Hotshot

A Life on Fire

By: River Selby

Narrated by: River Selby

The fierce debut memoir of a female firefighter, Hotshot navigates the personal and environmental dangers of wildland firefighting

From 2000 to 2010, River Selby was a wildland firefighter whose given name was Anastasia. This is a memoir of that time in their life—of Ana, the struggles she encountered, and the constraints of what it means to be female-bodied in a male-dominated industry. An illuminating debut from a fierce new voice, Hotshot is a timely reckoning with both the personal and environmental dangers of wildland firefighting.

By the time they were nineteen, Selby had been homeless, addicted to drugs, and sexually assaulted more than once. In a last-ditch effort to find direction, they applied to be a wildland firefighter. Two years later, they joined an elite class of specially trained wildland firefighters known as hotshots. Over the course of five fire seasons, Selby delves into the world of the people—almost entirely men—who risk their lives to fight and sometimes prevent wildfires. Simultaneously hyper visible and invisible, Selby navigated an odd mix of camaraderie and rampant sexism on the job and, when they challenged it, a violent closing of ranks that excluded them from the work they’d come to love.

Drawing on years of firsthand experience on the frontlines of fire and years of research, Selby examines how the collision of fire suppression policy, colonization, and climate change has led to fire seasons of unprecedented duration and severity. A work of rare intimacy, Hotshot provides new insight into fire, the people who fight it, and the diversity of ecosystems dependent on this elemental force.

“A beautiful reflection on justice, the environment, the self, and much more.”—George Saunders

©2025 River Selby (P)2025 Recorded Books

Beautifully written

I loved the mixture of history and ecological research with the speaker’s personal experience working as a hot shot. Beautifully written, and I loved hearing the author read the work.

The history of the land

Really enjoyed the history of the land and forestry! Was a little heavy on her background. A bit overuse of adjectives.

What A Bad Ass

I really enjoyed River’s story and felt like it was a good balance between history, conservation and memoir. Their personal story is a tough one, they’ve been through a lot of shit. Writhing it all down and putting it into a book for all to read is so brave, but also must’ve been so healing for them.

Hot Crisis

it has good and bad moments, some of them too technical in geology, however her journey was intense and interesting.

Incredible story of the human experience

Firstly, I was ecstatic to hear that the author, River Selby, narrated their own audiobook. It added so much depth to the experience. I listened to this book on a roadtrip per recommendation of a fire lookout friend, and was on the edge of my seat (literally) the entire time. The way the author seamlessly intertwines their own personal experience with Indigenous ecological knowledge is incredible, and I learned so much. As a former forestry technician myself, this book could not be more relatable when River describes their experience on their crew as a female presenting person. The twists and turns of River's personal life along with their experience in wildland fire makes for a great listen. I will definitely recommend this book to everyone I encounter!