Shag Carpet Action

Fiction. Finalist, ReLit Award (2012). This collection continues Firth's deep mining into the bowels of Canadian life. From there he unearths tales of forgotten people who survive with their wits and guts during these harsh times. Behind the covers of SHAG CARPET ACTION are stories about rival garbage collectors warring over a possible strike; suburban lust and yearning involving the creative use of a son's Spider-Man toy; the travails of a man who has a vasectomy but then finds out there are far more painful events to deal with on his agenda; shameless and bombastic people who just don't care who overhears their conversation—and on it goes. These are absurd, raunchy, funny stories whose sharp, salty characters are boldly credible and wonderfully rendered by one of Canada's most adventurous and courageous fiction writers.

"Firth's strength lies not simply in provocatively deploying overt sexuality, but rather the way he leverages bald carnality to make broader, potent statements about the human condition."—Quill & Quire

"Short stories work best when they're memorable, and Firth's gift is to lodge a vivid image in the reader's numb brain to keep him from nodding off and perhaps linger on. This gift is clever, concise writing—no superfluous flowery shit. To the point, bold, matter of fact."—OttawaXpress

"Firth's stories remind us of the realities of being human; what we think, feel, and do. The writing is easy to read, raw-to-the-bone honest, and refreshingly real. And that's why I highly recommend you forget about your clean-cut CanLit filler and get your knees dirty with something a little more to the floor—Shag Carpet Action."—Jerrod Edson (Blog)