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Cover of Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore

Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore

Robin Sloan (2012)

SubgenreFantasy
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingPG
Pages288 (Standard (250-400))
Setting
CSM age13
Goodreads3.67/5 (9)

Content levels

ViolenceNone
Sexual contentNone
LanguageMild

Trigger warnings

Not yet tagged

Hero archetypes

Bookish / Nerdy Hero

Protagonist archetypes

Quest

Synopsis

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, but after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything; instead, they "check out" large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele's behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends, but when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore's secrets extend far beyond its walls.

Tags

Literary FictionMysteryContemporary FantasyTech Thriller