The Speed Chronicles

Deprived of the ingrained romantic mysticism of the opiate or the cosmopolitan chic of cocaine or the mundane tolerance of marijuana, there is no sympathy for this devil. Yet speed – crystal meth, amphetamines, Dexedrine, Benzedrine, Adderall; crank, spizz, chickenscratch, oblivious marching powder, the go-fast – is the most American of drugs: twice the productivity at half the cost, and equal opportunity for all. It feels so good and hurts so bad.The first contemporary collection of all new literary short fiction on the drug from an array of today's most compelling and respected authors. These are no stereotypical tales of tweakers – the element of crime and the bleary-eyed, shaky zombies at dawn are here right alongside heart-wrenching narratives of everyday people, good intentions gone terribly awry, the skewed American Dream going up in flames, and even some accounts of pure joy.Featuring brand-new stories by: James Franco, Sherman Alexie, William T. Vollmann, Megan Abbott, Jerry Stahl, Beth Lisick, Jess Walter, Scott Phillips, James Greer, Tao Lin, Joseph Mattson, Natalie Diaz, Kenji Jasper, and Rose Bunch.CONTENTSHow to Go to Dinner With a Brother On Drugs –

Natalie DiazWar Cry –

Sherman AlexieBad – J

erry StahlLabiodental Fricative –

Scott PhillipsOsito –

Kenji JasperAmp is the First Word in Amphetamine –

Joseph MattsonAddiction –

James FrancoWheelbarrow Kings –

Jess WalterTips 'n' Things by Elayne –

Beth LisickPissing in Perpetuity –

Rose Bunch51 Hours –

Tao LinEverything I Want –

Megan AbbottThe Speed of Things –

James GreerNo Matter How Beautifully It Stings –

William T. Vollmann