A thoroughly enjoyable, absorbing, and darkly comic novel about the delicate balance of the natural world. -- David Coggins, author of The Believer: A Year in the Fly Fishing Life Rolling Back the River is great fun, a crisp and rollicking read that artfully mixes humor and meaningful contemplation, often on the very same page. -- Monte Burke, author of Lords of the Fly, Saban, and Rivers Always Reach the Sea Ive never read anything quite like this. It grabbed me, compelled me, and made me assess all the reasons why I care so much about fly-fishing. The writing is nothing short of masterful and laden with legitimate substance. It is so deeply honest and imaginative, it left me speechless. -- Kirk Deeter, Editor, TROUT magazine Rolling Back the River is a lyrical and unflinching journey through wild streams, wild hearts, and the wilderness of loss. With humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, Paul Guernsey reminds us that the rivers we loveand the lives we buildcan never flow backward. -- Joshua Caldwell, fly fisher, director of the feature film Mending the Line Imagine Carl Hiaasens environmental urgency crossed with John Gierachs dry wit and Norman Macleans quiet reverence for trout water. Thats the sweet spot Paul Guernsey hits in Rolling Back the Rivera terrific novel celebrating friendship, fly-fishing, and the tangled comedy of growing older and wiser on a rapidly changing planet. -- Tim Schulz, author of A Cast Away in Montana In Rolling Back the River, Paul Guernsey has written a novel of nuance and meaning that brought me moments of laughter, joy, curiosity, and almost sentimental reflection. I loved this story. -- Steve Ramirez, author of Casting Forward and the Lyons Press Casting series Great fishing novels capture anglers and non-anglers. Theyre scarce as coelacanths, but one has surfaced here. With wit and superb writing, Guernsey takes us to beautiful places and develops characters who are real people, most of whom we want to know, all of whom we get to know. -- Ted Williams, conservation journalist, author, guide It doesn't take more than a few sentences to realize that Paul Guernsey is a writer who fly fishes, rather than the other way around. When he is describing time on the water, the authenticity is clear, but what really carries the narrative are his skills as a writera fine eye for detail, an acute sense of life's absurdities, and a profound sense of humanity. While anglers will certainly enjoy this book, its appeal goes far beyond its sporting subject. -- Phil Monahan, Editor-in-Chief, MidCurrent A delightful book. The characters and their relationships are honest and believable. Well-known names in the fly-fishing community are seamlessly woven into the tapestry of the story, and there are rich literary allusions throughout. Most importantly, the descriptions of fishing are truthful and not overdone. I found myself rooting for the hero, and hope he makes a comeback in future books, like Joseph Heywoods Bowie Rhodes, or Jim Harrisons Brown Dog. -- Bob White, sporting artist, author, Argentina and Alaska fishing guide Ive known Paul Guernsey since his days with Fly Rod & Reel magazine. Paul was promoting wild native fish and real conservation when doing so put readership and advertising at risk due to potential blowback from the industry and angling community. But Paul is also a fly fisherman, and he manages to find a balance between fish and fishing in his book, which is important. -- Bob Mallard, writer, former fly shop owner, fly-fishing guide, founding member and Executive Director for Native Fish Coalition
