by James Blish
First published 1969
An arms dealer approaches a practitioner of dark magic with an unprecedented request: summon every demon from Hell and set them loose upon Earth for exactly twenty-four hours. The black magician accepts this apocalyptic commission, despite knowing the catastrophic consequences that will follow. As the ritual begins, supernatural forces beyond human control pour into the world. The protagonist must navigate the terrifying reality he has helped unleash as demons roam freely across the planet. What begins as a calculated business transaction becomes a test of whether humanity can survive its own capacity for destruction. The story explores the weight of choices that cannot be undone and the price of wielding power that exceeds all moral boundaries. When the appointed day ends, those who remain must confront what they have learned about evil, knowledge, and the possibility of redemption.
Genres: fantasy, horror, supernatural, thriller, dark-fantasy, apocalyptic
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: apocalyptic, moral-dilemma, supernatural
165 pages · Hardback · Doubleday
Content warnings: violence