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15 Authors like Rick Bass

If you enjoy reading books by Rick Bass then you might also like the following authors:

  1. Jim Harrison

    Jim Harrison writes vivid and powerful stories set primarily in rural America. His characters often struggle against their instincts and the confines of modern life, exploring nature's beauty and harshness.

    Readers of Rick Bass might especially like Harrison's novella collection, Legends of the Fall, for its depiction of the rugged American landscape and intense, complex characters.

  2. Thomas McGuane

    Thomas McGuane's writing is witty, sharp, and full of reflection on life's absurdities. He captures small-town dynamics and outdoor pursuits, often placing his characters at crossroads between humor and existential contemplation.

    Fans of Rick Bass's thoughtful approach to the outdoors might appreciate McGuane's Ninety-two in the Shade, a novel rich in atmosphere, dark humor, and memorable characters.

  3. Kent Haruf

    Kent Haruf tells quiet but deeply powerful stories about regular people and the hidden dramas of their everyday lives. He uses language that's simple, elegant, and deeply compassionate.

    Readers who appreciate Bass's subtle and thoughtful treatment of characters might enjoy Haruf's novel, Plainsong, which follows interconnected lives in a small Colorado town.

  4. Wallace Stegner

    Wallace Stegner brings clarity and depth to his portrayals of the American West. He examines relationships, place, loss, and memory with emotional honesty and precision.

    If you enjoy Rick Bass's keen exploration of character within an environmental context, check out Stegner's Angle of Repose, a moving novel that weaves personal history with vivid descriptions of western landscapes.

  5. Ivan Doig

    Ivan Doig's writing reflects a deep love of the American West, particularly Montana, capturing its culture, community, and land with warmth, humor, and intelligence. Like Rick Bass, he beautifully conveys how places shape people and their experiences.

    Doig's Dancing at the Rascal Fair would be a great choice, providing memorable characters, heartfelt storytelling, and an immersive sense of place.

  6. Ron Carlson

    If you like Rick Bass, you'll appreciate Ron Carlson's thoughtful way of capturing everyday lives with clarity and warmth. In Five Skies, he explores friendship, healing, and the quiet intensity of working outdoors.

    His writing is gentle yet powerful, filling ordinary moments with meaning.

  7. Annie Proulx

    Annie Proulx's storytelling cuts straight to the heart with vivid, rugged portrayals of rural life and tough landscapes. In her famous novel, The Shipping News, she closely examines community, family, and personal transformation against a harsh Newfoundland coast backdrop.

    Like Rick Bass, her stories often reveal deep truths hidden in isolated places and quiet lives.

  8. William Kittredge

    William Kittredge brings the American West to life with thoughtful insights into community, environment, and human connection to the land. His memoir Hole in the Sky honestly reflects on ranch life, family struggles, and the complexity of Western identity.

    Readers who admire Rick Bass' contemplative style and focus on natural landscapes will find much to appreciate here.

  9. Gretel Ehrlich

    Gretel Ehrlich offers readers a poetic look at rural landscapes and the inner lives of people shaped by nature. In The Solace of Open Spaces, Ehrlich beautifully blends personal reflection with vivid descriptions of Wyoming’s harsh beauty.

    Like Rick Bass, she captures the spirit of remote areas and the way solitude can shape human experience.

  10. Pam Houston

    Pam Houston's writing offers lively honesty, humor, and a deep appreciation of wild places. Her collection Cowboys Are My Weakness explores relationships, personal growth, and adventures set against rivers, mountains, and wide-open spaces.

    If Rick Bass's tales of nature and human relationships resonate, you'll find Houston’s spirited voice equally engaging.

  11. David James Duncan

    If you appreciate Rick Bass's stories inspired by nature and thoughtful human connections, you might enjoy David James Duncan. He mixes humor and deep emotion in stories that tie characters closely to the natural world.

    A great example is his novel The River Why, which follows Gus Orviston's journey as he explores fishing, family, and finding meaning in life.

  12. Ted Kerasote

    Ted Kerasote shares Rick Bass's fascination with wilderness, animals, and our bond with nature. In his book Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog, Kerasote reflects warmly and thoughtfully on the joyful friendship between people and animals.

    Readers who enjoy personal stories with thoughtful insights about wildness and companionship may find his writing appealing.

  13. Craig Childs

    Craig Childs writes vividly about wild landscapes, ancient mysteries, and the human place within the natural world—themes closely related to Rick Bass's writing.

    In Childs's book The Secret Knowledge of Water, he explores the desert Southwest while uncovering the hidden role water has in shaping life and landscapes. His thoughtful style invites you to reconsider your relationship to the environment.

  14. Mark Spragg

    Mark Spragg shares the interest Rick Bass has in carefully observing the connection between people and place, often focusing on rugged Western landscapes. His stories are direct, quietly emotional, and reflective.

    Spragg's novel An Unfinished Life portrays complicated family dynamics in rural Wyoming, capturing human relationships against a beautifully drawn western setting.

  15. Pete Fromm

    Pete Fromm's writing offers the kind of authentic outdoor storytelling and introspection Rick Bass fans tend to love. His memoir Indian Creek Chronicles tells how he spent seven months alone in Idaho's remote wilderness, guarding salmon eggs.

    The book blends adventure, humor, and personal reflections on self-discovery and solitude.