Justin Herrmann - working-class lives and characters in Antarctica, Alaska, and all the hot and cold places in-between. Do Herrmann's tragicomic characters prove that the best humorous writing has a serious side, or that serious writing is better when it makes you laugh?

Justin Herrmann, Highway One, Antarctica, Madhat Press, 2014.
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Highway 1, Antarctica is Justin Herrmann's debut collection of short fiction, describing working-class lives and characters in Antarctica, Alaska, and all the hot and cold places in-between. In the words of Richard Chiappone, "Justin Herrmann's voice stands out like a boulder anchored to the beach by authenticity and empathy. His working-class characters live just out of reach of contemporary middle-class life-and love. And Herrmann writes their stories with the respectful honesty of a guy who knows what it's like to work the late shift with an aching heart.




"Justin Hermann is one of the best new voices in short fiction—deep and entertaining as hell, with many funny lines, unexpected turns of events, and great insights. Wonderful stories: each one is a trip!"—Josip Novakovich


 "As waves of new stories wash over the reading world day after day, Justin Herrmann's voice stands out like a boulder anchored to the beach by authenticity and empathy. His working class characters live just out of reach of contemporary middle class life—and love. And Herrmann writes their stories with the respectful honesty of a guy who knows what it's like to work the late shift with an aching heart."—Richard Chiappone


"Highway One, Antarctica is a wonderful debut by a writer with razor-sharp insights to the human condition. Justin Herrmann is a voice I hope to hear more from, and soon. Excellent collection."—Jo-Ann Mapson


"For such funny stories, Herrmann's stories are terribly sad—wistful and droll, they're honest coming-of-age tales set in outlandish places, proving that youth is always young, and sometimes wise."—Beth Lordan


"Do Justin Herrmann's tragicomic characters prove that the best humorous writing has a serious side, or that serious writing is better when it makes you laugh? From Antarctica (where Herrmann worked as a janitor) to touristy Tombstone Arizona, wherever there is a loveable loser, Herrmann is there. Thanks to these fine, funny and a tender tales, you can be to. Let’s hope that this collection is just the tip of Herrmann's literary iceberg. Here's a book that your twentysomething son will enjoy reading as much as you do."—Heather Lende