Lockdown: Stories of Crime, Terror, and Hope During a Pandemic

by Nick Kolakowski (Editor), Steve Weddle (Editor)

Overview

A mysterious virus sweeps across the country, mutating rapidly as it jumps from person to person. Cities are locked down. The skies are clear as all planes are grounded. Some people panic, while some go to heroic lengths to save those they love—and others use the chaos as an opportunity to engage in purest evil. In “Lockdown,” 19 of today’s finest suspense, horror, and crime writers explore how humanity reacts to the ultimate pandemic. From New York City to the Mexican border, from the Deep South to the misty shores of Seattle, their characters are fighting for survival against incredible odds. An anthology for our time, showing how the worst crises can lead to the best of us. Proceeds from LOCKDOWN will go to support BINC, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, as it seeks to help booksellers recover from the devastating COVID-19 crisis. Contributors to LOCKDOWN include: Hector Acosta Scott Adlerberg Ann Dávila Cardinal V. Castro Angel Luis Colon Jen Conley Terri Lynn Coop S.A. Cosby Alex DiFrancesco Michelle Garza/Melissa Lason Rob Hart Gabino Iglesias Nick Kolakowski Richie Narvaez Cina Pelayo Renee Asher Pickup Eryk Pruitt Johnny Shaw Steve Weddle

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781951709174
Publisher:	Polis Books
Publication date:	06/16/2020
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	15 - 18 Years

About the Author

Nick Kolakowski is the author of the noir thrillers Maxine Unleashes Doomsday and Boise Longpig Hunting Club, both from Down & Out Books, as well as the Love & Bullets trilogy of novellas (Shotgun Honey). His short fiction and poetry have appeared in McSweeney’s, North American Review, Carrier Pigeon, Thuglit, Evergreen Review, and various anthologies. He lives and writes in New York City. Steve Weddle is best known for his novel Country Hardball, which The New York Times called "downright dazzling." The follow-up story, "South of Bradley," appeared in Playboy magazine. He is the co-founder of the crime fiction collective Do Some Damage, the co-creator of the noir magazine Needle, and a regular instructor at LitReactor.

Editorial Reviews

08/10/2020

Twenty authors provide creative responses to setting a story during a pandemic in what is likely to be but the first such anthology. In Rob Hart’s “No Honor Among Thieves,” a convincing portrayal of a largely deserted Manhattan, his lead, Roger, ventures downtown to recover a valuable file folder from his office. The real danger, however, begins after Roger’s made it safely back home to Westchester. Also notable is V. Castro’s “Asylum,” about a future in which Mexico seals its border against Americans desperate to escape a disease ravaging their own country. The standout is Scott Adlerberg’s “The Rescue,” in which a teleworking city employee, sentimentally attached to a plant his wife gave him that he’d left behind in the rush to shelter in place, tries to retrieve it from his office. The painfully rigid bureaucratic response he encounters forces him to extreme measures. Other contributors venture into the supernatural in tales featuring ghosts and werewolves. Though readers will be hard-pressed to find the hope promised in the subtitle, those interested in grim fiction based on today’s realities will find a variety of imaginative approaches. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Extraordinary...There is something for every reader, south-western meth, semi-comedic NYC jailbreaks, dystopian horror, and even a bit of hope. The variety is remarkable. This is a fun read for a noble cause." —Criminal Element "Excellent...The plots are ingenious, carefully constructed and extraordinarily attention-grabbing." —Bookreporter "The authors went to great lengths to ensure that quality narratives are contained herein. It is worth reading and savoring these stories and — why not? — even fearing the possibility that some of them might come true." —Washington Independent Review of Books

From the Publisher