Book Description

Beneath the Black Palms lurks the other side of living. Los Angeles—the siren, the beast—is the central antagonist within these eleven masterful, stylistically-diverse short stories. Nolan Knight maneuvers the City to destroy with open arms, its warm torments ushered for lonesome dreamers, outcasts, squares, con men and have-nots. A couple on the run fouls-up by taking refuge in a Mid-City roach motel; a gambler scrambles to save his life through a gauntlet of loan sharks; a young gang member’s dream of becoming a famous T.V. chef are dashed by turf warfare; these sordid tales and more await. Come for the sunshine, stay for the dread. No one is spared Beneath the Black Palms, the most unforgettable short story collection in recent years. Praise for Nolan Knight: “Knight’s slangy prose is a perfect fit for characters whose dreams die slowly or explosively.” —Publishers Weekly “The Neon Lights Are Veins is a dope-fueled gutter-punk odyssey through a gaudy nightmare version of Los Angeles. With echoes of James Ellroy and Nathanael West, Knight carves out his own bit of L.A. crime-writing turf in this impressive debut.” —Richard Lange, author of Rovers, Dead Boys, This Wicked World, Angel Baby, Sweet Nothing and The Smack “Nolan Knight is at the forefront of Hard-Ass-Noir. He’s the mad hatter of words and dark moody storytelling. He’s a creative crime-pugilist!” —Frank Bill, author of Crimes in Southern Indiana, Donnybrook and The Savage “Nolan Knight has written a dark, dirty and entertaining sewer ride through the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles. Imagine Nathanael West and Darby Crash writing a twenty-first century noir and you’ve got The Neon Lights Are Veins. Highly recommended.” —Jim Ruland, author of Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise and Fall of SST Records, Forest of Fortune, My Damage: The Story of a Punk Rock Survivor and Do What You Want: The Story of Bad Religion “High action. Very fast paced. A great read. Highly Recommended.” —S.W. Lauden, author of Bad Citizen Corporation, Grizzly Season and Hang Time “Nolan Knight’s The Neon Lights Are Veins is unlike anything I’ve read before (and that’s saying something!). The novel’s story is a fast-paced mystery and caper, dragging the reader through the underbelly of the Los Angeles night, but most impressive is Knight’s style: in your face and no-holds-barred.” —Steph Post, author of A Tree Born Crooked, Lightwood, Holding Smoke and Miraculum “Hardboiled as all get out—no noir devotee will want to.” —Barry Gifford “Nolan Knight is at the forefront of Hard-Ass-Noir. He’s the mad hatter of words and dark moody storytelling. He’s a creative crime-pugilist!” —Frank Bill, author of Crimes in Southern Indiana, Donnybrook and The Savage “Amazing, beautiful, heartbreaking work.” —Allison Anders, writer/director of Gas Food Lodging, Border Radio, Mi Vida Loca and Grace of My Heart