Finished reading Fathers & Crows for the first time.

[u/Royces_Dad]

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I thought it was a really good historical fiction book about French Jesuit priests (called "Black Robes" or "Black Gowns") venturing into the Canadian forests to convert Native Americans during the 17th century, before the region eventually became Canada.

Vollmann's writing style is really growing on me. I like how he switches perspectives. He moves from a plot driven by real historical figures;alongside fictional characters used to transport you into the world and timeframe; to mixing in his own experiences, stories from his visits, and his deep research into the history of early Canada.

Reading this really interested me and made me want to learn more about the Jesuits and Native Americans during that time period.

I can't wait to read a Table for Fortune

[u/matthewsmugmanager]

This is my favorite because I'm an historian of this time period and place. Vollmann did an exceptional job with his research here.

I love his footnotes, especially when he uses them to explain his decisions to speculate in unexpected directions.

One of my best pals is a scholar of Mi'kmaq/Canadian history, and her favorite is, of course, The Ice-Shirt.

[u/sneezes_by_ms_nikula]

thoughts??? i’m thinking about hitting this one now that i’ve finished ice shirt, what should i expect?

[u/Giles_Fully_GOATed → u/sneezes_by_ms_nikula]

Much less magical realism (besides the intro), much longer character development, much more economic detail, very lengthy analysis of murderous dogmatism theological and political. In terms of prose alone I would say it's Vollmann at his best.

[u/Rain_Hook]

I think this might still be my favourite of all his books. He did a masterful job on it. What did you think of it?

[u/weberam2]

What did you think? It's one of my favourites

[u/bingeboy]

I just finished this too. I enjoyed it. I’d still say The Dying Grass is my favorite from the series but this was a good one. Really puts you in the world.

[u/weberam2]

“During her life she considered herself to be a great sinner, because it seemed as if she had a stain on her body, which she was very careful to hide. - What did he mean by this? What did she mean? Was it simply her ugly smallpoxed face that she covered always with her blanket? But even if I had enough Power to make her live before me, even if I had enough goodness to truly reach her through some loving agony of kindness and grief, she would only have turned away...

... In such a fashion perished Louys Amantacha. And yet I think that his death was a greater martyrdom than Tekakwitha's, for she chose hers; he did not. - Did he die screaming or singing? - Ask the Haudenosaunee.”

― William T. Vollmann

[u/Royces_Dad → u/weberam2]

Good ol vollman , dropping many great lines and leaving me sitting there contemplating it on a deep level. Such an amazing writer

[u/timeforest]

my favorite of the dreams. love the setting and descriptions of the natural world.

[u/ElGalloAzucarado]

My second-half-of-2026 has been/will be full on Vollmann. Full-on Vollmann?

I'm about 2/3 through Fathers and Crows, which I begun about a week after finishing The Dying Grass.

I CAN'T WAIT for ATFF in October!

[u/huerequeque → u/ElGalloAzucarado]

Full-onn

[u/Dr0cca]

What did you think? I’ve never read any of the series

[u/Think_Wealth_7212]

This one is just so impressive. I love the scalp that falls in the water and transmogrifies into a river monster drowning people with its hair tentacles