One of the main ideas behind the Outdoor Sporting Library has been my desire to help resurrect the lost works of outdoor sporting fiction. In “The Demise of American Sporting Fiction“, I wrote about how the Golden Age of such works has long been over, and we’re in an era where folks don’t consume outdoor fiction like they did in the past, leaving precious few writers around to keep the art alive.
I’ve been somewhat optimistic about the resurgence in sporting fiction, and so is Dave Fisher. In fact, Dave is more than optimistic – he believes there is a demand for quality outdoor fiction and has committed himself to writing what he calls “stories we grew up on”. Dave contacted me about his new book, “Cold Blows the Tundra Wind”, and I’m excited to give it a read. Here’s more from his website, davepfisher.com:
If you are over 50 years old, an outdoorsman from the time you could cast a fishing line, and were an adventurous youth then chances are you grew up reading great novels by outdoor story masters like Jack London, James Oliver Curwood, or Charley Niehuis’ Trapping the Silver Beaver and Jane and Paul Annixter’s novels, in particular Windigo and Swiftwater, which I read so many times the pages wore out.
Do you ever wonder why you can’t find stories like that anymore? Featuring healthy, functional families, honor, courage, and men of strong moral fiber who stood up against their opposition, solved the crime and exposed the mystery. These stories we grew up on and wish our children and grandchildren could read. Where did they go?
They disappeared under the modern barrage of urbanized America, young people who play video games hour-upon-hour rather than wander the woods and streams, a society and media that espouses that hunting, fishing, and men and women following these pursuits are warped, perverted individuals, young people discouraged from becoming outdoor sportsmen.
These same societal influences, with literary publishers being among the worst, encourage people to indulge in degrading personal relationships, immoral pursuits, and self-indulgent behavior. They espouse that courage, honor, and moral fiber are old fashioned ideas best avoided as they will make you weird and not fit in with modern society.They are right about one thing – those are old fashioned ideas, and it is time for them to make a comeback, and they are, little-by-little. I have always held on to those old fashioned ideas and you will find them all through my stories. What you won’t find is pornographic prose, profanity, and gruesome graphic violence.
Now, beginning with Cold Blows the Tundra Wind, the outdoor adventure – crime –mystery – suspense novel is back. Stories fit for young and old to read and enjoy over and again. Published by Double Diamond Books. They will be available in eBook for Kindle and in print.
These novels are steadily moving contemporary mystery/crime stories set in Alaska or the Western states rather than the usual big city and international locations. These will be in places home-grown Americans will recognize as just down the road, whether they live in the West or not. The protagonists will be men of good moral fiber, yet very human – not super heroes or unnatural geniuses. Families will be healthy and their courage in adversity will hold them together.
My experiences as a lifelong outdoorsman, guide, horsepacker, hunter, trapper, and fisherman in Alaska and several other western states lend authenticity to the stories. In addition, my years as a Deputy Sheriff give me an insight to the legal system and police procedures that are woven through the stories.
The stories reflect old fashioned values, yet incorporate 21st Century technology such as aircraft, cell phones, surveillance electronics, DNA testing, and lab analysis of evidence.
Thankfully, a good number of young people still adhere to the “old fashioned” as do their families. So, for them, and all us old timers who grew up on good stories, these novels are for you. Pass them on to your children and grandchildren.
If you prefer a novel filled with pornographic prose and graphic degenerate detail, if you feel that a story filled with profanity reflects “real people” then you are in the wrong place. That would be down the street, in the alley.
For the rest of us – you are in the right place. – Dave P. Fisher
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