KNOCKOUT

This American Life, McSweeney's, and One-Story contributor John Jodzio's new story collection features drifters, loners, thieves, addicts, and doomed lovers whose lives are stuck on the wrong side of the tracks, but they dream big and fearless, nonetheless.

Knockout is the unified collection of stories that create flawless portraits of deeply flawed figures on the edge of the American Dream. A recovering drug addict gets tricked into stealing a tiger. A man buys a used sex chair from his neighbor. A woman suffering from agoraphobia raises her son completely indoors. An alcoholic runs a bed and breakfast with the son from his deceased wife's first marriage. These people will admit that their chances have passed them by These people know they were born on the wrong side of the tracks, and their dreams will remain unreachable, but that doesn't stop them from dreaming Yet readers won’t be fooled by the funny premises —Jodzio steers these stories into deeper places, creating a brilliant examination of those on the fringes of modern life.

With its quirky humor, compelling characters, and unexpected sincerity, Knockout by John Jodzio is poised to become his breakout book, drawing a wide readership to this provocative and talented young writer.

John Jodzio is a winner of the Loft-McKnight Fellowship and the author of the story collection If You Lived Here You’d Already Be Home (Replacement Press 2010) praised by Dan Chaon, Hannah Tinti, Chuck Klosterman, and Fred Armisen.