Radio Free Olympia
by Jeffrey Dunn
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Pub Date Oct 10 2023 | Archive Date Nov 10 2023
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Description
HOW DOES ONE FULLY PORTRAY A PLACE?
In Radio Free Olympia, Washington’s wild Olympic Peninsula is embodied through a captivating circle of visionaries and characters. Embark on a riveting journey into this untamed region, where folklore legends and historical icons come to life as Jeffrey Dunn weaves the threads of many voices into a complex ecological tapestry.
Follow the enigmatic Petr, a foundling whose path leads him deep into the heart of the majestic mountain rainforest. Armed with nothing but a pirate radio transmitter, Petr fearlessly broadcasts the forgotten and untamed voices that echo through the wilderness. Venture deeper into this mystical world and encounter Baie, the founder of Wildsisters, a roadhouse home for lost women infused with the essence of cranberries, who offers solace to the lost and wayward souls who cross her path.
When a newborn is kidnapped from this safe haven, Baie and her community of resilient women must unite and summon the strength to recover what has been stolen. Yet, their quest for justice extends beyond the realm of human characters—it must also be served for the fragile flora, the diverse fauna, and the very essence of the rugged terrain.
Marrying prose and poetry, fiction and history, the hard-boiled and the transcendent, Radio Free Olympia invites you to explore the profound interconnectedness between humanity and the natural world, immersing yourself in a land that transcends conventional boundaries.
Advance Praise
“Dunn has crafted a novel unlike anything else that I’ve read this year, and I found myself absolutely falling in love with the Peninsula and its wild, untamed beauty as I devoured this multi-sensory feast of a story. The craftsmanship in the wordplay and scene setting is second to none, offering not only a cinematic vision of this little microcosm of paradise but a real sense of how the ecology, culture, and attitude of the place come together to form their own personality. This is imbued into each of the central characters and adds a new layer of spirit to their personal quests for freedom, belonging, and justice, making you all the more inclined to root for the success of the community as a whole. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Radio Free Olympia to fans of highly original and beautifully penned literary fiction.”
—Readers' Favorite
“The novel’s blending of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the mundane and magical, is ambitious, playful, and at times challenging.”
—PW Booklife
Marketing Plan
- Comprehensive Regional Campaign in the Pacific Northwest
- Broad outreach to Literary media
- Outreach to those who cover books with magical realism, eco-feminism, the effects of climate change, poetry and prose, and stories of place.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781642280951 |
| PRICE | $27.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 404 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Kathryn M, Reviewer
I enjoyed getting to know Petr as a main character, he was a great character to follow through this story. I enjoyed how good everything worked with the story and characters. Jeffrey Dunn has a great writing style and he did everything that I was hoping for.
Reviewer 1191910
Radio Free Olympia is a novel like no other. this is not a story about Petr, not really. It is not a story about Baie, or about Raven, or White Otter, or Bear. this is a story about a place, about the wild and free spirits that live in that place, and it is a story about stories, all connecting even when they are separate.
Follow Petr as he grows up, and follows a dream formed in dreams. follow Baie as she journals her trials and carves out a home of safety. follow Raven as they tell the stories of ancient myth, and White otter as they spin beautiful poems of power.
This is a beautifully written story with a flowing writing style that sucked me in from the get go. with beautiful and powerful poetry interspersed throughout the book, and an engaging storylines that slowly converge. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves good folklore, interesting characters, and a vibe that just screams 'there's something unnatural about that boy.'
Marissa O, Reviewer
In Radio Free Olympia, Jeffrey Dunn weaves an intricate modern folktale uniquely using both poetry and prose I have yet to see before. The group of characters are each unique as we have the tales of Petr, Baie, Raven, the Olympic Peninsula, and many others. The tales of all of these characters especially that of Petr and Baie eventually converge, but I was less worried about how everything would eventually come together and more enjoying being along for the ride.
There are very few novels I read where I’m able to just sit and enjoy as each story gets added onto the other and it’s refreshing. Dunn also used the setting as a character, which made me feel like I was truly along for the adventure with Petr.
Thank you Netgalley and Izzard Ink for the ability to read one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. It’s truly a tale that will stick with me.
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