Dark Waters

Description

“Russell Chatham describes with bold eloquence the pleasure and pathos of the so-called blood sports … covers topics such as sex, drugs, eating, friendship and art with a conviction born of irrepressible passion.”—The New York Times

“The half-life of Russell Chatham’s artistic excellence and integrity is like plutonium. It will outlive us all. He inhabited a sphere of passion that was in no way sustainable, a universe of deep joy, even rapture, honed by the infrequent but necessary companion of despair, the latter of which is the inescapable byproduct of any intelligent observation of the world’s current state of affairs. That he did so with humor while serving always beauty, only beauty—like the writings gathered here in Dark Waters—is an extraordinary gift. He lived like how he cooked ducks—hot and fast. A blueprint, I believe, for all of us who remain behind, here in the great burning.”—Rick Bass, author, The Nine Mile Wolves

“Russell Chatham worked and lived across a broad canvas, enriched by his keen powers of observation, wry sense of humor, and consummate sportsmanship. These qualities are showcased in this remarkable collection of beautifully crafted stories. I admired him for many reasons: his impressive body of work, his captivating tales, a life full of sporting endeavors…but perhaps most of all, for ‘never having kissed one undeserving ass.’ His achievements set examples that continue to inspire others—a legacy uniquely exhibited in these pages.”—Stephen Collector, photographer

“With Russell Chatham’s death, we lost a hugely talented individual, someone who was both icon and iconoclast, whose works have had a profound effect on many of us who care about where, why, and how we fish or hunt. The stories and essays collected in Dark Waters remain among the best of sporting literature, and often transcend ‘mere’ sport in how they weave inner life with outer world. If you have not yet read Russ’s writing, you’re in for a treat.”—Richard Anderson, founder, California Fly Fisher