SUNDOG: A NOVEL - INSCRIBED TO WILLIAM HJORTSBERG by Harrison, Jim - 1984

New York: E.P. Dutton, Inc. / Seymour Lawrence, 1984. First Edition. Harrison's fifth novel. Hjortsberg (1941-2017) and Harrison enjoyed a close, decades-long friendship, having first met in Northern California, and migrated to Montana in the late 1960's. Drawn by the prospect of adventure, solitude, and good fishing, they, along with Tom McGuane, were central figures in the Montana Gang - a coterie of authors, artists, and musicians whose ranks included Russell Chatham, Richard Brautigan, Don Carpenter, Bob Dattila, Peter Fonda, Jimmy Buffett, Jim Crumley, Erik Weber, and others. They transitioned from being friends to family when Hjortsberg's son, Max, married Harrison's daughter Anna. A superb association copy of this key, early work. Orr & Torrey A18.b. First Printing. Octavo (21.5cm); pale green paper-covered boards and sage green cloth backstrip, with titles stamped in gilt on spine; dustjacket; xii,241,[1]pp. Inscribed to fellow Montana author, screenwriter, and outdoorsman William "Gatz" Hjortsberg on the half-title page, next to one of the author's one-eyed caricatures: "To Gatz / Old times good times / Here we are, again / Jimmy '84." Spine ends gently nudged, with a single, tiny spot to right edge of textblock; Near Fine. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced $15.95), with some corresponding light wear to spine ends; Near Fine.