The Danes--the band known as the "Darlings of Detroit"--are washed up and desperate for inspiration, eager to once again have a number one hit. That is, until an agent from the US Army approaches them. Will they travel to an African desert and track down the source of a mysterious and malevolent sound? Under the guidance of their front man, Philip Tonka, the Danes embark on a harrowing journey through the scorching desert--a trip that takes Tonka into the heart of an ominous and twisted conspiracy. Meanwhile, in a nondescript Midwestern hospital, a nurse named Ellen tends to a patient recovering from a near-fatal accident. The circumstances that led to his injuries are mysterious--and his body heals at a remarkable rate. Ellen will do the impossible for this enigmatic patient, who reveals more about his accident with each passing day. -- Amazon.com.
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10 books in catalog
Post-apocalyptic horror fiction gained widespread attention with the publication of Bird Box, a novel exploring psychological survival under total sensory deprivation that was later adapted into a feature film. Josh Malerman introduced readers to this sensory-focused narrative, establishing a distinct presence in contemporary horror and speculative fiction.
Before publishing his debut novel with ECCO/HarperCollins in 2014, Josh Malerman wrote fourteen complete novels without ever shopping a single manuscript to agents or publishers. During this period, he spent six years touring extensively as a singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for the Detroit-based rock band The High Strung, playing an average of 250 shows a year across the United States. He wrote many of his early rough drafts in the passenger seat of the tour van while traveling between cities. For years, Malerman maintained what he described as a glorious delusion, engaging in phantom interviews, imagining interactions with fictional literary agents, debating invisible editors, and placing imaginary hardcover books on his shelves.
The situation changed when Dave Simmer, a friend from high school who had worked with authors and properties in Hollywood, contacted Malerman to ask permission to share one of his manuscripts with contacts in the publishing industry. Simmer helped assemble a professional team, leading to representation by a real agent and active editorial guidance. Following the release of Bird Box in 2014, Malerman published numerous novels, novellas, and short story collections while remaining active in music and later co-founding the production company Spin a Black Yarn in 2020.
Malerman's fiction is marked by high-concept psychological tension, atmospheric horror, and rhythmic pacing influenced by his musical background. Heavily influenced by classic horror films and literature such as The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, and Bram Stoker's Dracula, alongside classic authors like William Faulkner and Fyodor Dostoevsky, he often constructs book structures with the sequencing and flow of music albums. His stories frequently revolve around unseen or inexplicable threats, close-knit family dynamics, and high-stakes survival scenarios that force characters to navigate extreme environmental or sensory restrictions.
