What do you think?
Rate this book
Vinyl Wonderland
“Vinyl Wonderland is a wonder. A Bradburyesque dark fantasy that's also a page-turning mystery, soaked in 80s nostalgia and classic rock-and-roll. There are more twists in this book than a Joe Jackson record. Brendan Purcell is a fabulous character, a wide-eyed narrator caught up in a sinister small-town nightmare, burdened with his own tightly-held secrets. Vinyl Wonderland is the best contemporary fantasy I've read in years. It is destined to be a classic.” -- Todd McAulty, author, The Robots of Gotham
“Splendid, inventive, compelling, and surprising, Rigney knows how to seize and hold his readers.” -- Howard Andrew Jones, author of The Ringsworn Trilogy and Lord of a Shattered LandWelcome to Vinyl Wonderland
Think 11/22/63 meets David Lynch-- a young 1980s record-store manager mourning the death of his mother at Christmastime discovers a doorway that leads to an infinite wasteland of cast-off junk; once there, he discovers he can choose one item and one what he needs, or what he wants. It's 1984, and when record shop owner Karl Wickett suffers an unexpected stroke, high school drop-out Brendan Purcell finds himself in charge of Vinyl Wonderland. Having recently lost his mother to a freak accident, Brendan quickly discovers that Vinyl Wonderland's back door leads to a haunted, infinite world of cast-off junk and trash, where visitors can take one thing and one thing only. Eager to help his mourning, alcoholic father, Brendan tries to harness the junk-land as a cure-all, but his best intentions backfire. All Brendan has left is one small totem salvaged from the world beyond the door. As he grows to adulthood, will it prove to be what he wants, or what he needs?
About the Author
Mark Rigney’s stage plays have been produced in twenty-three U.S. states (including off-Broadway) plus Australia, Austria, Hong Kong, Nepal, and Canada. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and his published plays are available from Playscripts, Inc., Next Stage Press, and multiple editions of Smith & Kraus’s The Best Ten-Minute Plays. His novel Vinyl Wonderland will arrive from Castle Bridge in late 2024, and in non-fiction, he is the author of Deaf Side Deaf Sharks, Hearing Jets and a Classic American Musical (Gallaudet). Nearly seventy of his short stories have found print, in venues ranging from literary (Witness, The Best of the Bellevue Literary Review) to fantasy and horror (Lightspeed, Cemetery Dance, Wyldblood, Black Static).
“Splendid, inventive, compelling, and surprising, Rigney knows how to seize and hold his readers.” -- Howard Andrew Jones, author of The Ringsworn Trilogy and Lord of a Shattered LandWelcome to Vinyl Wonderland
Think 11/22/63 meets David Lynch-- a young 1980s record-store manager mourning the death of his mother at Christmastime discovers a doorway that leads to an infinite wasteland of cast-off junk; once there, he discovers he can choose one item and one what he needs, or what he wants. It's 1984, and when record shop owner Karl Wickett suffers an unexpected stroke, high school drop-out Brendan Purcell finds himself in charge of Vinyl Wonderland. Having recently lost his mother to a freak accident, Brendan quickly discovers that Vinyl Wonderland's back door leads to a haunted, infinite world of cast-off junk and trash, where visitors can take one thing and one thing only. Eager to help his mourning, alcoholic father, Brendan tries to harness the junk-land as a cure-all, but his best intentions backfire. All Brendan has left is one small totem salvaged from the world beyond the door. As he grows to adulthood, will it prove to be what he wants, or what he needs?
About the Author
Mark Rigney’s stage plays have been produced in twenty-three U.S. states (including off-Broadway) plus Australia, Austria, Hong Kong, Nepal, and Canada. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and his published plays are available from Playscripts, Inc., Next Stage Press, and multiple editions of Smith & Kraus’s The Best Ten-Minute Plays. His novel Vinyl Wonderland will arrive from Castle Bridge in late 2024, and in non-fiction, he is the author of Deaf Side Deaf Sharks, Hearing Jets and a Classic American Musical (Gallaudet). Nearly seventy of his short stories have found print, in venues ranging from literary (Witness, The Best of the Bellevue Literary Review) to fantasy and horror (Lightspeed, Cemetery Dance, Wyldblood, Black Static).
248 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2024
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 3, 2024
Wow. I was blown away by this book. It’s giving me Joe Hill vibes with a pinch of Needful Things too.
After Brendan’s Mother dies in a freak accident and he drops out of school, he starts working at an oldies vinyl record store. Soon he finds himself unexpectedly in charge of Vinyl Wonderland due to the owner having a stroke. This means he also finds himself in charge of who goes into the haunted, unearthly infinite wasteland that is entered through the ‘Elvis’ door in the back of the shop. Once inside the ‘customer’ can pick one item only meant for them. Like a wish- or trading your soul to the devil to get what you NEED. Strings are attached and nothing is as it seems here AT ALL. It’s sounds confusing but is written SO well you will catch on quickly and not want to let go. This book is special. For real!
Brendan is a great antihero and has his own life to figure out as well as helping out his Dad - a grief stricken alcoholic. This is such a powerful, profound read in so many ways. It’s deep while still being so fun and drenched in 80’s music and nostalgia.
I LOVED this book infinity and the writing is top notch.
See my review also on IG @ladybug_shirls soon.
Check this one out! It’s so unique and I really didn’t want it to end. Love books like that! It has ‘IT’ and I don’t say that often. This author is gonna be one to watch. This needs to blow up!
Thanks to Jason at Castle Bridge Media for my copy and letting me work with you all on the cover reveal too. This is gonna be one of my top ten faves of the year, I kid you not! ❤️❤️👏🏻
After Brendan’s Mother dies in a freak accident and he drops out of school, he starts working at an oldies vinyl record store. Soon he finds himself unexpectedly in charge of Vinyl Wonderland due to the owner having a stroke. This means he also finds himself in charge of who goes into the haunted, unearthly infinite wasteland that is entered through the ‘Elvis’ door in the back of the shop. Once inside the ‘customer’ can pick one item only meant for them. Like a wish- or trading your soul to the devil to get what you NEED. Strings are attached and nothing is as it seems here AT ALL. It’s sounds confusing but is written SO well you will catch on quickly and not want to let go. This book is special. For real!
Brendan is a great antihero and has his own life to figure out as well as helping out his Dad - a grief stricken alcoholic. This is such a powerful, profound read in so many ways. It’s deep while still being so fun and drenched in 80’s music and nostalgia.
I LOVED this book infinity and the writing is top notch.
See my review also on IG @ladybug_shirls soon.
Check this one out! It’s so unique and I really didn’t want it to end. Love books like that! It has ‘IT’ and I don’t say that often. This author is gonna be one to watch. This needs to blow up!
Thanks to Jason at Castle Bridge Media for my copy and letting me work with you all on the cover reveal too. This is gonna be one of my top ten faves of the year, I kid you not! ❤️❤️👏🏻
June 26, 2024
This was an interesting and well written read. I appreciated this book’s original concept. I loved how this book combined dark fantasy and mystery in a 1980s setting. Overall this was an intriguing read that many readers and lovers of 80s nostalgia and classic rock should enjoy.
Thank you Castle Bridge Media for the gifted copy.
Thank you Castle Bridge Media for the gifted copy.
March 19, 2025
my brain shortcuts when it comes to anything fantasy related. That being said, Vinyl Wonderland had juuuust the right amount of magic for me. It was written in a way that was real enough that I could actually transport my brain there.
Alongside the magic, this book is jam packed with emotion. Not only Brendan, but all of the characters we meet are dealing with a big struggle in life. What are they willing to do in order to change that? What consequences are they willing to endure?
I was not expecting this book to gut-punch me in the stomach as much as it is. By the end I was heartbroken yet hopeful. It was unlike anything l've read and I highly recommend it, even if you're not big on Elvis. This isn't a book about Elvis lol.
Alongside the magic, this book is jam packed with emotion. Not only Brendan, but all of the characters we meet are dealing with a big struggle in life. What are they willing to do in order to change that? What consequences are they willing to endure?
I was not expecting this book to gut-punch me in the stomach as much as it is. By the end I was heartbroken yet hopeful. It was unlike anything l've read and I highly recommend it, even if you're not big on Elvis. This isn't a book about Elvis lol.
September 26, 2024
Step inside Vinyl Wonderland, where the turntables spin not only records but also a whirlwind of magic and mayhem as we follow seventeen-year-old Brendan Purcell on his first day as the store manager of this quirky second-hand record shop. As Karl, the enigmatic owner, hands over the keys and prepares to go on leave, he issues a chilling warning: “If you value your life, don’t mess with the Elvis door.” With those ominous words hanging in the air, Brendan is left to navigate the mysterious shop on his own.
This premise brought to mind a kyogen piece called Busu from Japanese Noh Theatre, where a boss leaves a junior employee in charge, only for chaos to unfold. The excitement lies in this familiar theme, as temptation leads to an adventurous journey. Rigney handles this expertly, with each chapter revealing something new, thrilling, and surprising; it is truly a well-crafted urban fantasy novel.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Brendan, following the tragic loss of his mother, has been spiraling down a destructive path, wrestling with a storm of emotions fueled by alcohol and simmering anger. Both he and his father are ensnared in their grief. Expelled from school, Brendan’s new job at the record shop becomes his desperate cry for help. With his father lost in his own turmoil, Brendan finds himself largely alone, trying to make sense of adulthood. As the plot thickens, we watch him bravely open the mysterious Elvis door, drawing not only Vinyl Wonderland’s eclectic customers but also himself into an enigmatic world that brings unimaginable consequences.
Narrated in the first person by an older Brendan, the story transports us back to the lead-up to Christmas 1985, a year rich with nostalgia—think the afterglow of Ghostbusters and the Magic Eight Ball craze. Rigney immerses readers so completely in this world that I truly felt like I was time traveling alongside Brendan.
Vinyl Wonderland is a remarkably captivating read that never has a dull moment. By the end, I was left with the exhilarating sense that an entire universe of Purcell’s stories is waiting to be explored in future books. Personally, I would have preferred the novel to conclude at chapter 28, but that’s a minor detail that doesn’t diminish Rigney’s commendable work.
In Vinyl Wonderland, Rigney masterfully weaves an intricate plot, skillfully bringing to life a vibrant array of multifaceted characters that resonate with dynamic depth and flair. #pudseyrecommends
This premise brought to mind a kyogen piece called Busu from Japanese Noh Theatre, where a boss leaves a junior employee in charge, only for chaos to unfold. The excitement lies in this familiar theme, as temptation leads to an adventurous journey. Rigney handles this expertly, with each chapter revealing something new, thrilling, and surprising; it is truly a well-crafted urban fantasy novel.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Brendan, following the tragic loss of his mother, has been spiraling down a destructive path, wrestling with a storm of emotions fueled by alcohol and simmering anger. Both he and his father are ensnared in their grief. Expelled from school, Brendan’s new job at the record shop becomes his desperate cry for help. With his father lost in his own turmoil, Brendan finds himself largely alone, trying to make sense of adulthood. As the plot thickens, we watch him bravely open the mysterious Elvis door, drawing not only Vinyl Wonderland’s eclectic customers but also himself into an enigmatic world that brings unimaginable consequences.
Narrated in the first person by an older Brendan, the story transports us back to the lead-up to Christmas 1985, a year rich with nostalgia—think the afterglow of Ghostbusters and the Magic Eight Ball craze. Rigney immerses readers so completely in this world that I truly felt like I was time traveling alongside Brendan.
Vinyl Wonderland is a remarkably captivating read that never has a dull moment. By the end, I was left with the exhilarating sense that an entire universe of Purcell’s stories is waiting to be explored in future books. Personally, I would have preferred the novel to conclude at chapter 28, but that’s a minor detail that doesn’t diminish Rigney’s commendable work.
In Vinyl Wonderland, Rigney masterfully weaves an intricate plot, skillfully bringing to life a vibrant array of multifaceted characters that resonate with dynamic depth and flair. #pudseyrecommends
January 9, 2025
For decades now, I've considered Mark Rigney one of the most creative American playwrights - and he's at the height of his powers in this novel. It's set mostly in a used record shop in the 1980s - but this record shop has a secret door in the back, accessible only by referral, which leads each visitor to their very own custom-personalized Monkey's Paw dilemma. What a beautifully crafted book. Grounded in a gritty, ramshackle reality, but not afraid to take flights of fancy and grapple with the Big Existential Questions. Always entertaining, with pitch-perfect emotional arcs for the main characters. Rigney's touch is so light and deft that the set-ups don't feel like set-ups until they quietly pay off in incredibly satisfying ways, a few chapters later. It's a week or two now, since I finished it, and several moments from this book are still with me, as if I'd actually seen them happen. I think they're gonna stick with me for a long time. Give it a read, you won't be sorry.
September 8, 2024
I've read and enjoyed a number of Rigney's short stories before, so I thought I knew what to expect, and I got that, just not in the way I expected.
Vinyl Wonderland starts out looking like a trip into nostalgialand, but quickly veers off into a literal representation of our interior landscapes, a jumbled mess of hopes and desires, regrets and bad choices—and the prices we pay for all of it.
Through it all, Rigney grounds his characters—even the most outlandish—deeply in their own humanity, each of them sympathetic in their own way. Rigney's facility with characterization has stood out in everything of his I've read, and it really shines here. The characters are real and complex and nuanced, and the choices they make, or don't make, are both heartrending and cut a little too close for comfort.
Vinyl Wonderland starts out looking like a trip into nostalgialand, but quickly veers off into a literal representation of our interior landscapes, a jumbled mess of hopes and desires, regrets and bad choices—and the prices we pay for all of it.
Through it all, Rigney grounds his characters—even the most outlandish—deeply in their own humanity, each of them sympathetic in their own way. Rigney's facility with characterization has stood out in everything of his I've read, and it really shines here. The characters are real and complex and nuanced, and the choices they make, or don't make, are both heartrending and cut a little too close for comfort.
July 7, 2024
This is a beautifully crafted fantasy that highlights the struggles and mortal-challenges of real life.
When Karl turns over the keys to the Vinyl Wonderland, an 80's style record store, to Brendan, along with stern warnings to steer clear of the "Elvis" door at the back of the shop, Brendan finds himself a reluctant- gatekeeper to a world that can either make you, or break you.
I love Marks writing style and his homage to classic vinyl records and 70's/80's pop culture like the Magic 8-ball! (Which provided all of us placebo-like answers to all our problems back then! LOL!
When Karl turns over the keys to the Vinyl Wonderland, an 80's style record store, to Brendan, along with stern warnings to steer clear of the "Elvis" door at the back of the shop, Brendan finds himself a reluctant- gatekeeper to a world that can either make you, or break you.
I love Marks writing style and his homage to classic vinyl records and 70's/80's pop culture like the Magic 8-ball! (Which provided all of us placebo-like answers to all our problems back then! LOL!
July 28, 2024
I'm a huge sci-fi / fantasy fan, so that component drew me into this book. The setting of the story is the 1980's and the author perfectly captures the feral nature of Gen-X childhood. Rigney keeps you invested in the lives of the characters because its impossible not to to imagine the choices you would make if given the power to change outcomes in the lives of people you love. Fantastic book. Highly recommend.
July 29, 2024
Mark's prose is clever and makes you lean in -- I couldn't put the book down. It's rare these days I want to finish a book in one sitting but VINYL WONDERLAND definitely had me staying up all night. Somehow it manages to be heartfelt without being saccharine. There's a dark undertone of dread throughout that made the book feel grounded instead of purely fantastical. It's a gem that everyone should read.
July 8, 2024
Cool read, gave The Dark Tower vibes in a way I enjoyed - appropriate given the setting's timeframe I reckon. The ending made me wonder what all the author actually 'knows' as far as what is canonical to the story's background - there were just enough loose ends to keep the book lingering for days after I finished, but not too many that the story felt unfinished in any way.
August 22, 2024
WARNING: Rigney has written a novel that will keep you reading even after lights out! Vinyl Wonderland is a thrilling page-turner that will keep you entertained and guessing what lies ahead. The characters are all intricate and relatable. Fascinating read that had even me laughing at times I least expected. Suspenseful plot that is almost impossible to put down. Highly recommended.
January 9, 2025
I read this book during a road trip and what a crazy surprise!
First of all that cover with Elvis sold me completely, I started reading and it’s a wild, crazy unique story.
A page turning story, mysterious, nostalgic and full of fantastic music.
I loved this story so much, if you like original stories you need to read this one, you won’t regret it.
First of all that cover with Elvis sold me completely, I started reading and it’s a wild, crazy unique story.
A page turning story, mysterious, nostalgic and full of fantastic music.
I loved this story so much, if you like original stories you need to read this one, you won’t regret it.
November 5, 2024
I enjoyed this book so very much. Great sense of nostalgia. And we get to think about why nostalgia and memory matter. And how to live on the moment. I didn’t know just where I was going, but I was along for the ride and enjoying the journey the whole way. Funny and interesting. Highly recommend.
December 11, 2024
Yeah, I didn’t know what to expect going in, and that never changed. Wonderfully flawed characters all revolving around needs that are either explained or not. Definitely worth a read.
October 1, 2024
Vinyl Wonderland is a delightful read. It has many of the characteristics of my favorite books: a narrator who isn't showing all his cards, may in fact not be fully reliable; a plot that moves along at a nice pace without neglecting character delvelopment; and a satisfying, but not saccharine, ending. Recommended. You'll be glad you read it. And if you have an original copy of Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus to listen to when you're done, so much the better.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews