12:00 am LIVE

By Brian Knight

This is a short, beautiful book. Usually in the world of books you get part of the package, or most of the package, but something just slips away. Either the writing isn’t quite up to par, or the proof-reading is poor, or the design is flawed … or the book itself is poorly constructed. In most cases, one or more of these flaws rears its ugly head.

12:00 am Live is not such a book. The writing is clean, professional, and compelling. The title story is a longer piece with surreal elements that are reminiscent of Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker, but at the same time uniquely Brian Knight. I’ve been following Brian’s fiction for many years now, and there is a maturity and style to this book that speaks of great things to come.

The premise is that a renegade radio station visits the radio of a security guard driving his “beat” late at night. A string of incidents involving a girl, decadent sex, and a past he’d rather forget haunt the protagonist, both through the renegade radio broadcasts and encounters with a girl he knows only as Lisa.

There is a unique blend of surreal imagery and gritty reality that draws the reader straight through. It’s very difficult to put this story down.

The second, shorter piece – “Toys in the Attic” – which is only available in the lettered edition - is heartbreaking. Two children .. an attic…memories they cherish and those they are afraid to confront. I won’t say more because it would be difficult to do so without giving away the story. Brian Knight writes with the voices of children as if he’s in their heads and hearts. This story will drill into your heart and leave a mark.

Add to that the hand-made wonder that is the book itself (particularly the lettered edition, which is what I have). The book is beautiful. The layout is masterfully crafted, encompassing a lot more graphic content than is usual, but so tastefully done that it enhances, rather than distracting from the text. The book is actually hand-bound, signature sewn and boards lovingly crafted…it’s durable beyond believe, and the way it’s bound allows it to open and lay almost flat without damaging the spine…very easy to read – high-quality paper…and clean as the day is long.

This is a publisher you will find impossible to collect after a few books…they produce small limitations, and when the word spreads about the rarity of the quality – the hand-made excellence that turns each book into a piece of art, they are going to disappear faster than Chris Hedges can bind them.

The same care goes into the trade paperbacks, also made by hand – also gorgeous. I cannot stress too much that this is one of the finest books I own, in every respect. Now, click on the cover art and go buy one at THE HORROR MALL!