S. by Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrams - Fiction - Hardcover

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780857864772
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Age Range: Adult

Overview
S. is an unconventional literary puzzle box conceived by filmmaker J.J. Abrams and written by novelist Doug Dorst. Packaged as a vintage library book called Ship of Theseus, credited to the mysterious V.M. Straka, this hardcover edition arrives full of tucked-in ephemera, handwritten margin notes from two entangled readers, and a story-within-a-story structure unlike anything else on the shelf. Readers who love immersive, hands-on fiction will find themselves piecing together mystery, romance, and conspiracy page by page.

About the Book
At its core, S. presents Ship of Theseus, the final novel by the enigmatic and possibly fictional author V.M. Straka, a nautical tale about a man with no memory who is shanghaied aboard a strange, menacing ship. Layered over this text are the handwritten annotations of two readers, Jennifer and Eric, who begin trading notes in the margins of a library copy left behind by a stranger. What starts as literary curiosity grows into a shared investigation into Straka's true identity, and eventually into real affection and real danger for the two annotators themselves. Tucked between the pages are loose inserts, postcards, letters, newspaper clippings, a hand-drawn map, and even a coded decoder wheel, all designed to be pulled out, read, and puzzled over as the story unfolds. The hardcover is issued without a dust jacket, in keeping with its "found library book" conceit, and comes packaged to preserve the many inserts that make this edition special. Because so much of the narrative lives in the margins and the loose ephemera rather than in straightforward chapters, S. rewards slow, attentive reading and re-reading, with new details and connections to spot each time. It's a genuinely unique object as much as it is a novel, ideal for readers who enjoy meta-fiction, literary puzzles, and stories that blur the line between the book and the reading experience itself.

Key Benefits

• Brand new hardcover copy of a genre-defying literary puzzle novel
• Includes the full set of loose ephemera inserts as originally published
• Dual narrative structure: a novel plus handwritten marginalia from two readers
• Perfect for fans of immersive, interactive, and unconventional storytelling
• A standout conversation-piece gift for book lovers and collectors
• Rewards multiple readings with hidden details and layered mystery

About the Author
Doug Dorst is the author of the PEN/Hemingway-nominated novel Alive in Necropolis and the story collection The Surf Guru, and he teaches writing at Texas State University. J.J. Abrams is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for directing and producing acclaimed films and television including Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Trek, Lost, Fringe, and Alias. Together, Abrams conceived the concept for S. while Dorst wrote the intertwined novel and marginalia, resulting in a genuinely collaborative and one-of-a-kind literary project.

Why You'll Love This Book
A tactile, puzzle-filled reading experience that makes an unforgettable gift for the literary fiction lover in your life, whether for a birthday, holiday season, or simply as a standout addition to any home library or book club pick.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.