Out of Idaho surveys life, love, friendship and death in the Mountain West. While the poems reflect the anger and frustration of a young man, the stories are the more nuanced work of someone who's reached maturity. A concluding gazetteer of place names grounds the stories in Idaho's varied landscapes. The works' settings range from family farms to suburban backyards, and from small towns and cities to placid lakes and mountainous wilderness. Puzzlement and fear lurk beneath the surface of the words, particularly when memory is uncertain, and violence is an ever-present danger. Is the ground beneath our feet as level as it appears? Can we count on our friends? Can love be trusted?
