Fearless Warriors
Fearless Warriors is a full frontal assault on stereotypes and an edifying affirmation of humanity. These dramatic, chilling, tragic, shocking, tender and affirmative stories of Native people caught between two cultures each take on a cliché of the “common sense understandings” between contemporary Native and non-Native peoples, yet Taylor’s deconstructions are suffused with his incomparable sardonic wit, his tremendous gifts as a storyteller, and his gentle and generous humour. No quarter is given, nor taken — Native stereotypes of white culture are as fair a species of game for this writer as any other. More than anything else, these stories shine with a wisdom of understanding of the human condition which is rare among writers of Taylor’s age. Ultimately, they become bridges of understanding between cultures, giving access to the inexplicable actions of characters at the distant edges of our imaginations—even just one of the stories, “The Boy in the Ditch,” does more to illuminate the horrors of the pre-teen gasoline sniffing culture of Davis Inlet than any number of Royal Commissions will ever do.
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Reviews
…his intriguing style and his willingness to share his innermost thoughts help to make Drew Taylor’s work a winner in this reviewer’s eyes…stories that are not only unusual, unique and uncanny, buy thought-provoking, stimulating and nostalgic. Taylor’s realistic storytelling ability pulls no punches in its recollection of the way it was or could have been – if these stories are really true. The realism of Taylor’s writing technique will have every reader wondering whether or not any or all of the events in these fantastic stories ever really happened…Full of puns, winding roads and brilliant, if not startling conclusions, Taylor relates the stories as though they were coming from his own personal experiences. There’s a little tragedy and a little triumph and a great deal of irony and it’s a hundred to one odds that anyone who reads FEARLESS WARRIORS will recognize a little of themselves in at least one of the characters.”
“…a compact bundle of humour, sensitivity and wisdom. A book to be enjoyed by readers of all ages…hard to put down…it’s fun, it’s funny, it’s poignant, it’s sensitive. You catch yourself smiling alone in a room…Drew bravely and masterfully touches up all of his stories with humour where one usually would not find it.”
If these works have anything in common, it is that they come from an unexpected source, from places about which one cannot make easy assumptions…The narrator’s voice is, in contrast, gentle, unemphatic, ironic; sometimes speaking with a forthright underdog gallows humour, and sometimes with depth and subtlety…Relationships and lines of communications are constantly queried. No one and nothing is allowed to settle into stasis.”
“…a collection of twelve engaging tales…As in his plays, the main strength here is Taylor’s unique voice. He uses his very dry and sardonic wit to cajole the reader’s admission and recognition of some of our species strangest behaviour. Taylor’s tales are made rich through the very real and engaging characters….(Taylor’s main character) moves through life with a bemused resignation and sense of humour that allows him to ride the line of sanity. Taylor’s significance as a native writer stems from his ability to draw attention to serious issues in a playful way that makes the reader want to listen. He encourages us to chuckle at ourselves and the strange and sometimes misguided things we do. FEARLESS WARRIORS is a thoroughly enjoyable book from an excellent storyteller. Drew Hayden Taylor has proven himself to be an artist unbound by genres and always entertaining.”
Andrew is sympathetic, sarcastic, ironic and emotionally invested with his friends and neighbours…These stories are full of such whimsical (and often heart wrenching) forays into the lives of characters…These stories delight me as that visitor…We are delighted by Andrew’s satirical remarks as much as we recognize the force and subtlety behind his insightful barbs…This is an intriguing and astonishing narrative. The relationship between narrator and his characters and between narrator and the constructed narratee remains a rich and effective one….It is the narrative of the expected and the surprised, of the hidden tale and the abrupt revelation of the mystery that is story.”
“Sometimes there is a clash, sometimes there is light created by the meetings, but always there is a perceptive and compassionate insight into the lives of the people, Native and non-Native, presented in these stories…”Ice Screams” is one of the best stories I’ve ever read about dealing with death and its aftermath of loss and nightmare. While all the stories have characters who are Native, the themes are universal; they are about the human condition…worth the effort needed to find this book and read it!”
“The stories are characterized by wit and gentle, generous humour…through it all runs a positive and lighthearted affirmation of humanity, despite, intrinsic frailties and overwhelming external odds…they are rescued from (cliche) by Taylor’s keen observations, witty comments, and compassionate style…one of the most powerful and moving themes of the book is the adoption of babies out of the community by an alien and all-powerful bureaucracy.”
“…laced with irony, love, and anger – the last generally understated but powerful nonetheless…the young people of these stories are fearless warriors in a way, true to their perceptions, stepping carefully around the dangers all around, walking into the future with clear eyes.”
…have a realistic cast of characters and compelling situations. These stories are complete with endings that derive naturally from the character’s actions and the situations…older teens will enjoy these stories for their authentic characters and unsentimental portrayal of the responsibilities of friendship and family ties. As well, the book would be a useful addition to collections needing material with a realistic treatment of the lives of Native Canadians.”
“The funniest situations, unfortunately, are those borne from somebody’s misfortune, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Taylor has written a collection of short stories that examines pain, without mining it for pain…. It’s this direct tone that gives these stories their incredible impact. Whether he’s telling you about crippling a deer with his car, hooking his grandmother up with an old flame, or watching a childhood friend drown in a frozen lake, Andrew never wavers in his honesty or his humanity. He’s like a reporter broadcasting form a war zone, but the casualties are his family and friends and not strangers in a foreign land…. Taylor’s collections of stories will make you cringe, cry and when you really need it, laugh a little…The characters he’s created are people we’ve all met, loved, lost and never forgot.”
[Taylor] proves himself as fine a storyteller as playwright…they are chilling and dramatic but always underlined with humour, and the characters are so real you will swear you know them.”
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