If one combined a healthy serving of North American tall tales with a generous portion of Norman MacLean's A River Runs Through It, the tantalizing mixture would resemble these three delectable novellas. Within this rich blend of naturalism touched by mystery, the exhilarating landscapes of Montana, upstate New York, and northern Michigan inform the book as fully as the human principals. "Mahatma Joe" presents a failed evangelist acting out metaphors in pursuit of salvation: he literally skates on thin ice in the dark while attempting to sow a garden. In "Field Events," a gentle giant, who exercises by lifting cows, energizes a burnt-out school teacher. The title story sends a lovelorn, has-been athlete to face unexpected revelations in the course of a remarkable all-night fishing party. Known for his prize short stories and nature writing ( Oil Notes, Houghton, 1990; Ninemile Wolves, LJ 5/15/92), Bass demonstrates here his mastery of longer fiction. Recommended for all collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/93. - Starr E. Smith, Fairfax Cty. P. L., Va. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
