praise
“A host of characters grapple with the legacy of war, religious obsessions, surreal instances of violence, and an enduring guilt…. These often haunting stories of violence, faith, and disconnection make for a memorable voyage into a number of unsettled minds.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Josip Novakovich’s bruising and beautiful short stories cast new light on the experience of war and exile. A potent and intoxicating brew of comedy and tragedy. Heritage of Smoke is an exquisite work of short fiction by a master of the form.”
—Laila Lalami, author of The Moor's Account
“Some grim historical realities haunt many of the stories in this extraordinary collection. Sometimes with dark humor but always with an understanding eye toward his characters, Novakovich illuminates darkness more humanely than any writer since Chekhov.”
—Jim Heynen, author of The Boys' House and Fishing for Chickens
“In the visionary prose of Josip Novakovich, the Balkans are a toxic mix of medieval primitiveness and modern technology. Novakovich tells stories of individuals suffering against this background of regional catastrophe. He reveals reveal the worst things people can do to each other in the absolutely best way.”
—Melvin Jules Bukiet, author of Strange Fire and Undertown