The Pottawatomie Giant

The Pottawatomie Giant presents the story of Jess Willard, a real-life heavyweight boxing champion from Kansas who held the title from 1915-1919. The narrative follows Willard in his later years as he reflects on his career and famous bout with Jack Johnson. This blend of historical fiction and magical realism centers on questions of truth, memory, and legacy in American sports history. Through Willard's perspective, readers encounter both factual events and supernatural elements that shape his understanding of his past. The book examines the complex racial and social dynamics of early 20th century boxing, focusing on the relationship between white and Black fighters during a period of segregation. The story moves between different time periods as Willard confronts both his achievements and regrets. At its core, this novella explores themes of redemption, the weight of history, and how stories transform over time - both in personal memory and public consciousness. The intersection of fact and fantasy creates space to consider deeper truths about sport, race, and American identity.

Too few public reviews exist online to create a meaningful summary of reader reactions to The Pottawatomie Giant. The book has only 3 ratings on Goodreads with a 4.33/5 average score but no written reviews. No reviews appear on Amazon or other major book review sites. The limited available reader comments mention Duncan's attention to historical detail and the collection's focus on outsiders and outcasts. One reader on Goodreads specifically noted the title story's portrayal of boxer Jess Willard. Due to the small print run from PS Publishing and limited distribution, comprehensive reader feedback and ratings data cannot be compiled for this story collection. Rather than making claims without sufficient reader review data, it would be more accurate to note that public reception information remains minimal for this work.

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🥊 The book's title story focuses on Jess Willard, a real-life heavyweight boxing champion nicknamed "The Pottawatomie Giant," who held the world title from 1915-1919. 📚 Andy Duncan won the World Fantasy Award for this collection in 2013, marking his second win of this prestigious award. 🎭 Several stories in the collection blend historical figures with fantastical elements, including one featuring Charlie Chaplin and another about Pearline, a character from American folklore. 🏆 The collection received the Shirley Jackson Award nomination, an award that recognizes outstanding achievement in horror, psychological suspense, and dark fantasy literature. 📏 Jess Willard, the titular character, stood at 6'6" (1.98m) tall, making him one of the tallest heavyweight champions in boxing history at the time.