The Black Phone

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. 

Please note that the Classic edition is not numbered.

CLASSIC EDITION

•  7⅛" x 9⅞" trim size.
• 46 Pages.
• Limited to 750 copies.
• Signed by Joe Hill and Reiko Murakami.
• New exclusive afterword by C. Robert Cargill.
• Full cloth symth-sewn binding.
• Foil blocked cover and spine.
• Four color illustrations by award-winning artist Reiko Murakami, beautifully printed as fine art giclée prints on Hahnemühle Bugra and tipped on.
• Dust jacket featuring wraparound artwork illustrated by Reiko Murakami (the only edition featuring this illustrated dust jacket). 
• Printed letterpress from metal type on Munken Pure Rough Cream 120 gsm paper by Pat Randle & Ellen Bills at Nomad Letterpress in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.
• 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.
• Endsheets are Takeo Tant Select, a unique double-sided embossed paper.
• Housed in a cloth covered slipcase. 
• Bookmark with all pre-orders.