Mister Weed-Eater
Encyclopedia
Mister Weed-Eater is a short story by American writer Joe R. Lansdale
.
, subsequently republished in his 1994 compilation Writer of the Purple Rage
, "Mister Weed-Eater" was republished again in the 2001 anthology High Cotton
. A favorite of the author, the story reappeared eight years later in his work entitled Sanctified and Chicken-Fried
. Also in 2009 the movie rights for Mister Weed-Eater were optioned by writer/director Brian James Fitzpatrick and actor Damian Maffei
. The project, scheduled for production in 2010 (see Mister Weed-Eater, The Movie), has enlisted the author as co-producer.
At first hesitant even to involve himself in the blind man’s business, Mr. Harold, nonetheless, ends up taking the sightless man by the elbow and tries to convey the slip-shoddiness of his weed-eating, yard-whacking efforts. Mr. Harold quickly becomes irritated with the blind man. From that moment on, the macabre and dark-humored tale evolves into a bizarre journey of chaos and bedlam, with the once-routine life of Job Harold becoming a topsy-turvy disarray of self-survival.
This short story may be read as an ironic retelling of Raymond Carver
's short story "Cathedral
".
Joe R. Lansdale
Joe R. Lansdale is an American author and martial-arts expert. He has written novels and stories in many genres, including Western, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense...
.
Editions
First published in Lansdale’s 1993 Electric GumboElectric Gumbo
Electric Gumbo: A Lansdale Reader is one of the rarer compilations of Joe R. Lansdale's short work. It has only been published once, exclusively by the Quality Paperback Book Club in trade paperback form in 1994.It contains:*Introduction...
, subsequently republished in his 1994 compilation Writer of the Purple Rage
Writer of the Purple Rage
Writer of the Purple Rage is a collection of short works by Joe R. Lansdale, published in 1994, which is one of the few places to find his famous short story "Bubba Ho-Tep." It was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in the "Fiction Collection" category...
, "Mister Weed-Eater" was republished again in the 2001 anthology High Cotton
High Cotton
High Cotton is a collection of short fiction by Joe R. Lansdale, initially published in 2000. In his introduction, Lansdale cites it as the "Best of Lansdale", and has called this work a companion piece to the 2004 collection Bumper Crop....
. A favorite of the author, the story reappeared eight years later in his work entitled Sanctified and Chicken-Fried
Sanctified and Chicken-Fried
Sanctified and Chicken-Fried by Joe R. Lansdale is a compilation of short stories told in his inimitable Mojo style of suspense, horror, and humor...
. Also in 2009 the movie rights for Mister Weed-Eater were optioned by writer/director Brian James Fitzpatrick and actor Damian Maffei
Damian Maffei
Damian Paul Maffei is an American actor known for his work on stage and in independent movies. Maffei is especially heralded for his work in horror films, including the highly-touted Closed for the Season.-Early Life:...
. The project, scheduled for production in 2010 (see Mister Weed-Eater, The Movie), has enlisted the author as co-producer.
Plot summary
Mister Weed-Eater recounts the story of Mr. Job Harold, who befriends a blind man hired by the church across the street to cut the church’s lawn. The newly-hired landscaper, utilizing a brand new weed-eater with which to trim the yard, is, of course, unable to evaluate the fruits of his labor. Taking a break from the Texas heat, he turns to Mr. Harold for what appears to be an innocent critique of his work. In actuality, it is a brazen attempt by the groundskeeper to maneuver himself into the man’s house and his life.At first hesitant even to involve himself in the blind man’s business, Mr. Harold, nonetheless, ends up taking the sightless man by the elbow and tries to convey the slip-shoddiness of his weed-eating, yard-whacking efforts. Mr. Harold quickly becomes irritated with the blind man. From that moment on, the macabre and dark-humored tale evolves into a bizarre journey of chaos and bedlam, with the once-routine life of Job Harold becoming a topsy-turvy disarray of self-survival.
This short story may be read as an ironic retelling of Raymond Carver
Raymond Carver
Raymond Clevie Carver, Jr. was an American short story writer and poet. Carver is considered a major American writer of the late 20th century and also a major force in the revitalization of the short story in the 1980s....
's short story "Cathedral
Cathedral (story)
"Cathedral" is a short story written by American writer and poet Raymond Carver in 1983. It is included in the anthology of the same name.-Plot summary:...
".