As a work of fiction, Fiber elegantly follows the life of the narrator as it evolves from the geologist who takes, to the artist who gives, to the activist who fights, and finally to the troubling and magical "log fairy." Along with this progression of possibilities, the story demonstrates a concurrent range of emotional responses, taking the readerthrough delight, love, anger, fatigue, and desperation, culminating in a brave call to action on behalf of the natural world.

Fiber is intensely grounded in landscape -- in the Yaak, a valley nestled between the dark ranges of the Pacific Northwest and the basins of light that characterize the northern Rockies. Despite being one of our last truly wild places -- home to a dwindling population of grizzlies, lynx, wolverines, wolves, and even woodland caribou -- the national forests of the Yaak have no permanent protection. Bass' message is clear: please help save this magical, forested island before it is too late. Fiber is a graceful, startling, and gripping work by one of the most significantvoices in contemporary fiction and nature writing.