To Build a Fire and Other Stories (Bantam Classics) Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 1986

Writing a good short story is one of the most difficult artistic tasks for a writer. Jack London (1876-1916) San Francisco native is an exemplar of the art. London was a sailor, hobo, world traveler, fisherman and many other professions. Firstly though, he was the most famous author of his day. London wrote such classic novels as The Sea Wolf,. The Call of the Wild, Martin Eden and White Fang. I enjoy these novels but also love his short tales of the North and South Seas. In this inexpensive Signet Classic you will discover twenty-five of his all time best short fiction. The first twelve stores are selected Klondike stories including the classic To Build a Fire tale. In these stories you will meet huskie dogs, prospectors and explore Native Alaskan Indian culture. In part two of the book the author takes us to the South Seas. Stories range from a lepers in Hawaii, to Chinese coolies to criminals working as slaves in the Solomon Islands. Most of these stories are characterized by:a. Strong evidence of London's belief in nature as tooth and claw survival. The strong survive and prey on the weak.b. London looks at the plight of the industrial factory workers fighting to unionize and make life better for themselves and their families.c. The racial prejudices of the time are on full display as the white men in the stories often disparage and mistreat those of other races.d. Violence, cruelty and death pervade these pages.e. Two stories focus on boxing stories. London had been an amateur boxer in his younger days.f. The theme of Man against Nature is witnesses in many of the stories. Jack London's works are strong stuff and not suited to everyone's taste. I enjoyed them and recommend this book!

Enjoying reading Jack London's classic work now that I'm old and just stay at home a lot scrunched up in the recliner. His writing style takes some getting used to but once you do, it's a treat for the mind and imagination. He's an artist with words instead of a brush. I really like this collection of his work and recommend it to get your mind off your own troubles.

Hard to beat Jack London as a storyteller. His subject matter may not interest everyone, but he should interest would-be writers. He knew his storytelling craft so they can read this and learn from a master.

Here are tales of great struggles of men and women in a hostile environment. London's wonderful descriptive prose is a delight. My stepson gave me a very well worn paperback copy of this a few years ago and I read every story. I was thinking of the title story the other day and I remembered how easy it is to download books from Amazon to my kindle.

This is awesome and highly recommended reading. Each story is exceptionally written. There is such variety in this collection. It is hard to pick a favorite. I am looking forward to reading more of Jack London’s works.

What an awesome range of short stories. They go from the arctic to the tropics. Each one is powerful on its own but together they are really a tremendous collection. Jack London reminds me of Hemingway in his tales of adventure and humanity. The writing is both elegant and accessible. Great stuff.

Brilliant, classic stories from the 19th century Yukon. Told with relish and from firsthand experience. Even the most far-fetched story is completely believable simply because the telling is so down to earth, so true. Each story is a cameo, a snapshot of a time and place which were unique, unrepeatable. Although the title piece, To Build a Fire is considered London's masterpiece, all the stories in this collection are gripping and memorable.

nothing like his other books which were brilliant. would not recommend. No wonder the NYPL did not even carry it

The short stories in this collection are superb highlights of the US literary scene.Their main themes are all too human: the (uneven) fight between the white and yellow man, the fight against raw capitalism, debt, Age, the harsh environment and the gratuitous violence in man, the fight for property, women, trade, money (gold) and freedom.True comradeshipFor Jack London, the solution to eradicate all the violent fighting is true comradeship: `Nature has no concern for that concrete thing called the individual. Her interest lays in the species' (The Law of Life) 'Unselfishness, forbearance and tolerance. Thus only can (man) gain that pearl of great price - true comradeship' (In a Far Country).Men who believe that they can make it alone are in great danger or die (To Build a Fire, All Gold Canyon, In a Far Country, The Wisdom of the Trail, The White Silence, War).People have to live in tribes (The Strength of the Strong). Labor should organize itself in unions (South of the Slot) against raw capitalism (The Apostate: `two dollars a week, the difference between acute starvation and chronic underfeeding'); and, if no peaceful solution is possible, then revolution (The Mexican).The yellow man and white immoralities`The white man came on the breath of death. All time was it trade. We sold meat for watches with broken guts. And then came the famine' (The League of the Old Men).Justice for the yellow man was inexistent, but revenge loomed around the corner (The Chinago, Mauki, The League of the Old Men).The Laws of the white and the yellow man were not the same: for a white man the firstborn took everything (An Odyssey to the North).Christian missionaries preached in a country where there was no god. `The love of race tradition that they were brave enough not to live at the price of shame' (The God of their fathers). `What did these preachers of the word of God and the word of Rum give us for the land? Have you received one dollar? (Koolau the Leper).Age, debt, women, animalsIn `A Piece of Steak', a prize-fighter fights against his age.In `The Water Baby' a man fights cleverly against the sharks. But, in `Bâtard' a dog is man's best friend.`The Wit of Porportuk' tells the story of the auction of a young girl in order to pay back debt.Universal brotherhoodUltimately, Jack London dreams of interstellar brotherhood: `the enormous sphere should contain vast histories, profounds of research, laws and formulae that would make man's life on earth spring up from its present mire to inconceivable heights of purity and power. It was Time's greatest gift to blindfold, insatiable, and sky-aspiring man. This message from man's interstellar kin' (The Red One).These powerful stories are a must read for all lovers of world literature.

Brilliant writer: with assorted excellent stories of Man, Nature and The Elements.

Fixes the reader in a glue of mounting tension, describes a state of accruing anxiety that boarders on panic-perhaps from his own drug/alcohol induced experiences.Short stories demand the highest skills of an author-this doesn't disappoint.

Beautiful book!

Nice short stories and easy to read