Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Hardcover

Sloan, Robin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374214913 ISBN 13: 9780374214913

Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2012

Synopsis

A gleeful and exhilarating tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal life—mostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead “checking out” impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he’s embarked on a complex analysis of the customers’ behavior and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what’s going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore.

With irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan has crafted a literary adventure story for the twenty-first century, evoking both the fairy-tale charm of Haruki Murakami and the enthusiastic novel-of-ideas wizardry of Neal Stephenson or a young Umberto Eco, but with a unique and feisty sensibility that’s rare to the world of literary fiction.Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave, a modern-day cabinet of wonders ready to give a jolt of energy to every curious reader, no matter the time of day.

About this title

Review

"His story is an old-fashioned tale likeably reconceived for the digital age, with the happy message that ingenuity and friendship translate across centuries and data platforms." -- Publishers Weekly, "starred, boxed review"

"A real tour de force [and] a beautiful fable...The reader is swept along by Sloan's enthusiasm."--George Saunders, " BLIP Magazine
""Part love letter to books, part technological meditation, part thrilling adventure, part requiem... Eminently enjoyable, full of warmth and intelligence."--"The New York Times Book Review
""A book about passion--for books, for history, for the future...There is nothing about "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" that I didn't love."--Cory Doctorow
"Delightful." --Graham Joyce, "The Washington Post
""An irresistible page-turning novel." --"Newsweek
""One of the most thoughtful and fun reading experiences you're likely to have this year...There's so much largehearted magic in this book."--NPR
"A jaunty, surprisingly old-fashioned fantasy about the places where old and new ways of accessing knowledge meet...["Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore"] cleverly uses the technological age in the service of its fantasy...Sloan's ultimate answer to the mystery of what keeps people solving Penumbra's puzzle is worth turning pages to find out."--Tess Taylor, "San Francisco Chronicle
""[A] winning literary adventure...Sloan grounds his jigsawlike plot with Big Ideas about the quest for permanence in the digital age."--Thom Geier, "Entertainment Weekly
""Fantastic...I loved diving into the world that Sloan created, both the high-tech fantasyland of Google and the ancient analog society. It's packed full of geeky allusions and wonderful characters, and is a celebration of books, whether they're made of dead trees or digits."--Jonathan H. Liu, "Wired," GeekDad
"Sloan makes bits and bytes appear beautiful. ...The rebels' journey to crack the code--grappling with an ancient cult, using secret passwords and hidden doorways--will excite anyone's inner child."--"The Economist
""Man, is this book fun--especially for any book nerd who isn't in denial about living in the modern age. If you love physical books (the smell! The feel!) but wouldn't give up your iPhone for any reason, if you like puzzles and geeky allusions and bookish cults and quests, then this book is for you. It also glows in the dark."--Emily Temple, "Flavorpill
""What makes "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" so impressive is Sloan's great gift for storytelling and his cast of brilliant, eccentric characters. Think of this novel as part Haruki Murakami, part Dan Brown and part Joseph Cornell: a surreal adventure, an existential detective story and a cabinet of wonders at which to marvel."--Carmela Ciuraru, "Newsday
""Beguiling...The plot is as tight as nesting boxes, or whatever their digital equivalent...Sly and infectious."--Karen R. Long, "The Cleveland Plain Dealer
""Sloan isn't just exploring new ideas, but laying the groundwork for a new genre of literature. While the influence of Neal Stephenson and William Gibson is present, "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" is something all its own: a technocratic adventure where every riddle and puzzle is solved with very real gadgets, a humanizing reflection on technology that evokes the tone of a fairy tale, a brisk and brainy story imbued with such confidence that it will leave you with nothing but excitement about the things to come."--Kevin Nguyen, Grantland
"In a time when actual books are filling up tag-sale dollar boxes, along with VHS tapes and old beepers, "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" reminds us that there is an intimate, adventurous joy in the palpable papery things called novels, and in the warm little secret societies we used to call 'bookstores.' Robin Sloan's novel is delightfully funny, provocative, deft, and even thrilling. And for reasons more than just nostalgia, I could not stop turning these actual pages."--John Hodgman
"The love child of Erin Morgenstern's "The Night Circus" and Neal Stephenson's "Reamde," "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" is a hugely enjoyable story of friendship, living, and the lure of the mysterious. It's a good-hearted, optimistic book about the meeting of modern technology and medieval mystery, a tonal road map to a positive relationship between the old world and the new. It's a book that gets it. Plus, you know: cryptographic cults, vertical bookshops, hot geeks, theft, and the pursuit of immortality. I loved it. And yes, I too would freeze my head."--Nick Harkaway
"Robin Sloan is a skilled architect, and "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore "is an ingeniously designed space, full of mysteries and codes. A clever, entertaining story that also manages to be a thought-provoking meditation on progress, information and technology. Full of intelligence and humor."--Charles Yu

A real tour de force [and] a beautiful fable...The reader is swept along by Sloan's enthusiasm. "George Saunders, BLIP Magazine"

Part love letter to books, part technological meditation, part thrilling adventure, part requiem... Eminently enjoyable, full of warmth and intelligence. "The New York Times Book Review"

A book about passion--for books, for history, for the future...There is nothing about "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" that I didn't love. "Cory Doctorow"

Delightful. "Graham Joyce, The Washington Post"

An irresistible page-turning novel. "Newsweek"

One of the most thoughtful and fun reading experiences you're likely to have this year...There's so much largehearted magic in this book. "NPR"

A jaunty, surprisingly old-fashioned fantasy about the places where old and new ways of accessing knowledge meet...["Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore"] cleverly uses the technological age in the service of its fantasy...Sloan's ultimate answer to the mystery of what keeps people solving Penumbra's puzzle is worth turning pages to find out. "Tess Taylor, San Francisco Chronicle"

[A] winning literary adventure...Sloan grounds his jigsawlike plot with Big Ideas about the quest for permanence in the digital age. "Thom Geier, Entertainment Weekly"

Fantastic...I loved diving into the world that Sloan created, both the high-tech fantasyland of Google and the ancient analog society. It's packed full of geeky allusions and wonderful characters, and is a celebration of books, whether they're made of dead trees or digits. "Jonathan H. Liu, Wired, GeekDad"

Sloan makes bits and bytes appear beautiful. ...The rebels' journey to crack the code--grappling with an ancient cult, using secret passwords and hidden doorways--will excite anyone's inner child. "The Economist"

Man, is this book fun--especially for any book nerd who isn't in denial about living in the modern age. If you love physical books (the smell! The feel!) but wouldn't give up your iPhone for any reason, if you like puzzles and geeky allusions and bookish cults and quests, then this book is for you. It also glows in the dark. "Emily Temple, Flavorpill"

What makes "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" so impressive is Sloan's great gift for storytelling and his cast of brilliant, eccentric characters. Think of this novel as part Haruki Murakami, part Dan Brown and part Joseph Cornell: a surreal adventure, an existential detective story and a cabinet of wonders at which to marvel. "Carmela Ciuraru, Newsday"

Beguiling...The plot is as tight as nesting boxes, or whatever their digital equivalent...Sly and infectious. "Karen R. Long, The Cleveland Plain Dealer"

Sloan isn't just exploring new ideas, but laying the groundwork for a new genre of literature. While the influence of Neal Stephenson and William Gibson is present, "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" is something all its own: a technocratic adventure where every riddle and puzzle is solved with very real gadgets, a humanizing reflection on technology that evokes the tone of a fairy tale, a brisk and brainy story imbued with such confidence that it will leave you with nothing but excitement about the things to come. "Kevin Nguyen, Grantland"

In a time when actual books are filling up tag-sale dollar boxes, along with VHS tapes and old beepers, "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" reminds us that there is an intimate, adventurous joy in the palpable papery things called novels, and in the warm little secret societies we used to call bookstores.' Robin Sloan's novel is delightfully funny, provocative, deft, and even thrilling. And for reasons more than just nostalgia, I could not stop turning these actual pages. "John Hodgman"

The love child of Erin Morgenstern's "The Night Circus" and Neal Stephenson's "Reamde," "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" is a hugely enjoyable story of friendship, living, and the lure of the mysterious. It's a good-hearted, optimistic book about the meeting of modern technology and medieval mystery, a tonal road map to a positive relationship between the old world and the new. It's a book that gets it. Plus, you know: cryptographic cults, vertical bookshops, hot geeks, theft, and the pursuit of immortality. I loved it. And yes, I too would freeze my head. "Nick Harkaway"

Robin Sloan is a skilled architect, and "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore "is an ingeniously designed space, full of mysteries and codes. A clever, entertaining story that also manages to be a thought-provoking meditation on progress, information and technology. Full of intelligence and humor. "Charles Yu""

A real tour de force [and] a beautiful fable...The reader is swept along by Sloan's enthusiasm. George Saunders, BLIP Magazine

Part love letter to books, part technological meditation, part thrilling adventure, part requiem... Eminently enjoyable, full of warmth and intelligence. The New York Times Book Review

A book about passion--for books, for history, for the future...There is nothing about Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore that I didn't love. Cory Doctorow

Delightful. Graham Joyce, The Washington Post

An irresistible page-turning novel. Newsweek

One of the most thoughtful and fun reading experiences you're likely to have this year...There's so much largehearted magic in this book. NPR

A jaunty, surprisingly old-fashioned fantasy about the places where old and new ways of accessing knowledge meet...[Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore] cleverly uses the technological age in the service of its fantasy...Sloan's ultimate answer to the mystery of what keeps people solving Penumbra's puzzle is worth turning pages to find out. Tess Taylor, San Francisco Chronicle

[A] winning literary adventure...Sloan grounds his jigsawlike plot with Big Ideas about the quest for permanence in the digital age. Thom Geier, Entertainment Weekly

Fantastic...I loved diving into the world that Sloan created, both the high-tech fantasyland of Google and the ancient analog society. It's packed full of geeky allusions and wonderful characters, and is a celebration of books, whether they're made of dead trees or digits. Jonathan H. Liu, Wired, GeekDad

Sloan makes bits and bytes appear beautiful. ...The rebels' journey to crack the code--grappling with an ancient cult, using secret passwords and hidden doorways--will excite anyone's inner child. The Economist

Man, is this book fun--especially for any book nerd who isn't in denial about living in the modern age. If you love physical books (the smell! The feel!) but wouldn't give up your iPhone for any reason, if you like puzzles and geeky allusions and bookish cults and quests, then this book is for you. It also glows in the dark. Emily Temple, Flavorpill

What makes Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore so impressive is Sloan's great gift for storytelling and his cast of brilliant, eccentric characters. Think of this novel as part Haruki Murakami, part Dan Brown and part Joseph Cornell: a surreal adventure, an existential detective story and a cabinet of wonders at which to marvel. Carmela Ciuraru, Newsday

Beguiling...The plot is as tight as nesting boxes, or whatever their digital equivalent...Sly and infectious. Karen R. Long, The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Sloan isn't just exploring new ideas, but laying the groundwork for a new genre of literature. While the influence of Neal Stephenson and William Gibson is present, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is something all its own: a technocratic adventure where every riddle and puzzle is solved with very real gadgets, a humanizing reflection on technology that evokes the tone of a fairy tale, a brisk and brainy story imbued with such confidence that it will leave you with nothing but excitement about the things to come. Kevin Nguyen, Grantland

In a time when actual books are filling up tag-sale dollar boxes, along with VHS tapes and old beepers, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore reminds us that there is an intimate, adventurous joy in the palpable papery things called novels, and in the warm little secret societies we used to call bookstores.' Robin Sloan's novel is delightfully funny, provocative, deft, and even thrilling. And for reasons more than just nostalgia, I could not stop turning these actual pages. John Hodgman

The love child of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Neal Stephenson's Reamde, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is a hugely enjoyable story of friendship, living, and the lure of the mysterious. It's a good-hearted, optimistic book about the meeting of modern technology and medieval mystery, a tonal road map to a positive relationship between the old world and the new. It's a book that gets it. Plus, you know: cryptographic cults, vertical bookshops, hot geeks, theft, and the pursuit of immortality. I loved it. And yes, I too would freeze my head. Nick Harkaway

Robin Sloan is a skilled architect, and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is an ingeniously designed space, full of mysteries and codes. A clever, entertaining story that also manages to be a thought-provoking meditation on progress, information and technology. Full of intelligence and humor. Charles Yu

"

"A real tour de force [and] a beautiful fable...The reader is swept along by Sloan's enthusiasm." --George Saunders, BLIP Magazine

"Part love letter to books, part technological meditation, part thrilling adventure, part requiem... Eminently enjoyable, full of warmth and intelligence." --The New York Times Book Review

"A book about passion--for books, for history, for the future...There is nothing about Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore that I didn't love." --Cory Doctorow

"Delightful." --Graham Joyce, The Washington Post

"An irresistible page-turning novel." --Newsweek

"One of the most thoughtful and fun reading experiences you're likely to have this year...There's so much largehearted magic in this book." --NPR

"A jaunty, surprisingly old-fashioned fantasy about the places where old and new ways of accessing knowledge meet...[Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore] cleverly uses the technological age in the service of its fantasy...Sloan's ultimate ans...

Book Description

A New York Times bestseller, Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore is an entirely charming and lovable first novel of mysterious books and dusty bookshops; it is a witty and delightful love-letter to both the old book world and the new.

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0374214913
• ISBN 13: 9780374214913
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288