Kings of Nowhere

In this collection of darkly magical short stories, Patrick de Moss grounds speculative fantasy in a more psychological, complex world - and does so to stunning effect. In "The Sweet Shepherd" a man incapable of dying and living in Connecticut hires a chauffeur, and comes in close contact with the unmitigated sorrow of loss. In "Like Clockwork" a lonely accountant discovers a man of bronze and brings him back to life, only to see the pain he carries with him from her act of kindness. In "A Strange Boy", Nicholas must decide the fate of a childhood friend - a moment that may in many ways save or end his own life. In each case, de Moss hones in on the small victories and losses of ordinary people trying to survive in a world that only rarely needs them. Reminiscent of the spirit of Charles de Lint and Guillermo Del Toro's "Pan's Labryinth" de Moss' debut is a meditation on isolation as the stories weave together to create a vivid tapestry and a unified, though broken whole. His stories delve deeply into the very nature of what it means to try to be human, exploring our fears, triumphs, tragedies and the heartache that comes along with the reality - and our perceptions of reality - of the gulf that exists between another and ourselves. As thought provoking as it is arresting, "Kings of Nowhere" is a transformative collection, keenly aware of the pulse of life and the desire within us all for a place to feel needed and welcome.