by Lee Child
First published 2020
This collection cannot be written from inside a single story because it is an anthology of multiple independent stories by different authors. The book features sixteen brand-new stories exploring nicotine's role in human experience. Joyce Carol Oates, Jonathan Ames, Eric Bogosian, Hannah Tinti, Cara Black, and eleven other writers examine the drug's complex relationship with their characters. Each story takes a different approach to the subject matter. The authors explore moral questions surrounding nicotine use in contemporary society, where the substance has become as forbidden as harder drugs. The literary styles vary across the collection, reflecting each writer's unique voice and perspective. Lee Child assembled these tales as part of Akashic's Drug Chronicles Series, which previously covered speed, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. The stories reveal nicotine's multiple identities and effects on human behavior.
Genres: fiction, short-stories, addiction, contemporary, social-issues
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: anthology, multiple-perspectives
288 pages · Paperback · Akashic Books
Content warnings: drug-use