An artful western saga set in austere central and eastern Washington where towns were flooded…
Small Game by Blair Braverman
Abandoned in a remote North American forest a small group of reality TV contestants try to survive.
The secret to survival Mara thought, was that is was hard to die. Even if you gave in, gave up, just sat there and waited for it. You could be waiting a long time.
A reality TV show called Civilization sought to bring collaborating contestants together to rebuild society and survive on their own for six weeks. Whoever lasted got paid. Mara, a survival guide for the wealthy, wanted the money; it was her way out of a relationship and an off-grid life she no longer wanted. She had skills and patience enough to last. Trouble arose when the crew didn’t return on schedule leaving her unwatched with her fellow fledgling civilians.
Braverman’s experience in and love of the outdoors was apparent on every page. The imagery was crisp and tangible. The mundanity of danger lent credibility; a simple act of exploration could be safe in a backyard but deadly in isolation.
The story critiqued modern entertainment and the romanticized ideals of returning to nature. Genuine wilderness has always been risky. Yet, humans continue to return to this peril for respite and escape. Only some understand its gravity.
Skillfully narrated by Kristen Sieh.
Geographical Link: Washington state, and a boreal forest somewhere in North America | Publisher: HapperCollins/Echo | Published: 2022
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