Tap cover to enlarge

The Long Trial of Nolan Dugatti

Published
Aug 2008
Main Genre
Literary Literary
Pages
196

About This Book

"This strange, subtle story of father-son disaffection and disjointed love is told with [Jones's] signature narrative inventiveness and dark humor." —Kris Saknussemm, author of Private Midnight

If drinking mercury from a thermometer didn't kill him, maybe spray painting in an unventilated garage would. Or so Nolan's father thought. One inspired yet failed suicide attempt after another, each with a note to his son—with only a hint of accusation.


But as Nolan sits in an empty office building, the last customer service employee for a nearly obsolete video game, those many suicide notes come back to haunt him. As do the levels of the game that no one plays anymore. And now a homicide detective is on the phone.


Maybe his father was right when he wrote that he was teaching Nolan not to give up, that the only way to understand what happened was to make it to the end of the game. But there's no cheatcode that's going to get Nolan through this . . .


"Two unreliable narrators, a bunch of suicide letters, and a plot that collapses on itself just like the characters do—Stephen Graham Jones is our contemporary Jorge Luis Borges." —Michael Kimball, author of Big Ray

"Like Lethem and Murakami before him, Jones mines his genre fiction past to bring us a work of startling literary merit. Mystery, horror, sci-fi: the ingredients are all in there." —David Goodwillie, author of Kings County

"[A] stark exploration of guilt, grief, and fear. . . . And did I mention that it's funny? Unplug your consoles, kids, and play this book." —Zack Wentz, author of The Garbageman and the Prostitute

Genres & Themes

Subgenres

Buy This Book

Formats & Editions

Browse the different covers, formats, and publication history for this title.

Paperback

Paperback edition cover
Trade Paperback
First Edition Aug 2008 Chiasmus Press ISBN 0981502741
Buy
Paperback edition cover
Trade Paperback
Oct 2024 Open Road Integrated Media, Inc. ISBN 1504096479
Buy

eBook

eBook edition cover
eBook
Aug 2008 Dzanc Books ISBN 193687346X
Buy
eBook edition cover
eBook
Aug 2008 Dzanc Books ISBN B0066A8O9M
Buy
eBook edition cover
eBook
Jun 2013 Dzanc Books ISBN 1480426172
Buy
eBook edition cover
eBook
Oct 2024 Open Road Publishing ISBN 1504096274
Buy