George Saunders on the Short Story That Changed His Life

Booker Prize winner George Saunders, author of the 2026 novel 'Vigil' about an oil company CEO's final hours, revealed in an interview with Cultured magazine that Stuart Dybek's short story 'Hot Ice' changed his life. Saunders, who was initially allergic to contemporary fiction, found the story transformative because it was set in a Chicago he recognized, allowing him to read 'in full color.' He also discussed his biggest contribution to culture (staying quiet), his obituary headline (a fake one declaring him alive at nearly 200), and what keeps him up at night (the state of the country and his neighbor Norm learning 'Smoke on the Water' on banjo). Saunders shared that reading great fiction grounds and invigorates him, and that the hardest part of his career was the early days when success seemed unlikely. He looks forward to returning to work and meditation, and when not writing, he would work obsessively on music. His early influences include Jimmy Webb songs, the Catholic Mass, and seeing 'Jaws' five times in theaters. The interview is part of Cultured's 2026 CULT100 honorees list.