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A FRIEND OF THE EARTH
© T. Coraghessan Boyle, 2000
Printed on acid-free paper

"Ein freund der Erde," published in Germany by Hanser Verlag, Winter 2001; translation by Werner Richter.

"Un Ami de la Terre," published in France by Éditions Grasset, Spring 2001; translation by Robert Pépin.



Dedication: "For Alan Arkawy"


Acknowledgements: "The author would like to thank Marie Alex, Russell Timothy Miller and Richard Goodman for their advice and assistance."


Epigraph: "Every spirit builds itself a house, and beyond its house a world, and beyond its world, a heaven.  Know then that the world exists for you." --Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Nature"

"The earth died screaming
While I lay dreaming..." --Tom Waits, "The Earth Died Screaming"



Amidon, Stephen.  In the future, nature still reigns; "Earth" is winner in this war for the environment. USA Today  28 September 2000.

Bauer, Marilyn.  A Modern-Day friend of  Earth. Environmental News Network 20 November 2000.

Borchert, Thomas. >T.C. Boyle blickt durch Michael Jacksons Brille in Richtung Apokalypse.Surfsaturn no date. 

Bouldrey, Brian. Nature's Got It's Own Problems: Environmentalists cope with ruined ecosystems and vicious lions in a dysopian fantasy. San Francisco Chronicle 10 September 2000.

Boyle : qui faut-il sauver ?  Ouest-France  4 juin 2001 <http://www.saintmalo.maville.com/htm/dossiers/voyageurs/0306b.html>

Bradfield, Scott.  Protests of a misguided eco-warrior. Times of London 18 October 2000. 

Charles, Ron.  Mother Nature and her kids reap wild oats.  Christian Science Monitor 14  September 2000.

Christians, Burckhard. Auf dem Weg zu alter Klasse: T.C.Boyle: Ein Freund der Erdeu-lit.de: Literatur  Magazin  26.02.2001. <http://www.u-lit.de/rezension/t-c-boyle-freund.html>

Cryer, Dan.  In the Nature of Fools. Newsday  4 September 2000.

Daurer, Gregory.  A Conversation with T. Coraghessan Boyle. salon.com 11 December 2000.

Demmer, Erich.  Mit Stiefeln, Kübeln, WindelnDie Presse - Spectrum     <http://www.diepresse.at/presse.taf?channel=kultur&read=spec&which=M51&detail=731017&tmp=47695&be=M51> 

Dickinson, Charles. Environmental Endgame; T. Coraghessan Boyle's Cautionary, Satirical Tale of Ecodisaster.Chicago Tribune 17 September 2000.

Dubach, Renate.  Das Chaos am Ende der WeltBerner Zeitung BZ  19 April 2001.  <http://www.espace.ch/medien/bz/archiv/details_2.cfm?id=154724&simplesearch=Boyle&template=index.cfm>

Dubbe, Daniel.  Gruppenbild mit Giraffe; T. C. Boyle wirft einen Blick in Michael Jacksons Wildgehege.Rheinischer Merkur  Nr. 12, 23.03.2001. <http://www.merkur.de/aktuell/do/fb_011203.html>

Ehrenreich, Ben.  Leaf BlowersLA Weekly  November 3-9, 2000. <http://www.laweekly.com/ink/00/50/books-ehrenreich.shtml>

Eine Zugfahrt mit T.C. Boyle: Goldene Hits. 

Excerpt from "A Friend of the Earth". Outside Magazine August 2000.

Ferniot, Christine. California Dreamin'.  Cliquez sur "California Dreamin'.  Télérama 2 juin 2001. <http://livres.telerama.fr/edito/livres/une/02_06_01/voyageurs/reid.asp>
 

Gathman, Roger.  Fifth Annual Texas Book Fair: T.C. BoyleAustin Chronicle 10 November 2000.  <http://www.auschron.com/issues/dispatch/2000-11-10/books_set7.html>

Goldstein, Steve.  "Silver Linings Give Way to Clouds of Eco-Pessimism." PhiladelphiaInquirer 17 September 2000; accessible for $1.95 through archives.

Gottlieb, Alan.  A happy pessimist searches for meaning, truth. (interview).  Denver Post  22 October 2000.

Unedited text of Alan Gottlieb's interview with T. Coraghessan Boyle.

Gould, Lance.  Going out with a splash; T.C. Boyle's latest gives reviewer that sinking feeling.New York Daily News  9 September  2000.

Halter, Martin.  Rächer der geschändeten Natur; Der Rebell ist müde geworden: T. C. Boyle erzählt in „Ein Freund der Erde“ die Tragikomödie eines Ökoterroristen.   Badische Zeitung  5. Mai 2001.  <http://www.badischezeitung.de/nachrichten/mantel/magazin/2001/05/mag.3855755.htm>

Klug, Martian.  »Buchtipp: T.C. Boyle, Ein Freund der Erde« Südwest  Fernsehen 5/4/2001.  <http://swr1.de/kultur-suedwest/webtip/2001/05/04/index.html>

Knipphals, Dirk.  Vertrieben aus dem Paradies der ZivilisationDie Tageszeitung  22.03.2001. <http://taz.de/tpl/.nf/spText.Name,litera.idx,5>

Knowles, Joe. All This Useless Beauty. InTheseTimes.com 27 November 2000.

Kretschmer, Winfried . Es regnet immer in Kalifornien; T. Coraghessan Boyle schreibt den Roman zur Klimakatastrophe. changeX  30.04.2001. <http://www.changex.de/d_a00191print.html>

Laidlow, Brett.  A Friend of the Earth (review).  Minneapolis Star-Tribune 17 September 2000.

Lamberti, Patricia.  Interview: Other Voices.  <http://webdelsol.com/Other_Voices/T.C.%20Boyle%20Interview.htm>  No date.

Le Scouarnec, Jean-Marc. T. C. Boyle: l'apocalypse est pour demainLa Depeche. du Midi (Toulouse) 27 mai 2001.  <http://www.ladepeche.com/aff_art_rech.asp?Ref=20010527013&rub=&mots=Boyle>

Löffler, Sigrid. Apokalyptisches TicktackLiteraturen  01.2001.  Click on 01.2001, then on "Apokalyptisches Ticktack." < http://www.literaturen-online.de/nav/fr3.html>

Luce, Mark.  "Boyle's 'Friend' dazzles with an eco-love story." Atlanta Journal-Constitution 17 September 2000.

Mason,  Alane. T.C. Boyle's Latest: A dystopian future The Baltimore Sun 13 August 2000.

Mobilio, Albert. Have you hugged your tree today?  New York Times Book Review 8  October 2000.

Moher, Frank. It's the end of the world as we know it; T.C. Boyle is the reigning master of apocalyptic fiction but, as his new book reveals, he's also got a joke or two up his sleeve. The National Post  9 September 2000.

Preston, John.  She disappeared up a tree; John Preston is swept along by an old hippie's proseLondon Telegraph 19 October 2000.

Roither, Eva.  Brave New World 2025; In seinem jüngsten Roman "Ein Freund der Erde"  beschreibt T. C. Boyle ein düsteres Bild der Welt im Jahr 2025.Radio Österreich 1  19 March 2001.  <http://kultur.orf.at/orfon/kultur/010319-5173/5174txt_story.html>

Scholl, Joachim.  Untergehen ist so lustig  T. C. Boyle porträtiert in seinem Roman einen wahren Freund unseres demnächst ruinierten Planeten.  Die Welt  24.03.2001.  <http://www.welt.de/daten/2001/03/24/0324lbel242539.htx>

Shechner, Mark. Boyle tackles eco-activists in his latest novel. Buffalo News 17 September 2000.

Shipley, Jonathan. A Friend of the Earth (review).  BookPage Fiction Review, no date.  <http://www.bookpage.com/allencolibrary/0009bp/fiction/friend_of_the_earth.html>

Sullivan, Michael. Earth Calling. the blurb.com, Australia  issue 2.  <http://www.theblurb.com.au/Issue02/FriendEarth.htm>

Tombeur, Jef. A Friend of the EarthRépublique des Lettres.  mai 2000. <http://www.republique-des-lettres.com/b1/boyle.shtml>

 
Transcript of T. Coraghessan Boyle's chat session on Barnes&Noble.com (9/21/00).  Read his thoughts about  A Friend of the Earth,eating meat,  environmentalism, movies, and being a "cool dad" vs. being a "freaky dad"...

van Rossum, Walter. Rebell aus gutem Grund; T. C. Boyle schreibt einen pessimistischen Ökothriller.Die Zeit  13/2001. <http://www.zeit.de/2001/13/Kultur/200113_l-boyle.html>


Welcome to the bizarre--and humane--world of T.C. Boyle.  Associated Press 24 October 2000.

Warnhold, Birgit.  Schlechtes Wetter; T. C. Boyle zeigt uns die Welt nach der Klimakatastrophe. Berliner Morganpost Online  29 April 2001. <http://www.berliner-morgenpost.de/archiv2001/010429/biz/story416690.html>

Willeford, Betsey. Tree huggers and wilderness survivors in the year 2025.  Miami Herald  10 September 2000.

Zeidner, Lisa. "Apocalypso." Washington Post  10 September 2000; reprinted Chicago Sun-Times  17 September 2000; see below.

Zeidner, Lisa.  Boyle's Ecological Apocalypse.  Chicago Sun-Times 17 September 2000.

Zencey, Eric.  Future Shock.  Los Angeles Times 10  September 2000.
 

RADIO INTERVIEWS LIST
    "Idiot's Delight" WNEW-Radio, New York, Sunday, Sept 10, 2000.  An archived version of Vin Scelsa's interview with TCB was once able to be heard by clicking on WNEW's archives.  It appeared to be in two parts, one 60 minutes long, the other 50 minutes.  There was also a link to the songs Vin played during the show.  TCB loved appearing on this "free-form" show, saying it's kind of like being in somebody's living room...[As of early 2001, Vin Scelsa is no longer affiliated with WNEW and they have taken down the archives for "Idiot's Delight."]

    "The David Brudnoy show," WBZ-Radio, Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 9 - 10 pm

    "The Connection with Christopher Lydon," WMUR-Radio, Boston, Sept. 12, 11:06 pm-midnight.  Click here to listen to this 54 minute interview in Real Audio.  An audio tape can be purchased from the same website for $15.

    WMUR-FM (Boston) Web Chat, October 4, 2001

    "Public Interest," WAMU-Radio, Washington, DC, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 1:00-2:00 pm (this NPR affiliate sells copies of programs for $10 non-members; $5 members) Click here to listen to the archived version of Kojo Nnamdi's interview with T.C. Boyle about A Friend of the Earth

    "City in Exile," WBAI-Radio, New York, Friday Sept. 15 2:00-2:30 pm (Pacifica radio affiliate).  Here's a photo of TCB with former student, now performance artist, Tom X. Chao.

    "Mid-morning Show," Minnesota Public Radio, Minneapolis, MN, 10-11am, Wednesday Sept. 20

    "The Bill Gallagher Show," KPAM-Radio, Portland, OR, Tues. Sept. 26, 2:00-3:00 pm

    Go to Audio Files & Recordings Page

 T.C. Boyle personally recommends the following books: and I recommend these related sites: