Background
Kesey explained why the collection of semi-autobiographical essays was titled ''Demon Box'': "When Viking was bringing it out," he said, "they were desperate for something to call it. I told them, 'Don't call it anything .' It isn't a novel; it isn't an autobiography; it isn't journalism; I think of it as a box in which all this stuff goes." To his publisher, Kesey started calling the book a "box novel," a new form of literature. "If I were to think of it as a (traditional) novel, I would have joined it together and had a gradual progression of thematic movement and character change through it, but I didn't want to do that." Kesey also explained he considered the idea of publishing the essays in pamphlet form, then putting the pamphlets in a box and selling the box.Contents
* ''D Tank Kickout'' * ''Joon the Goon was What'' * ''Mother's Day 1969: Quiston's Report'' * ''Tranny Man Over the Border'' * ''Abdul & Ebenezer'' * ''The Day After Superman Died'' * ''The Search for the Secret Pyramid'' * ''Killer'' * ''Oleo: Demon Briefs and Dopey Ditties'' * ''Finding Doctor Fung'' * ''Run into Great Wall'' * ''Little Tricker the Squirrel Meets Big Double the Bear - by Grandma Whittier'' * ''Good Friday - by Grandma Whittier'' * ''Now We Know How Many Holes It Takes to Fill the Albert Hall'' * ''The Demon Box: An Essay'' * ''Last Time the Angels Came Up''References
1986 short story collections American non-fiction books American short story collections Viking Press books Works by Ken Kesey {{1980s-story-collection-stub