Charles Dickinson (born June 4, 1951) is an American writer known for his literary novels, which often mix realism with winsome absurdity. His

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

, ''

Waltz in Marathon ''Waltz in Marathon'' is a 1983 fiction novel written by Charles Dickinson, about a loan shark whose life is changed by the return of his grown children and an old romance. Plot summary Gentleman loan shark Harry Waltz, a s ...

'', was published in 1983. He has written five other novels—the most recent, ''A Family in Time'', was released as an

e-book An ebook (short for electronic book), also known as an e-book or eBook, is a book publication made available in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat-panel display of computers or other electronic devices. Alt ...

in 2012—and a collection of short stories. His short fiction and non-fiction pieces have appeared in ''

Atlantic Monthly ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher. It features articles in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 1857 in Boston, ...

'', ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...

'', ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...

'', and a variety of

literary magazines A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry, and essays, along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters ...

''A Shortcut in Time''

"Readers of all persuasions will welcome the quiet

metaphysics Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality, necessity, and possibility. It includes questions about the nature of conscio ...

of A Shortcut in Time. With its precise cadences and poetic observations, Charles Dickinson's novel is like a wondrous old pendulum clock you acquired from an antiques dealer after discovering to your delight that it still kept perfect time."—

James Morrow James Morrow (born March 17, 1947) is an American novelist and short-story writer known for filtering large philosophical and theological questions through his satiric sensibility. Most of Morrow's oeuvre has been published as science fiction ...

''The Widows' Adventures''

Widows Ina and Helene, sisters from

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, set off on a drive to

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. There's one problem: Only Helene can drive, and she's blind. Beer-swigging Ina acts as her eyes. On back roads in the dead of night they travel across an America they never knew.

''Crows''

Robert has moved into the home of his biology teacher, Ben Ladysmith. That Ben has been missing for two years is just one of the mysteries enriching this brilliant novel. Robert annoys, infuriates and loves Ben's family—and helps them find a way through their grief.

Bibliography

Novels

* ''

'' (Knopf, 1983) * ''Crows'' (Knopf, 1985) * '' The Widows' Adventures'' (Morrow, 1989) * ''Rumor Has It'' (Morrow, 1991) * ''A Shortcut in Time'' (Forge, 2003) * ''A Family in Time'' (self-published e-book, 2012)

Story collections

* ''With or Without and Other Stories'' (Knopf, 1987) ''

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has reissued his first four novels and the story collection as e-books.'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Dickinson, Charles 1951 births Writers from Chicago Living people 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists Place of birth missing (living people) American male novelists American male essayists American male short story writers 20th-century American short story writers 21st-century American short story writers 20th-century American essayists 21st-century American essayists Novelists from Illinois Writers from Detroit 20th-century American male writers 21st-century American male writers Novelists from Michigan