The Everything Box

Richard Kadrey, the New York Times bestselling author of the Sandman Slim novels, presents a whimsical supernatural tale in The Everything Box. The narrative begins in 2015 B. C., where an ambitious angel loses the instrument of humanity's doom on a mountaintop after the great flood. He utters a single word of frustration before the story shifts to 2015. Coop, a thief specializing in purloining magic objects, delivers a small box to a mysterious client. He soon discovers this item is a doomsday device sought by The Department of Peculiar Science, an enforcement agency that polices the odd and strange. Everyone becomes determined to possess its power. Kadrey blends edgy, offbeat humor with fast-paced action in this first entry of a new series. The plot follows Coop as he must steal the box back from various adversaries who want to use it for their own ends. The story draws on ancient mythology and modern supernatural traditions, contrasting the divine perspective of the angel with the gritty reality of a magical underworld. It appeals to readers who enjoy dark comedy and clever protagonists navigating dangerous situations. Those seeking serious literary horror or slow-burn gothic atmospheres may find the tone too lighthearted. The book is organized around Coop’s repeated attempts to retrieve the artifact while evading both supernatural hunters and human enforcers. Kadrey uses a clear chronological structure that jumps between the angel's mistake and the thief's present-day struggles. This approach highlights the long reach of ancient errors into modern times. The narrative remains focused on the physical comedy of theft and the absurdity of bureaucratic supernatural agencies.