In der Titelstory lernt der in Sachen Fleisch unbedarfte Held eine Veganerin kennen, befreit ihr zuliebe tollkühn Tausende von Truthähnen und muß am Ende zu der Erkenntnis gelangen, daß manchmal nichts über einen saftigen Hamburger geht. Mike Bender, erfolgreicher Immobilienmakler, erfüllt sich seinen Kindheitstraum vom Jagen wilder Tiere auf »Puffs Afrika-Großwildranch«. Als er jedoch Auge in Auge mit dem alten Zirkuslöwen jämmerlich danebenschießt, wird er von schweren Komplexen heimgesucht. Baumeister Willis wird mit zwei elementaren Gewalten konfrontiert: der eruptiven Wut seiner Gefährtin Muriel angesichts des falschen Frühstücksbrotes sowie dem Hurrican Leroy, der ihn auf dem Weg zur Post überrascht ... Die Decke der Zivilisation ist dünn über den Abgründen dieser Geschichten – Geschichten über Exzesse, Mordlust, Sehnsucht und Gier.

As usual, T.C. Boyle is phenomenal. No one else could write a story about football and make me care this much. This story is perfect! The stunners in this collection: 56-0, The Fog Man, Sitting on Top of the World, Big Game, Back in the Eocene, Carnal Knowledge. Second tier of greatness that I can't not mention: Filthy with Things, Top of the Food Chain, Without A Hero, Little America. But as usual, I enjoy each story. And as usual, my least favorite stories are the ones that just don't contain enough detail for me. Over the last two years, I've read the entirety of the massive first collection of short story collections and I still want MORE. I think the first four of his short story collections descend in greatness, but only by a slim margin with 'Descent of Man' definitely being the favorite collection. Mr. Boyle, always the genius. I'm so glad he writes so much. If I could only read one writer's books, Boyle would be it. ( )

As with all his short story collection, Boyle creates many compelling worlds, characters and situations. And the beauty of short stories is that, although some may not pan out over the long haul, they are perfect for their own little niche of 15-20 pages. ( )

The story collection Without a Hero once again demonstrates T.C. Boyle's uncanny ability to squander his God-given resources. Like most of his earlier story collections, it's a grab bag of both keen insights into the American ethos and botched attempts at politically incorrect satire.

Full review: http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/reviews/boyle2.cfm