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Phantom Limb

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL BOOK AWARD
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( 92 ratings, 24 reviews)
Brief Description
"Mesmerising... the work of a writer possessed of a rare power and vision" - Daily Telegraph One evening, Gillis—a young Scottish minister who technically doesn't believe in god—falls into a hole left by a recently dug-up elm tree and discovers an ancient disembodied hand in the... Read More
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A wild, funny holy relic of a novel about the creation myths of Scotland and the colossal loss of faith and meaning of modern society, Phantom Limb is the spiritual counterpart to novels such as Nicola Barker's Darkmans, Kevin Barry's Beatlebone and Benjamin Myers's Cuddy and the stunning baptism of a new, original writer, Chris Kohler.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"Mesmerising... the work of a writer possessed of a rare power and vision" - Daily Telegraph

One evening, Gillis—a young Scottish minister who technically doesn't believe in god—falls into a hole left by a recently dug-up elm tree and discovers an ancient disembodied hand in the soil. He's about to rebury it when the hand... beckons to him.

He spirits it back to his manse and gives it pen and paper, whereupon it begins to doodle scratchy and anarchic visions. Somewhere, in the hand's deep history, there lies a story of the Scottish reformation, of art and violence, and of its owner long since dead.

But for Gillis, there lies only opportunity: to reinvent himself as a prophet, proclaim the hand a miracle, and use it for reasons both sacred and profane... to impress his ex-girlfriend, and to lead himself and his country out of inertia and into a dynamic, glorious future.

Phantom Limb offers a captivating tale of intrigue and ambition, blending elements of magic realism with historical depth.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781805460831

Publisher: Atlantic Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 August 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Atlantic Books

Edition: Main

Illustration: Integrated

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 201.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 400

About the Author

Chris Kohler is from Glasgow, Scotland. His short stories have been published in 3AM, Egress, The Stinging Fly, The Moth, Gutter, Dark Mountain and Minor Literatures. He was shortlisted for the VS Pritchett Short Story Prize 2023. Phantom Limb is his debut novel.

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