A prolific American novelist and short story writer, he is best known for his PEN/Faulkner Award-winning novel, World's End. Much of his writing explores the experiences and characteristics of members of the baby boom generation. He received a B.A. in English and history from the State University of New York at Potsdam; an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop; and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.