Books like Hang Gliding on X by Scott C. Holstad

"Hang Gliding on X" is the thirteenth volume in Scott C. Holstad’s expansive series, presented in a small limited edition reminiscent of the City Lights Pocket Poets. The collection traces the gradual unraveling of a tormented individual as he battles mental illness, confronts the pressures of therapy and religious intervention, and spirals toward violent impulses and suicidal thoughts. The poems culminate in his imprisonment at Los Angeles’s infamous Twin Towers jail, renowned for its gang and race tensions. Through stark imagery and a beat‑inspired cadence, Holstad examines the corrosive effects of violence, police brutality, and societal hatred on the fragile mind. The work resonated with a broad audience—from Southern California readers and writers to the underground small‑press community—capturing the raw, unsettling reality of those experiencing similar afflictions. It propelled the series into increasingly hard‑edged territory, moving beyond Holstad’s earlier work and positioning the collection within contemporary psychological horror and surreal poetry. "Hang Gliding on X" stands as a bold, introspective document of mental deterioration in a hostile social environment, inviting contemplation of the systemic forces that drive individuals toward the edge of violence.

First publish date: 1999