Twentieth-century mass produced pulp crime usually ends with the protagonists unable to rid themselves of the presence of forces that inhibit professional or emotional growth. Stoic perseverance is often their acknowledgement of the power of fate. The diverse, still-emerging genre of Country (or Redneck, Ridgerunner, or Ozark) noir is marked by protagonists who have an instinct for community as a coherent territory and recreate the possibly self-destructive but stubbornly self-assertive traits that characterized what Greil Marcus called “the old, weird America.” Rural fiction’s protagonists struggle to replace a set of convictions which no longer sustain community or family. Often enough, their struggles produce a generational survival of perseverance, family and clan mutuality, the need for passing tough tests, and spirituality. They often wind up “far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow” (Dylan’s “Tambourine Man”).
Pulp According to David Goodis starts with six characteristics of 1950s pulp noir that fascinated mass-market readers, making them wish they were the protagonist, and yet feel relief that they were not. His thrillers are set in motion by suppressed guilt, sexual frustrations, explosions of violence, and the inaccessible nature of intimacy. Extremely valuable is a gangster-infested urban setting. Uniquely, Goodis saw a still-vibrant community solidarity down there. Another contribution was sympathy for the gang boss, doomed by his very success. He dramatizes all this in the stark language of the Philadelphia’s “streets of no return.” The book delineates the noir profundity of the author’s work in the context of Franz Kafka’s narratives. Goodis’ precise sense of place, and painful insights about the indomitability of fate, parallel Kafka’s. Both writers mix realism, the disorienting, and the dreamlike; both dwell on obsession and entrapment; both describe the protagonist’s degeneration. Tragically, belief in obligations, especially family ones, keep independence out of reach. Other elements covered in this critical analysis of Goodis’s work include his Hollywood script-writing career; his use of Freud, Arthur Miller, Faulkner and Hemingway; his obsession with incest; and his “noble loser’s” indomitable perseverance. Praise for PULP ACCORDING TO DAVID GOODIS: “This was a fascinating read. [Gertzman] appears as an expert not only on Goodis’s body of work but on the pulp era of fiction in general, mid-twentieth-century American history, Philadelphia history, literary analysis, and a litany of other subjects. The book is stylishly written and well designed for reaching a broader, nonacademic audience interested in the pulp’s history, role in American culture, and meaning. Frankly, the crime fiction community needs more books like this!” —Chris Rhatigan, editor, publisher, and writer of hard-boiled and noir literature “Jay Gertzman is one of those rare maverick critics with the courage to explore the dark alleys of American literature, and to report back with commendable honesty about what he has found. His book Pulp According to David Goodis is a perfect match of critic to author, and it belongs in the collections of universities hoping to be regarded as major.” —Michael Perkins, author of Evil Companions, Dark Matter, and The Secret Record: Modern Erotic Literature “The most comprehensive Goodis study yet. Gertzman culls the files, brings everything together and then some. Not only essential reading for all Goodis obsessives but an excellent introduction to one of noir’s greatest writers.” —Woody Haut, author Pulp Culture: Hard-boiled Fiction and the Cold War, Heartbreak and Vine, and Neon Noir: Contemporary American Crime Fiction
During the Vietnam War Bao Ninh served with the Glorious 27th Youth Brigade. Of the five hundred men who went to war with the brigade in 1969, he is one of only ten who survived. The Sorrow of War is his autobiographical novel. Kien works in a unit that recovers soldiers' corpses. Revisiting the sites of battles raises emotional ghosts for him and the memory of war scenes are juxtaposed with dreams and remembrances of his childhood sweetheart. The Sorrow of War burns the tragedy of war in our minds.
"A pinch of Potter blended with a drop of [Cassandra Clare's] Infernal Devices." --JUSTINE MAGAZINE "Plot twists so good they will leave you reeling." --TRACI CHEE, New York Times bestselling author of The Reader IT'S TIME FOR HER POWER TO RULE. As Henrietta nervously awaits her marriage to Lord Blackwood, she discovers that Sorrow-Fell is not a safe haven from the bloodthirsty Ancients. It's a trap. So with her friend Maria and Magnus, the young man who once stole her heart, at her side, Henrietta plots a dangerous journey straight into the enemy's lair. Some will live. Some will die. All will be tested. In this stunning conclusion to the Kingdom on Fire series, Henrietta must choose between the love from her past, the love from her present, and a love that could define her future. The fate of the kingdom rests on her decision: Will she fall or rise up to become the woman who saves the realm? Praise for Jessica Cluess's A Shadow Bright and Burning, Kingdom on Fire, Book 1: "This is a novel that gives off light and heat." --The New York Times "Vivid characters, terrifying monsters, and world building as deep and dark as the ocean." --VICTORIA AVEYARD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Queen "Devastatingly magical and monstrously romantic." --STEPHANIE GARBER, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval "Unputdownable. I loved the monsters, the magic, and the teen warriors who are their world's best hope! Jessica Cluess is an awesome storyteller!" --TAMORA PIERCE, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Following a conflict with the dreaded Wyrm, the barnyard animals try to piece together their shattered lives while unaware that their enemy plans new attacks.
A TIME 100 Must-Read Book of 2021 A New York Times Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of 2021 The Stonewall Book Award winner of 2022 Named a Best Book of 2021 by NPR, The New York Public Library, Publishers Weekly and more! A triumphant, genre-bending breakout novel from one of the boldest new voices in contemporary fiction. Vern—seven months pregnant and desperate to escape the strict religious compound where she was raised—flees for the shelter of the woods. There, she gives birth to twins, and plans to raise them far from the influence of the outside world. But even in the forest, Vern is a hunted woman. Forced to fight back against the community that refuses to let her go, she unleashes incredible brutality far beyond what a person should be capable of, her body wracked by inexplicable and uncanny changes. To understand her metamorphosis and to protect her small family, Vern has to face the past, and more troublingly, the future—outside the woods. Finding the truth will mean uncovering the secrets of the compound she fled but also the violent history in America that produced it. Rivers Solomon’s Sorrowland is a genre-bending work of Gothic fiction. Here, monsters aren’t just individuals, but entire nations. It is a searing, seminal book that marks the arrival of a bold, unignorable voice in American fiction.
Welcome to San Diego, where the perpetual sunshine blurs the line between good and evil, and sin and redemption are two sides of the same golden coin. Killin’ Time in San Diego is a gripping anthology edited by Holly West, featuring twenty of today’s best crime and mystery writers. Published in conjunction with Bouchercon 2023, this new anthology peels back the postcard-perfect image of San Diego to expose its darker side. With contributions from #1 New York Times bestseller C.J. Box and the Edgar-award-winning author Naomi Hirahara, plus a new story from Ann Cleeves OBE, published for the first time in the U.S., Killin’ Time in San Diego showcases an impressive lineup of writers, including Mary Keenan, C.W. Blackwell, J.R. Sanders, John M. Floyd, Kathy A. Norris, Kathleen L. Asay, L.H. Dillman, Richie Narvaez, Wesley Browne, Désirée Zamorano, James Thorpe, Kim Keeline, Victoria Weisfeld, Anne-Marie Campbell, Jennifer Berg, Tim P. Walker, and Emilya Naymark. From the haunted hallways of the Hotel del Coronado to the tranquil gardens of Balboa Park, from the opulent estates of La Jolla to the bustling Gaslamp Quarter, Killin’ Time in San Diego is your ticket to the hidden side of “America’s Finest City.” Critical Acclaim for KILLIN’ TIME IN SAN DIEGO: “Killin’ Time in San Diego is a knock-it-out-of-the-park grand slam. A must-have anthology for mystery readers everywhere." —Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Sleepless City “Anguished characters and desperate situations coil through this collection of uniquely creative plots—a fabulous anthology.” —Joe Ricker, author of Some Awful Cunning and All the Good in Evil “Killin’ Time in San Diego is weird, gothic, subtle, illicit, and a riot concocted by crime writers at the top of their game.” —Jay Gertzman, author of Beyond Twisted Sorrow “Another worthy addition to the Bouchercon legacy. Top writers on top of their game.” —Colin Campbell, author of the Jim Grant Thrillers “Holly West helms another fine anthology, proving once again that short crime fiction is alive and well…and living in San Diego.” —Josh Pachter, editor of Paranoia Blues: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Paul Simon “It’s not enough that San Diego has great beaches, natural attractions, the world’s best climate, and great food and nightlife. No, now San Diego also has this terrific anthology of canny crime fiction by some of the best authors in the business.” —Albert Tucher, author of Blood Like Rain and The Same Mistake Twice “A powerhouse anthology boasting stellar talent in top form.” —Tom Mead, author of Death and the Conjuror and The Murder Wheel “A lively, varied and well-written collection distinguished by sharp characterizations. Stories range from the gritty Gold Rush era to the high tech present and include a most unusual incarnation of Sherlock Holmes. Revenge and survival, sly cozies and twisty plots all confirm that fabulous weather is no barrier to bad behavior and successful sleuthing in Killin’ Time in San Diego.” —Janice Law, author of the Francis Bacon mysteries “Killin’ Time in San Diego, a collection of short crime fiction, continues a decade-long tradition of absorbing annual anthologies celebrating the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.” —J.L. Abramo, Shamus Award-winning author of Circling the Runway and Gravesend “Twenty authors present a delightful tapestry of tales that go from touching to twisty to amusing, populating them with a cast of characters you won’t soon forget.” —R.J. Koreto, author of the Historic Homes mysteries “A criminally rich compendium of San Diego-set mysteries that entertainingly spans the city geographically and throughout its history.” —Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Shamus-, Derringer- and International Thriller Writers-Award-nominated author of the Andy Hayes private eye series and editor of Columbus Noir “Bookended by two of the strongest stories I've read in a long time, this collection is thoroughly fantastic. Seen through these eyes, San Diego is both more appealing and threatening now.” —Ryan Sayles, author of Like Whitewashed Tombs and The Richard Dean Buckner trilogy “From chatty Canadian tourists, clandestine hitmen and (my favorite) a smelly killer whale detective, this collection of twenty criminally entertaining stories is the perfect companion when you’re stuck in traffic on the I-5.” —Linda Sands, former San Diego resident and award-winning Georgia Author of the Year “A superior collection of crime stories punctuated by comic tales of murderous merriment, this will not be your heaviest read of the summer but it will rank among the best.” —Rob Pierce, author of Snake Slayer and the Uncle Dust series
Lena Madadhi is desperate, a middle-aged arts teacher in Los Angeles whose teen daughter has been abducted. When seeking help from a private investigator, Joe Delancey, she finds he is out on a case at a Central Valley truck stop, deep undercover among truckers, prostitutes and nomads—entrenched in a doomsday sect called Gallows Dome. The further Lena digs to find Joe, the deeper she submerges into The Dome’s hellscape, spiraling closer toward her daughter’s whereabouts than she could ever imagine. An unflinching look at the dark side of family and faith, Nolan Knight’s Gallows Dome tackles a current American landscape whose thoughts and prayers help flap its flags at half-mast—teetering on the brink of total collapse. Critical Acclaim for Gallows Dome: “Poet Vincente Huidobro said that the writer’s job is quite simple: Invent new worlds and be careful what you say. That’s exactly what Nolan Knight does, and does wonderfully.” —James Sallis, author of Drive and Sarah Jane “This no-holds-barred noir from a writer to watch will grab readers’ attention, and regardless of the graphically described violence, it’s fun.” —Library Journal “Forget the glitz and glam of Hollywood, Knight gives us a ride in the real California crime machine rolling beyond the freeway off ramps.” —Tom Pitts, author of Coldwater and Hustle “Beyond Knight’s mastery of setting are his characters, as he draws complicated heroes & villains—fathers, mothers & misfits alike—that feel absolutely heartachingly real. Gallows Dome is pure, uncut L.A. crime.” —Peter Farris, author of Last Call for the Living and The Devil Himself “There are many superb elements here, but Knight’s voice is what makes Gallows Dome wildly entertaining and memorable. He offers fast, snappy prose with a level of punchy, slangy dialogue that dances between the brilliant and the ridiculous. The gripping and entertaining tale Knight splashes on the page here is definitely worth the ride.” —CrimeFictionCritic.com “If you like your writing with dirt under its nails, then let me introduce you to Nolan Knight...your new favorite writer.” —Tony O’Neill, author of Sick City, Digging the Vein and Down and Out on Murder Mile “If Hubert Selby slipped off the grid and was writing bad checks from Forgotten, California—it would sound like this thrilling book: boozy, hallucinatory, volatile. Knight has a wild, degenerate charm on the line level that brings its own doomsday.” —Joshua Mohr, author of Model Citizen and All This Life “Intoxicating and rattling, Gallows Dome is a raw nerved journey into a subterranean realm where a determined woman out of her depth must prevail or perish all hope.” —Gary Phillips, author of One-Shot Harry “Compulsively readable, Gallows Dome will leave you gasping for breath.” ––Patrick H. Moore, author of 27 Days “Gallows Dome is an atmospheric, contemporary, gritty noir tale replete with damsels in distress, a down and out detective, a hoedown, a showdown, an angel, and the devil incarnate—what more could you ask for? Kudos to Nolan Knight.” —Steven Max Russo, acclaimed author of Thieves and The Dead Don’t Sleep “Nolan Knight's Gallows Dome has it all. Missing children, desperate parents, drug dealers, psycho killers, private investigators, cult members, truck stop cuties, you name it. There’s so much here it's like getting two books for the price of one.” —Tim O'Mara, author of the Raymond Donne series “This noir thriller drops you into a hellish world of drugs, desperation, and deranged cultism. You will be riveted to the fiery end.” —Mark Troy, author of the Ava Rome private detective series “From perfectly pitched conversation to funky dives to cultish sadism…there's true madness here, and a Gothic-level shock of recognition.” —Jay Gertzman, author of Pulp According to David Goodis and Beyond Twisted Sorrow
“For the will desires not to be dark, and this very desire causes the darkness” (Jacob Boehme). Moving through the fundamental question of this paradox, this book offers a constellation of theoretical and critical essays that shed light on the darkness of the will: its obscurity to itself. Through indepth analysis of medieval and modern sources — Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius, Eriugena, Dante, Meister Eckhart, Chaucer, Nietzsche, Cioran, Meher Baba — this volume interrogates the nature and meaning of the will, along seven modes: spontaneity, potentiality, sorrow, matter, vision, eros, and sacrifice. These multiple lines of inquiry are finally presented to coalesce around one fundamental point of agreement: the will says yes, yet only a will that knows how to say no to itself, entering the silence of its own darkness, will ever be free.
Now a major television series, CARDINAL, and the first book in the John Cardinal series. When four teenagers go missing in the small northern town of Algonquin Bay, the extensive police investigation comes up empty. Everyone is ready to give up except Detective John Cardinal, an all-too-human loner whose persistence only serves to get him removed from homicide. Haunted by a criminal secret in his own past and hounded by a special investigation into corruption on the force, Cardinal is on the brink of losing his career—and his family. Then the mutilated body of thirteen-year-old Katie Pine is pulled out of an abandoned mineshaft. And only Cardinal is willing to consider the horrible truth: that this quiet town is home to the most vicious of serial killers. The case as it unfolds proves eerily reminiscent of the Moors murders in Britain, as an unassuming young man and his belligerently loyal girlfriend scout young victims for their macabre games. With the media, the provincial police and his own department questioning his every move, Cardinal follows increasingly tenuous threads towards the unthinkable. Time isn't only running out for him, but for another young victim, tied up in a basement wondering when and how his captors will kill him.
