Knife Fight: And Other Struggles

Stories of the mysterious and macabre from “Canada’s answer to Stephen King” (Helen Marshall, author of Gifts for the One Who Comes After).   In this follow-up to his award-winning debut collection, Monstrous Affections, David Nickle stretches the boundaries of horror into a sphere of “uncertainty, of helplessness, of traditions and change. . . . The stories are sui generis in presentation, veering from the discombobulating nightmare that is ‘Basements’ to the squid-laden eco-satire ‘Wylde’s Kingdom’ to the sci-fi love of ‘Love Means Forever.’ When it comes to this book, only two things are certain; the stories never travel where you expect, and David Nickle is a monumental talent” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).   “Don’t make the mistake of overlooking the talent based on preconceptions of what horror might be—read one of these stories and see if you aren’t hooked. . . . Believe the hype. David Nickle is very good.” —The Globe and Mail   “Anyone even vaguely interested in horror or weird fiction owes it to themselves to give David Nickle a look, and Knife Fight and Other Struggles is a great place to start.” —The Winnipeg Free Press   “Knife Fight and Other Struggles is a remarkable collection that drops some hi-fidelity weirdness on the scene. Nickle’s prose has gorgeous lines of symmetry and a steel spine.” —Laird Barron, Shirley Jackson Award–winning author   “Dynamic imagination, masterful writing of both the everyday and the nightmare, characters that breathe, and a dark sense of humor make [Knife Fight and Other Struggles] a keeper.” —Jeffrey Ford, World Fantasy Award–winning author

even when they’re laced with righteous anger. He’s at the top of his game in this new book of short stories, and that’s about as good as it gets.”

“David Nickle is my favourite kind of writer. His stories are dark, wildly imaginative, and deeply compassionate

Helen Marshall, British Fantasy Award–winning author of Hair Side, Flesh Side

“David Nickle is Canada’s answer to Stephen King. His writing charms even as it slices like a blade between the ribs: sharp, subtle, and never less than devastating.”

About the Author

David Nickle is an award-winning Toronto-based author and journalist. He has written several novels and numerous short stories. Nickle’s most recent book is Volk: A Novel of Radiant Abomination (2017).

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