As we noted a little while ago, JABberwocky are re-issuing a number of Jonathan Carroll‘s acclaimed back-list titles this summer. Today, we’re very happy to report that four more are now available! Read on for more details on each book…
THE CROW’S DINNER
The Crow’s Dinner weaves a tapestry of tales, spotlighting striking, poignant moments of raw human emotion and fleeting connections, keenly and compassionately observed by Carroll. This collection is a nocturnal journey through intimate encounters in cafes, episodes of beautiful youth without shelter, and the subtle unraveling of personal facades.
‘[A]n eccentric and fascinating assortment of observations, musings, anecdotes, and snatches of story…bears witness to the novelist’s attentive eye and ability to illuminate the mundane.’ — Publishers Weekly
BATHING THE LION
Five individuals from the same New England town, some acquainted and others not, all have the same remarkable dream one evening. Upon awakening, they realize they were once “mechanics,” a kind of celestial repairmen tasked with maintaining the universe’s order and rectifying the disruptions caused by both conscious beings and the occasional, inevitably destructive Chaos. Being a mechanic is an arduous and draining profession. So after a certain amount of time, all mechanics’ memories are wiped clean and new identities are crafted for them to blend in with new environments. Dispatched to various corners of the cosmos, they live out their remaining days as ordinary civilians of different worlds. However, for the first time, ALL retired mechanics are now being summoned back to work because a new kind of hugely destructive Chaos is coming. One like nothing ever seen before.
‘This lyrical and thematically rich novel is not to be underestimated.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
‘Carroll is known for his magical fiction, and his newest novel is sure to please fans who have been missing him since his last.’ — Booklist
BONES OF THE MOON
Bones of the Moon is the story of a young woman named Cullen James who leads a dual life, one in the real world and the other in her vivid night dreams set in a magical land called Rondua. In these dreams, Cullen embarks on a quest to find the Bones of the Moon, five bones that hold power over Rondua. As the dreams intensify, they begin to impact her waking life, leading to unsettling and frightening intersections between the two worlds. Alongside an enigmatic little boy also seeking the bones, and Mr. Tracy, a dog the size of a hot-air balloon, Cullen navigates through both realms in search of these mystical bones.
‘A gorgeous, frightening, imaginative, loving, unsettling, funny, gruesome, thought-provoking novel. This grand book is a triumph.’ — Stephen King
THE GHOST IN LOVE
One day Ben Gould slips on the ice, hits his head, and is supposed to die. But he doesn’t. Instead, Gould finds himself in a strange situation where he continues to live as if nothing happened. As a result, a ghost that was originally sent to guide Ben to the Afterlife is stuck on earth while its bosses try to figure out what went wrong. The situation catches the attention of various supernatural entities, besides the ghost. The story weaves through the perspectives of Ben, the ghost, his girlfriend German Landis, and even a talking dog named Pilot.
As Ben and these characters grapple with the implications of his non-death, they start to uncover deeper mysteries about love, destiny, and the reasons why some people are chosen to live or die. The story delves into the complexities of human emotions and connections, with a focus on how love can transcend even death itself and the invisible forces that shape our destinies.
‘…literal, comical, and metaphysical all at once. Delightful reading.’ — Booklist
‘…an excellent and dizzying view of the everyday world.’ — Reactor