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Short story with never-ending big wall?

Original Post
Ryan McDermott · · Pittsburgh, PA · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 110

When I was in high school c. 1994 my local library in Salem, VA, had a book of short fiction about climbing. I think it was an edited collection by various authors, but I could be wrong. I read the whole thing, but one of the stories has stuck with me: a never-ending big wall with a never-ending roof, with a swami-figure who free soloes around and mystifies the roped climbers who have found themselves making their lives on the wall. Does anybody know what this was? Would love to read it again!
Thanks,
Ryan

Mark Dalen · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 1,002

July 1974 issue of Ascent features a condensed version of Jeffery Long's novella The Soloist's Diary ... I will wager this is the work you remember ... it made a big impression on me as well....

mark felber · · Wheat Ridge, CO · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 41

Like docsavage said, the story in question is almost certainly "The Solist's Diary". It's included in an anthology of Long's works, "Too Close to God".
amazon.com/Too-Close-God-Se…

Ryan McDermott · · Pittsburgh, PA · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 110

Fantastic--thanks. Just ordered the book, and a few others, from the library. Great to know that he wrote a lot of other things, too.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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