary American voice" (Tommy Orange, The New York Times Book Review).

A Novel

Chain-Gang All-Stars

A piercingly raw debut story collection from a young writer with an explosive voice; a treacherously surreal, and, at times, heartbreakingly satirical look at what it's like to be young and black in America.

Friday Black

Kali Fajardo-Anstine

Yuka Igarashi

Beth Piatote

Sarah Lyn Rogers

The annual--and essential--collection of the newest voices in short fiction, selected this year by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and Beth Piatote.

Who are the most promising short story writers working today? Where do we look to discover the future stars of literary fiction? This book will offer a dozen answers to these questions.

The stories collected here represent the most recent winners of the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers, which recognizes twelve writers who have made outstanding debuts in literary magazines in the previous year. They are chosen by a panel of distinguished judges, themselves innovators of the short story form: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and Beth Piatote. Each piece comes with an introduction by its original editors, whose commentaries provide valuable insight into what magazines are looking for in their submissions, and showcase the vital work they do to nurture literature's newest voices. 

The PEN America Dau Prize

Best Debut Short Stories 2021

Chain Gang All Stars

Enter a world where, watched by millions, prisoners fight like gladiators for the ultimate prize: their freedom. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid's Tale, Squid Game and Watchmen 'Electrifying' GEORGE SAUNDERS 'Awe-inspiring' JESSAMINE CHAN 'A revelation!' TOMMY ORANGE Welcome to Chain-Gang All-Stars, the popular and highly controversial programme inside America's prison system. In packed arenas, watched by millions of live-stream viewers, prisoners compete as gladiators for the ultimate prize: their freedom. Fan favourites Loretta Thurwar and Hamara 'Hurricane Staxxx' Stacker are teammates and lovers. Thurwar is nearing the end of her time on the circuit, free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares for her final encounters, as protestors gather at the gates, and as the programme's corporate owners stack the odds against her - will the price be simply too high? 'Like Orwell's 1984 and Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Adjei-Brenyah's book presents a dystopian vision so...illuminating that it should permanently shift our understanding of who we are and what we're capable of doing.' The Washington Post **A MOST ANTICIPATED TITLE OF 2023 from The Independent, Elle, The Millions, Salon, Washington Post, Seattle Times, Huffington Post, Oprah Daily, The Week, Book Riot, Lit-Reactor, Goodreads, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus AND MANY MORE**

‘An awe-inspiring novel that will be read for generations’ JESSAMINE CHAN

A NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN FICTION • A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two top women gladiators fight for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far-removed from America’s own in this explosive, hotly-anticipated debut novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Friday Black • LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE “This book is so good. Brutal subject matter, beautiful writing. This one is from the heart.” —Stephen King A Best Book of the Year: The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Elle, Esquire, Chicago Tribune, Lit Hub, Kirkus Reviews “Like Orwell’s 1984 and Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Adjei-Brenyah’s book presents a dystopian vision so…illuminating that it should permanently shift our understanding of who we are and what we’re capable of doing.” —The Washington Post She felt their eyes, all those executioners… Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker are the stars of the Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly popular, highly controversial profit-raising program in America’s increasingly dominant private prison industry. It’s the return of the gladiators, and prisoners are com­peting for the ultimate prize: their freedom. In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in death matches before packed arenas with righteous protestors at the gates. Thur­war and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites. And if all goes well, Thurwar will be free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares to leave her fellow Links, Thurwar considers how she might help preserve their humanity, in defiance of these so-called games. But CAPE’s corporate own­ers will stop at nothing to protect their status quo, and the obstacles they lay in Thurwar’s path have devastating consequences. Moving from the Links in the field to the protestors, to the CAPE employees and beyond, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a kaleidoscopic, excoriating look at the American prison system’s unholy alli­ance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration, and a clear-eyed reckoning with what freedom in this country really means from a “new and necessary American voice” (Tommy Orange, The New York Times Book Review).

Chain Gang All Stars: A Read with Jenna Pick

Storys - Der Überraschungsbestseller aus den USA - DEUTSCHSPRACHIGE AUSGABE

Un feroz retrato distópico de la Norteamérica contemporánea. «El debut del año. No puedo aplaudirlo lo suficiente.» Mary Karr «Unos relatos emocionantes y maravillosos.» George Saunders Un centro comercial donde los compradores luchan a muerte para conseguir sus artículos favoritos en las rebajas; un parque temático en el que hombres racistas juegan a tomarse la justicia por su mano; un mundo postapocalíptico donde cada día hay que revivir una catástrofe nuclear en un bucle eterno. Los doce impactantes relatos de este libro son un retrato distópico, demoledor y siempre sorprendente de la Norteamérica actual así como una denuncia sin filtros, satírica y cruda, de la hipocresía y la falta de valores de nuestras sociedades, del absurdo consumismo o de la violencia contra el débil y el diferente. En el corazón de todas estas historias sus protagonistas intentan mantener la sensatez y la humanidad mientras todo se desmorona. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah ha revolucionado el panorama literario actual con este extraordinario debut que se ha convertido en un premiado superventas que no ha dejado de ganar adeptos. Con una imaginación y un talento desbordantes y una mirada renovadora, Adjei-Brenyah sacude al lector y le coloca frente a sus propias contradicciones. «Una poderosa, extraordinaria, inusual y hermosa colección de relatos. Un increíble debut que anuncia una voz nueva y necesaria.» Tommy Orange (New York Times Book Review) «Unos cuentos provocadores y absolutamente fascinantes, con unos narradores decididos e inmensamente entrañables, capaces de ver el mundo como algo bendito y maldito al mismo tiempo.» George Saunders «Friday Black es como una navaja afilada, lista para realizar un corte profundo. Un libro oscuro, cautivador y esencial. (...) Léanlo. Maravíllense con la inteligencia de cada una de las historias.» Roxane Gay

Wanneer een van de twee populairste gladiatoren uit de geprivatiseerde gevangenisindustrie bijna vrij komt, proberen de financiële grootmachten haar tegen te houden om hun eigen belangen te beschermen.

roman

Chain-gang all-stars

She felt their eyes, all those executioners... Enter a world where, watched by millions, prisoners fight like gladiators for the ultimate prize: their freedom. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2023 SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2023 'The new maestro of dystopian lit has arrived' WIRED 'America's new Hunger Games' SUNDAY TIMES 'Criminally entertaining'GUARDIAN Welcome to Chain-Gang All-Stars, the popular and highly controversial programme inside America's private prison system. In packed arenas, live-streamed by millions, prisoners compete as gladiators for the ultimate prize: their freedom. Fan favourites Loretta Thurwar and Hamara 'Hurricane Staxxx' Stacker are teammates and lovers. Thurwar is nearing the end of her time on the circuit, free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares for her final encounters, as protestors gather at the gates, and as the programme's corporate owners stack the odds against her - will the price be simply too high? A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2023 'A pure fire page turner' MAX PORTER 'Electrifying' GEORGE SAUNDERS READERS CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK OF 2023: 'I've waited my whole life for a sapphic Hunger Games!' 'An explosive page-turner that's also a chilling social commentary.' 'This novel is alive and glorious. Give it all the awards.' 'Had me cheering and weeping, unable to tear my eyes from the page.' 'A masterpiece that packs a mighty punch.'

Enter a world where, watched by millions, prisoners fight like gladiators for the ultimate prize: their freedom. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid's Tale, Squid Game and Watchmen **A MOST ANTICIPATED TITLE OF 2023 from The Independent, Elle, The Millions, Salon, Washington Post, Seattle Times, Huffington Post, Oprah Daily, The Week, Book Riot, Lit-Reactor, Goodreads, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus AND MANY MORE** 'Electrifying' GEORGE SAUNDERS 'Awe-inspiring' JESSAMINE CHAN 'A revelation!' TOMMY ORANGE Welcome to Chain-Gang All-Stars, the popular and highly controversial programme inside America's prison system. In packed arenas, watched by millions of live-stream viewers, prisoners compete as gladiators for the ultimate prize: their freedom. Fan favourites Loretta Thurwar and Hamara 'Hurricane Staxxx' Stacker are teammates and lovers. Thurwar is nearing the end of her time on the circuit, free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares for her final encounters, as protestors gather at the gates, and as the programme's corporate owners stack the odds against her - will the price be simply too high? *Roxane Gay's May Selection for the Audacious Book Club* Praise for Nana Adjei-Brenyah's instant New York Times bestseller, Friday Black 'So daring and mind-bending that you haven't a clue where he's going to take you.' Bernardine Evaristo 'A call to arms... Outstanding... Read this book.' Roxanne Gay 'I can't wait to see all of the work he does from here.' Yaa Gyasi

Chain-Gang All-Stars Pod

Romandebuut van de schrijver van Friday Black. In een toekomstige Amerika strijden gevangenen met elkaar op leven en dood in gladiatorachtige wedstrijden met één doel voor ogen: hun vrijheid Loretta Thurwar en Hamara ‘Hurricane Staxxx’ Stacker zijn de grootste sterren van een enorm populair en lucratief programma van de Amerikaanse geprivatiseerde gevangenisindustrie. In uitverkochte arena’s nemen zij en andere gedetineerden deel aan gladiatorachtige wedstrijden op leven en dood, met slechts één doel voor ogen: hun vrijheid. De wrede slachtpartijen worden rechtstreeks gestreamd naar huiskamers in het hele land, waar het bloeddorstige publiek er geen genoeg van kan krijgen. Thurwar en Staxxx zijn zowel teamgenoten als geliefden, en favoriet bij de fans. Als alles goed gaat, zal Thurwar na nog een paar wedstrijden vrijkomen. Maar de bedrijven achter dit vermaak deinzen nergens voor terug om hun financiële belangen te beschermen, en de obstakels die ze voor Thurwar opwerpen hebben dan ook verschrikkelijke gevolgen.

Seria possível encontrar, no futuro próximo, um mundo mais justo e menos selvagem? Reescrever a história, repensar a humanidade sem vícios mortais como o racismo, o consumismo exacerbado, as armas e a crueldade latente? Friday Black, livro de estreia de Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, nos mostra que não. Nesta elogiada coletânea de doze contos definida pelo The Wall Street Journal como "impressionante", tudo parece absurdo à primeira vista. Mas, em seguida, o enredo assume paralelos com a realidade e transporta os leitores de volta a acontecimentos recentes veiculados à exaustão nos noticiários. No conto "Os cinco de Finkelstein", o assassinato de cinco crianças negras na porta de uma biblioteca, seguido do julgamento do perpetrador racista, relembra a história de Trayvon Martin e de outros tantos jovens negros; o atentado em uma escola que coloca dois adolescentes — vítima e algoz — numa discussão post mortem no purgatório é o mote de "Cuspindo luz"; a corrida mortífera de humanos-zumbis pelo consumo na Black Friday, numa elegia ao capitalismo sanguinário e às suas injustas relações de trabalho, se repete nos aterrorizantes "Friday Black", "Como vender uma jaqueta, segundo o Rei do Gelo" e "No varejo". Neste livro, a violência e o grotesco atingem seu nível máximo, sem cortes, como numa caricatura da sociedade moderna. O futuro — uma alegoria do tempo presente — é apresentado em visão panóptica, pela qual quem lê se reconhece como voyeur de algo que gostaria de participar. Em Friday Black, é por meio da barbárie que o ser humano sacia os seus desejos mais irascíveis. Adjei-Brenyah, grande promessa da literatura norte-americana contemporânea, é um radical do absurdo. Com humor mordaz, coloca os leitores em uma situação constrangedora, numa mixórdia de sentimentos que só os grandes escritores conseguem produzir. Não existe alívio. Segundo o próprio autor, "nada é mais chato do que um final feliz", frase que talvez resuma esta obra, reflexo do século 21.

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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