Ben Rogers | Official Author Website | The writing of Ben RogersBen Rogers

“As original as it is mesmerizing.”
–Matt Gallagher, author of Empire City
“Vivid…lyrical…haunting. Very highly recommended.”
–Midwest Book Review
“One of the smartest and best literary works you will read this decade.”
–Caleb Cage, Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Silver Pen recipient
“Rogers’ precise language makes the twists of Vik’s code as involving as the particulars of his getaway plan.”
–Jenny Shank, winner of the High Plains Book Award
“Springs from the well-organized mind of an engineer with the soul of a storyteller.”
–Mark Maynard, Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Silver Pen recipient
“Filled with tremendous writing about the meaning of code, and what coding a masterpiece might be like. It fills a spot on the bookshelf next to the mesmerizing works of James Ellroy.”
–Joseph G. Peterson, author of The Rumphulus
“Ample conflict and plot twists to keep readers enthralled…original, modern and refreshing.”
–The BookLife Prize
“Fantastic…an absolute page turner.”
–The Biggest Little Library Podcast

A hotshot Silicon Valley programmer teams up with a Mexican drug cartel in this literary thriller. Vik Singh has developed a lucrative app for drug dealers, and now both the DEA and the cartel are hunting him. Narrated by Vik’s girlfriend, Remi, the story grapples with America’s insatiable hunger for drugs and the human toll it takes. We witness a young man confronting his artistic pride and a young couple trying to make up for past betrayals.

“One of the wisest, funniest, strangest novels I’ve ever read…I treasure this book.”
–Christopher Coake, author of We’re In Trouble
“Brainy and splendidly profane, Rogers’s writing is incendiary and hypnotic.”
–Claire Vaye Watkins, author of Battleborn
“Impossible Not to Love.”
–Barnes & Noble
4.2 Star Average Rating
–Goodreads
“A highly original and delightful debut.”
–High Country News

All boys tinker with fire. Oby Brooks holes up in a backyard shed to experiment with napalm recipes. Meanwhile, amidst the detonations, Oby’s sexuality is up for grabs. Parents, mountain men, chemistry teachers, neighbors, and arson inspectors all try in their own quirky ways to usher Oby into adulthood with his fingers and eyelashes intact. In the end, the question is whether Oby’s nature will be nurtured, or neutered. Oh, and, will he land a Nobel Prize?

On the rejuvenating effects of arch theft (short story)
Kindle
A funny short story plucked from the slush pile by then-editor Roxanne Gay for publication in PANK Magazine, Volume 6, in 2012. The entire story takes the form of a scientific journal article, the abstract of which reads: “The authors ditch a mechanical engineering conference to partake in tomfoolery. They have a hell of a time, inspiring them to sanction a new conference in order to partake again, on an annual basis. The authors get old. One of them gets pancreatic cancer. The remaining authors are once again inspired, this time to illegally remove a monument from its foundation and transport it across state lines for reasons that may or may not become clear to the reader. Initial data, albeit mostly anecdotal, suggest that this form of treatment creates joy unobtainable with conventional techniques.”

The Young Man and the Mountain (short story)
Kindle
This short story was originally published in Arroyo Literary Review, Volume 6, in Spring 2014 and later nominated by the editors of that journal for the Pushcart Prize. It was also excerpted in Mark Curtis’ beautiful coffee table book, ONE OF A KIND, a collection of unique personal stories and photos by northern Nevadans past and present. The structure and theme of the story draw inspiration from Hemingway’s timeless story, The Old Man and the Sea, and the drama takes place on the fabled Geiger Grade highway between Reno and Virginia City. The protagonist is a young professional cyclist, learning the cost of his pursuit of greatness.

Mayfly (short story)
Kindle
One of Ben’s first published short stories, Mayfly first appeared in Wags Revue, Issue 4, Winter 2010. He’s always enjoyed reading it to audiences for the laughs it gets. Here’s how it opens: “Our mayfly wriggles up through the silt of the river bottom and into the water above, savoring the fresh flavors in his gills. Hibernation has left him groggy. With a gentle hop he joins the flowing murk and is carried downstream, glancing against pebbles slick and cool to the touch. He tunes into the murmurs and clicks of the river underworld. The muted colors could use some punching up, he feels, but no matter. Carpe diem. Our mayfly is happy enough just to be alive. A mayfly like any other. Except for the oversized cartoon eyes and the recognizable voice of a mildly Jewish comic actor with broad demographic appeal. He falls in love right away.”

NANOTECHNOLOGY: UNDERSTANDING SMALL SYSTEMS (textbook) [CRC Press]
Hardback | Paperback | eBook
An accessible, scientifically rigorous presentation that helps students learn the real stuff. Winner of a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book Award 2011. Now in its third edition.
“Takes the revolutionary concepts and techniques that have traditionally been fodder for graduate study and makes them accessible for all… Outstanding introduction to the broad field of nanotechnology… Provides a solid foundation for further study. … Highly recommended.” –N.M. Fahrenkopf, University at Albany

NANOTECHNOLOGY: THE WHOLE STORY (general audience) [CRC Press]
Hardback | eBook
Transistors using one electron at a time. Nanometer-sized specks of gold that change color to red and melt at 750°C instead of 1,064°C. This general audience book finds the unique properties of things at the nanometer scale and then puts them to use! Winner of an Outstanding Academic Title Award from CHOICE Magazine.
“An excellent resource for anyone interested in nanotechnology. Highly recommended. Students of all levels, researchers/faculty, and professionals.” –H Giesche, Alfred University

SHORT FICTION & HUMOR
–ZHIYU/JERRY, The Rumpus
-Hillbilly, Prick of the Spindle
-The Count, The Portland Review
–Open Letter to Miramax Home Video, Timothy McSweeney’s Internet Tendency
-Cutting Curtis, The Nevada Review
-The Unbridled Underestimation of Racehorses, Dark Sky Magazine

ESSAYS AND REVIEWS
-A review of The Dig by Cynan Jones, The Rumpus
-A review of Sunland by Don Waters, The Rumpus
–Electing to Have Kids, MAMAS AND PAPAS (City Works Press)
-D.I.Y., Front Range

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