CUTTER AND BONE

by Newton Thornburg ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 1976

The anomie of southern California seen in two losers with only gallows humor to guide them. Cutter is a boozy, battered Viet vet; Bone is a marketing dropout and occasional stud; together they live a bleak fringe life, both vaguely in love with Cutter's woman Mo. Despite the cool repartee, despair prevails until one night when Bone witnesses the disposal of a body in a trash can by a squat, large-headed man. If the man was J. J. Wolfe, rich and powerful conglomerate chief, they have choices: blackmail or disclosure, or both. Cutter and Bone join briefly with the victim's sister, intent on extortion, but things fall apart. Then Mo and her baby are killed (a message from the chief?) and the two get on the trail again, this time with the Virgin of Isla Vista in tow. When the truth is finally known, Cutter is straitjacketed in a VA hospital and Bone is looking at the end of a shotgun. A familiar group of loveless drifters--Thornburg knows the territory well; a readable story which might be convertible into film; but the moral problem which is raised isn't really answered.

Pub Date: Sept. 15, 1976

ISBN: 1852426764

Page Count: -

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1976

Categories: FICTION