Katherine Dunn, an acclaimed Portland writer, gained fame from her 1989 novel Geek Love, which features a genetically altered family of sideshow performers and has sold over half a million copies. Following her passing in 2016, a collection of her unpublished short stories titled Near Flesh is scheduled for release. Her son, Eli Dapolonia, expressed excitement regarding the posthumous publication of these stories, emphasizing his mother's passion for the short story format. Dunn was also known for reading stories on KBOO radio under the alias Red Ryder during the 1970s.
"I am excited about the publication of Near Flesh, because it was something Mom always intended to do, but never did," said Dunn's son, Eli Dapolonia, the executor of her estate. "Throughout her life, she wrote short stories. She loved the short story form. She did get a few published here and there, but most of them sat in her files, never seen by anyone."
Many Portlanders of a certain age will not be surprised by Dunn's embrace of short stories. During much of the 1970s, she read both classic and obscure stories under the alias Red Ryder on the half-hour Saturday morning program Gremlin Time on KBOO, the city's well-established community radio station.
According to producer Matt Clark, who is still active at KBOO, Dunn selected most of the stories herself and was always well prepared, having edited them to fit in the time slot.
Dunn apparently rehearsed the stories at home, because she read so smoothly and always knew how to pronounce difficult words and names.
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