One Bronze Knuckle
by Kenneth Hunter Gordon
“Small presses exist to publish joyously unclassifiable books like One Bronze Knuckle, which begins by declaring balderdash a magic word—and then proceeds to prove it!”
—Andy Duncan, award-winning author of An Agent of Utopia
FICTION / Fantasy / Humorous Print
ISBN: 978-1-941360-25-5
416 Pages • $20.00 Paperback • $9.99 EPUB
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
Publicity Contact: Feliza Casano
publicity@lanternfishpress.com
Jonathan Berger, known locally as The Bergermeister, is the head of Bergerton’s illustrious (and eponymous) Berger family. The Bergers have prospered in the town ever since the day when Jon’s great-great-grandfather refused to move from the very spot where his donkey cart had toppled over on the side of the road. Fortune smiles upon them all—until a catastrophic fire strikes on the night of the annual Feast of Sullivan, and they find themselves lost and scattered to the winds.
Runaway grandchildren, a pitchfork-armed local militia lost to the wars in the north, rival churches, a home for wayward boys, goat caves converted to a makeshift prison: their tortuous adventures are seemingly endless. But as they explore the wild world beyond the confines of their little town, circling ever nearer to the great island City, they also discover the connections that hold steadfast between them, no matter what the distance.
Narrated by a witch whose knack for storytelling far outstrips her questionable magical talent, this charming debut paints a world where anything might happen—and most of it does.
Photo Credit: TJ Gordon
About the Author
Kenneth Hunter Gordon answers to “Kenny” in real life. He’s reasonably handy with tools and can probably fix it if he can find the right glue. His favorite punctuation mark is the ellipsis. He lives in Salt Lake City with his family; prior to that he lived in Los Angeles, where he played in a reggae band and almost met Tracey Ullman. He’s been publishing poetry and short fiction in literary magazines for many years. This is his first novel.
Seriously, the ellipsis . . . Is it a pregnant pause? A raised eyebrow? A wistful trailing off? It has such character, yet it’s so ambiguous. Like arugula . . .
Comp Titles
Great for fans of The Princess Bride
A great next read for those who loved Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne
Also excellent for readers who grew up reading Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events—and suitable for teens as well as adults
Talking Points for Booksellers & Librarians
As if Charles Dickens set out to write One Hundred Years of Solitude but ended up with The Princess Bride instead.
A generational drama with a touch of the fantastic, perfect for Marquez fans seeking an uplifting and hopeful read.
Praise for One Bronze Knuckle
A witch's tale beguiling in story and cadence, One Bronze Knuckle is magical for its humor and its characters, keeping you spinning without ever losing direction.
—Andrew Katz, author of The Vampire Gideon's Suicide Hotline and Halfway House for Orphaned Girls
Whimsical, wryly humorous, and entirely charming—Kenneth Gordon has crafted a remarkable debut novel. One Bronze Knuckle is one part fairy tale and one part sprawling generational saga, in the tradition of fabulist writers from Laura Esquivel to Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Mark Helprin. Gordon is going to create great worlds.
—Jeff Chapman