The Black Phone by Joe Hill - Lettered Edition

Limit 1 Copy Per Person. Refer to our Order Limits policy.

A haunting tale of isolation and resilience, “The Black Phone” by Joe Hill is a masterclass in short-form horror and the inspiration for one of the most critically acclaimed horror films of the past five years.

Thirteen-year-old Finney Blake is abducted by a sadistic killer. Held captive in a locked basement, Finney discovers a disconnected black rotary phone mounted to the wall. At first glance, it seems useless. But then the phone begins to ring. One by one, Finney begins receiving calls from the killer’s previous victims—boys who were once in his place and who didn’t survive. Their whispers echo through the line, offering fragments of advice, warnings and a chance at escape that may be Finney’s only hope.

With razor-sharp pacing and a mounting sense of dread, “The Black Phone” delves into the psychology of terror, the resilience of a young boy forced to face the unimaginable and the chilling persistence of trauma that lingers beyond death. Hill conjures a visceral sense of place in the basement prison and gives voice—literally and figuratively—to the children whose lives were stolen too soon.

Originally published in Hill’s acclaimed debut collection 20th Century Ghosts, “The Black Phone” stands out as a chilling testament to his ability to blend emotional depth with supernatural suspense. 

In 2021, the story was adapted into a screenplay by Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill. The film received rave reviews from critics and became one of the top ten highest-grossing films in the United States for seven consecutive weeks. Cargill has written a new afterword exclusive to our edition.

The limited edition of "The Black Phone" by Joe Hill is presented in three states: Lettered, Numbered and Classic editions.

LETTERED EDITION

• 7⅛" x 9⅞" trim size.
• 46 Pages.
• Limited to 26 copies.
• Signed by Joe Hill, C. Robert Cargill and Reiko Murakami.
• New exclusive afterword by C. Robert Cargill.
• Handbound in the finest goatskin leather from Harmatan and Oakridge.
• Leather is die-cut on the front cover revealing marbled paper beneath with gold and blind blocking designed to harmonize with the interior artwork, creating a seamless visual connection between the binding and the art.
• Four color illustrations by award-winning artist Reiko Murakami, beautifully printed as fine art giclée prints on Hahnemühle Bugra and tipped on.
  
• Printed letterpress from metal type on handmade Velké Losiny 120 gsm paper by Pat Randle & Ellen Bills at Nomad Letterpress in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.
• Paper is a special making for this edition and features a custom watermark of the letter “S” referencing our press mark.
• Fold-out of the Classic edition jacket illustration is included. 
• Interior design & typography by award-winning designer Jerry Kelly.
• Text pages set in Monotype Walbaum, a revival of the elegant late-18th-century typeface designed by Justus Erich Walbaum.
  
• Housed in a clamshell enclosure covered in a premium woven fabric with velour lined trays and marbled paper on the inner spine. 
• Bookmark with all pre-orders.

Published editions may differ slightly from mockups and prototype designs.
Illustrations © 2023 by Reiko Murakami.