Soul Collector: The Life of Death As Told by DAT Nigga Death

by DuVay Knox

Collecting souls is the job, and the bosses in Hell are some shady motherfuckers. With new rules and reeling revelations with every assignment, the job doesn't seem to be quite what it appears-and promotions come at a price.



A quick-paced supernatural thriller, "Soul Collector" follows the journey of Sippian, a young victim of gang violence, who in Hell assumes the role of Death and struggles to understand the convoluted rules and shadowy figures-and morality-he faces in the afterlife. What will it take for him to become, and remain, DAT Nigga? What will it cost? And who's setting the price?



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Every era has its Bard. Its keeper of historical, scientific, and cultural knowledge. Its spiritual lightning rod. Its wizened satirist. Its destroyer of old and top-heavy ideas. In the era of Late Stage US Capitalism and COVID-19, Duvay Knox is that Bard. A long time urban folklorist, first time formally published writer, and holder of countless secret titles, Knox' work in "Soul Collector" is both page-turningly fascinating, and spiritually salient to our times.

Genres: Horror

156 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2021

About the author

A Former LADIES MAN & SEXUAL ESCORT turned WRITER: DuVAY KNOX is Known as The KING of BLACK PULP FICTION & BLAXPLOITATION Books, for his unparalled ability to write books that Uniquely specialize in the HIDDEN ASPECTS of the OCCULT-EROTICA, METAPHYSICS n MAJICK found in the HOOD Life.
(See: PUSSY DETECTIVE/SOUL COLLECTOR and SPITESTAMENT)

Also as a Innovative Comedian/Entertainer, he has appeared with/opened for some of the Biggest names in Comedy including: DOLEMITE/RUDY RAY MOORE, TIFFANY HADDISH, LUENELL, DICK GREGORY, BILL HICKS, BILL BURR, STEVE HARVEY, JAMIE FOXX, CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER, DAVE CHAPPELLE & CHRIS ROCK, COREY HOLMCOMB, JB SMOOVE, TOMMY DAVIDSON, SHIRLEY HEMPHILL.

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann]

Writing up my review for SCREAM Magazine. Thank you, Creative Onion Press for publishing this book in its purposefully raw, unfiltered style. And readers, make sure you add the name Duvay Knox to your list of emerging artists to watch. This one is rising to the top.

[Regina Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this if you are looking for an American author who is doing something unique with the English language and the way they tell stories. A fresh, fun book written in a unique and absolutely hilarious voice that made me seek out some of Knox's freely available pulp on his tumblr. Great for fans of everything from Hubert Selby Jr. to Paul Neilan.

[Leia John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to begin by addressing the obvious; the formatting errors.

Right around Chapter 9, something happened and the Chapter titles got all fucked up – some of them ending up at the bottom of the previous page, which jacks up the formatting of the rest of the book. Duvay has addressed this, and it’s been fixed — and is sending out free copies of the corrected version to all who have bought the fucked copy.

What do I think about it? Well, to begin with editing and layout formatting is a BRUTAL and tedious job. We’re human, we all fuck up and sometimes after looking at a manuscript for 100 hours, shit just happens. The fuckup doesn’t take away from the story in anyway — it just one of those weird-ass things that happens. Final thoughts on it: Seems to me I got a first edition copy of Soul Collector that’s gonna be worth some coin in the future!

Second: The book is dialogue driven. There’s very little, to no, description of people, surroundings, places, things, moods, etc. I’m not sure if that’s a hallmark of pulp / pulp noir or not, to be fair and honest. I do know that I really like descriptions, because it drives me further into the story.

THAT BEING SAID — I didn’t even notice this until my second read through of the book! The story-telling that happens through dialogue is so rich and engaging that it doesn’t fucking matter if there’s descriptions.

Soul Collector is a fast-paced, funny as fuck, SUPER engaging, well written story with twists that will make your head snap sideways. I loved this so much, and my ONLY complaint is that there wasn’t more to read… that cliff-hanger… THAT CLIFF-HANGER, THO!!!!! I need more. Like… NOW.

I cannot WAIT until Pussy Detective comes out with Clash Books in December, I’m gonna snap that fucker RIGHT up.

If this is your bag — and it should be your bag — make sure to support the author and BUY THE SHIT

[Whiskey Leavins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book already has a ton of great reviews. None of them are wrong. But, humbly, I think overall, they don’t emphasize enough, that above all else, Soul Collector is very, very funny. And by extension, a hugely entertaining read.

Now, I understand why reviewers focus on other aspects because to say that this book is unique is an understatement. If I had been lucky enough to be hanging out with Duvay Knox before he wrote this and he said he was going to write an entire book in blaxploitation-vernacular, with no paragraph longer than a sentence, I would have applauded the idea, but probably thought there was no way he could pull that off. Well, goddamn if he didn’t. All of the adjectives that are used to describe Knox’s style: unique, innovative, fresh, different, important are some of the most common, are all right on the nose, and yet somehow inadequate to really convey what an amazing piece of writing this is. Roll all of those descriptions into one big ball and you’re getting close. The only way to really get it, is to read it. Which you should do. Like, right now.

And, as if all of that weren’t enough to recommend Soul Collector, there is also a cool, compelling story about a young, new resident of the underworld assigned to soul collecting duty, a vocation he takes to with enthusiasm. But as the story progresses, he is assigned more and more difficult “collections” that present some ethical dilemmas. So, while it is funny and entertaining, and unique in its formatting, it is a solid, compelling story anchored in true humanity. There is some there there. For sure.

Now I’m on to Mr. Knox’s newest effort, or joint, as he would say, The Pussy Detective. Can’t wait.

[H.L.R. H.L.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul Collector is a joyride from start to finish– there’s no slow burn here, Sippian is thrown straight in the deep end and the reader is too.

I enjoyed the fact that this book is mainly dialogue – the characters present -themselves- in their realest form and we get to know them through their speech, through their responses, their real-time reactions to situations, their thoughts aloud. The dialogue is whip-smart throughout (frequently laugh-out-loud funny, other times poignant, wise), each voice is authentic (you can hear and see the characters in your head as you read) and the flow and fast-pace of Knox’s prose makes Soul Collector consistently entertaining (I devoured this book in one sitting).

What I love about Knox’s characters is that these are very real people not only trying to survive death, but trying to survive LIFE, in a world where the odds are stacked against them and the stakes are sky high. Knox tells us only the facts, only what we -need- to know – the characters tell us everything else. Every word of this book is purposeful, each sentence is exact in its message, bold in its delivery – there is no unnecessary ‘filler’ text to be found, no needless descriptions or diversions, just pure grit and facts, a contemporary tragicomedy told with flair, humour and wisdom.

Knox is an incredibly intelligent writer – personifying Death in art and literature is not a novel concept but I can’t think of any creator who has humanised Death in the way that Knox has (made Death into such a believable, real, concrete figure) and approached the philosophical aspect of life and death with such frankness, with absolute truth, no sugar-coating or pleasantries.

Through his characters, Knox shares keen insights into the ugly reality of the human condition when we’re forced to fight to survive in a fractured and unjust society. Knox acknowledges that there are always levels in society, and his exploration of these hierarchies (whether it’s the law of the streets with the top dog elders and younger low-level gang members, or in business with a boss and minions) is compelling. But he also calls out the toxic hierarchal structures that exist to serve the people that are at the top of the food chain and keep those at the bottom stuck in the mud. Chapters like the ones about Brotha Mayor, for example, depict corruption in authority, but Knox conveys this with biting and brilliant satire, instead of sounding preachy or pitiful.

His writing is non-traditional which is such a welcome change for me - the language is old skool street made fresh with his signature stylistic choices (for example, his use of capitalisation is perfect - Knox is totally in control of where the emphasis lies and the impact is consistently effective) and playful treatment of grammar "rules". Another one of my favourite aspects of Soul Collector is the recurring themes of suspicion and/or superstition.

I knew from reading Knox’s poetry that he’s experienced A LOT in his life, that he’s no rookie, that he’s seen and done things most of us never will (and wouldn’t want to) and reading Soul Collector felt like an education of sorts. I felt lucky that Knox was imparting his wisdom with me, was sharing his world with me, his own philosophies and lessons learned – again, this book wasn’t preachy or lecturing at all (as literature on Death can be), rather it was full of little gifts. Soul Collector is a triumph and I can’t wait to read the sequel. (You ARE writing the sequel, yeah Duvay?!?!)

[Peter Derk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well.
I have mixed feelings.
The book is a fun read, no doubt.
If you like Petey Wheatstraw, this is about as close as a book is gonna get. If that comparison made you smile, you're gonna want to read this.

That said...

The book is written in a language that a lot of white people here on Goodreads are calling "urban vernacular" and shit like that:

So in his mind, he equates that wit FRIENDSHIP

As long as he kan git sumpen frum you.

You gotta be kareful.

Basikally.

What's weird, though, is it's sometimes the way a person would speak, like typing "ion" instead of "I don't." But sometimes, it's something like "kareful" where, far as I can tell, you'd pronounce it the exact same way.

And mostly, it's both.

Here's what makes me suspicious: it's consistent, far as I can tell. I flipped through a bit, and I can't find a "can" anywhere, just "kan." "Mite" and "rite" are both consistent, two different words, both spelled incorrectly in the same way.

It makes me suspicious that Duvay Knox knows exactly what he's doing. Because if this was the true way the book was written, I think you'd have flip-flops and inconsistencies. Things would be misspelled in inconsistent ways.

This is a just a longshot hunch, okay? Not an indictment.

Because this book isn't a bad thing, and I'm not trying to say that we're being taken for a BAD ride. I liked the ride, I was entertained, so it really doesn't matter whether this is a huge persona someone's putting on. I'm game.

I don't really give a shit whether something "feels" gritty and real or actually is gritty and real, same book as far as I'm concerned.

I'm just curious if anyone may perhaps recognize Duvay Knox as their English professor or something someday.

And just know: No fair going back and changing your opinion on this one later if we find out Mr. Knox is a Guggenheim fellow or some such shit.

Just sayin.

I loved the book, I had a good time with it, and I think a lot of you will like it, too. It's weird, it's got an unusual voice, and it's short enough that the extra brainpower it takes to read it doesn't overstay its welcome.

I kind of want Duvay Knox to be a street genius, and I also kind of want him to be an ivy leaguer who just wanted to try something weird, see what happened.

I think those are shades of the two most likely outcomes, and either one leads to interesting questions and answers, so we're good either way.

[Manny Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most important book of the year. This, along with the upcoming Pussy Detective (also written by Duvay Knox) will go down as two of the year's most anticipated literary releases. As the editor's note at the end of the book states, the spellings and grammatical patterns adhere to the lexicon used by the author. There would be no other way to tell this story without this voice. Mr. Knox has a unique way of telling it, and his talent creates the mood and feel for Death, who is just here to collect souls but finds himself catching feelings for the ones he's asked to take.
This is a dark-comedy noir. It takes place in a hellish afterlife, in fact, at times it takes place in Hell. The words, the syntax, the soul of this book puts you right there, immersing you in its dark but hilarious world. This is a quick noir read, it's a comedy filled with irony, truth and it is as existential as any beat novel. It immediately reminds me of Eldridge Cleaver, Iceberg Slim and especially the long out of print novel, Go Down Dead by the great and underrated crime writer, Shane Stevens (Dead City, etc.). It's also like reading A Clockwork Orange in that it forces you to experience the book through its raw language and abstract formatting. Apparently the first printings (the version I read) had some formatting mistakes, but in any case, the story was all there and the errors made it more cryptic and absorbing. It's a small book, quick read. A shock to the system that was the film Sweet Sweetbacks Badasssss Song upon its release, this book is an instant classic that may define how black pulp fiction reads in the future. I say, dismantle all literary tropes. Mutate syntax. Shock the status quo. Let this soul collector take you to places you ain't never seen before.

[C.J. Bow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is something special. Duvay writes this in slang and the editor was careful to keep the continuity of phrases throughout.

We have Dat N*gga Death spinning a tale of how he came to be in his role and the shady motherfuckers he comes into contact with in his tenure. He spits game on the souls he takes and bonds with some along the way.

I cannot harp enough on how much you need this in your life. It reads like early DMX albums. All hits, no skips. Pick it up and let Duvay bless your life.

[Jo Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

#DeadIsBetter
I love Duvay Knox's Death -a remote and surveilling operator in a shrouded, bureaucratic afterlife complete with orientations & soul-quotas. The first person narrated short chapter deliver comedy and pathos. Sippian's voice is the realest, funniest, most painful, honest, most supple fictional voice I've encountered.
A terrific, human, scary, funny, totally fresh and immediate novel.

[Brandon Applegate · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I tried and failed to read Trainspotting, I swore of books written in dialect. It was just too much for me. I felt like I was constantly trying to translate in my head. So I was a little worried when I picked up Soul Collector. But this book goes down smooth, not in spite of, but at least partially because of the dialect. It's a major part of the incredibly strong voice Knox has cultivated, and it didn't slow me down at all. Not to mention there are uses of figurative language molded into the dialect that add a great deal to the meaning of the book. The story is great fun, a brilliant fantasy tale with rules that make sense, a world that feels worn in, and fantastic characters. This is an incredibly fun read.

[Scott Cumming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duvay Knox is a singular voice in the world of indie lit bringing us a black Death the likes of which we have never seen before. A 24 year old black man dies and finds himself in Hell collecting souls and rising through the ranks of Soul Collectors.

In a way, it is comparable to the way Irvine Welsh used dialect and unique spelling and grammar to make his characters stand out and Knox does the same without sacrificing the rhythm of his prose or the story.

This is definitely one of those books I didn't want to end and I hope we get another visit from the Soul Collector soon.

[Douglas Lumsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Written in phonetic ebonics, this book is raw, cutting-edge, and powerful. It sheds excess and cuts right to the chase. But more than any of that—it’s entertaining as all hell! Hardboiled and hardcore. The ending leaves you desperate for the sequel—can’t wait!

[Joshua Chaplinsky]

DuVay Knox is a breath of fresh air in the indie scene.

[Jack Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has been a long time coming. I read SOUL COLLECTOR twice before I was going to write a review. Because it’s that good. It gives you that much to think about.

Off the bat, this book has cult classic written all over it. Dripping with originality and charisma, Knox tells the story of a man tasked with, essentially, being one of many grim reapers after dying in his twenties and going to Hell. What this book excels at is saying so much with such sparse prose. Reading it gives you the feeling like talking with a veteran of life who’s seen it all, played all the games, and is sitting you down to tell you straight how he sees the world. There are genuine moments of philosophical musings on how we as humans spend our lives, how that affects others around us, and how our own actions change the trajectory of everyone’s life.

It’s also just a hilarious read. Every word oozes with attitude and personality, injected into every sentence in only the way that Knox can do it. What makes him stand out from any other writer is that I don’t think there’s a writer alive who could attempt to copy his voice and style. The style is Knox’s and Knox’s alone.

Brilliant, entertaining, thought provoking. There’s so much I could say about this book. It’s one of the best modern stories out there today, written by one of the best living writers. I call it how I see it, and that’s how I see it. Period.

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast, one-sitting read for me. Knox paints a vivid portrait, and his writing chops are top-notch. The characters are realistic, the imagery is brilliant, and the dialogue rings with authenticity, but there's a pulse and believability that sets this book apart. It's like how some people can sit down next to you in a bar and tell you the most common thing, like, "I took the trash out last night," and you don't believe a word they say, while others can tell you the most astonishing, unbelievable stories and you simply know they're telling the truth. Anyway, I know it's only August, but right now SOUL COLLECTOR is my favorite book of 2021. I look forward to reading more from Knox in the future!

[Made DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bittersweet ballad of death...

Mr. Knox sings a sweet song - a modern take on tale as old as human society and culture itself. Death comes for us all - comes, gives us two weeks notice, and then collects. Death's current incarnation is a young black man killed by gun/gang violence, but he takes it upon himself to be the BEST Death he can be.

A collection of vignettes in sixteen chapters, each one revealing a new, raw layer of the learning curve of what it's like to be in Death's shoes. It's not a game, it's not a grand time, it's not easy - it can be a visceral slap in the face, and our man Sippian has a lot of learning to do.

A smooth, enchanting read by a charmer of an author who understands his genre and his audience. Modern Black Folklore/Blaxploitation

[Russell Coy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this stylish pulp fantasy in one sitting. Knox is a writer that has an angle on the world and an arresting way of delivering it. His other book this year, The Pussy Detective, can't land in my mailbox soon enough.

[Stephen J. Golds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duvay Knox is the cooler American version ​of Billy Childish. Both hugely talented innovators, poets and fiction writers that make prose in their own too cool individual styles.

I think Knox is a writing genius and 2021 is only the start. ​

[Tabitha Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul Collector: The Life of Death As Told by DAT Nigga Death

A lot of people have attempted to write about the concept of The Grim Reaper, life after death, and agents who collect souls. NONE compares to this rendering by Duvay Knox who breathes new life into DEATH.

Even though, since I read it when it first came out last summer, I've been seeing other writers HEAVILY COPYING the core things that set this book apart. One of the most recent examples being the comic book series Grim by Stephanie Nicole Phillips.

The similarities are a little toooooooooo close, if you know what I mean. Especially with how Duvay Knox brilliantly described his creation of the Underworld and its inner workings.

While others go left trying to make it a horror, Soul Collector goes right with fright by introducing the reader to a Nigga in Charge who forces you to take accountability for your fate by a certain date. This episodic thriller is another black pulp fiction classic in the making that had me invested in each character introduced in this realm and the next.

There wasn't a moment I was bored. In fact, I couldn't put it down till I was finished. Thankfully, Duvay Knox has a consistent track record for writing fiction that says a lot without filling the pages with unnecessary descriptive fillers.

Soul Collector is fast paced, witty, charismatic, and suspenseful. A definite must read for any occasion, and a must have for your Halloween collection.

[Joel McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duvay Knox’s the Soul Collector is one of the best works of fiction I’ve read in many years. Everything from the narrative style to the text, grammar and even the book-size (it feels like reading a prayer book, which I suspect is on purpose) is subversive. He’s broken every rule that amateurs cling to and stuck to the ones that professionals know to be true – and it’s paid off. What begins as a straightforward recounting of Death’s duties as a soul collector working in Hell, quickly transforms into a series of ethical dilemmas that, by the end, remind the reader quite cleverly who Death is working for. The narrative style allows Knox to say things – and say things about things – that most authors couldn’t get at so directly, revealing truths about our own world and social structure that are horrific, and yet it’s all done with an incredible wit and humor. I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This was a gripping and mesmerizing work of urban folklore. The author did a great job of balancing his unique voice and perspective with a creative and thought-provoking fictional tale of death and those caught in its clutches. The world-building and character development were amazing and did a great job of elevating the theme and tone the author set from the beginning of this fast-paced noir read.

What stood out of course was the author’s brilliant dedication to representation and keeping a truly authentic voice for this book. The story wasn’t just entertaining, but socially and culturally important as it gave a community not often recognized quite as authentically as others in the folklore/horror noir genre a true voice. The imagery and atmosphere the author layered onto the narrative were amazing, as was the exploration of the protagonist’s moral dilemma when dealing with the business of death.

The Verdict

Memorable, heartfelt, and honest yet vividly creative, author Duvay Knox’s “Soul Collector” is a must-read book. Comedy and satire wrapped into horror and urban folklore box and delivered with culturally relevant and dialogue-driven narrative, the author really gave readers a personal yet relatable experience that not only represents the author’s own authentic voice but allowed for a thought-provoking message woven into a highly entertaining noir read.

[Joe O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just tore through this book and now I can't wait to read everything else this dude will ever write. The book's like Terry Pratchett's MORT retold by Iceberg Slim & Ishmael Reed-- a Black Comedy about a Black Grim Reaper. Tighter than Elmore Leonard, crazier than Ol Dirty Bastard. Wise, hilarious, fearless, sexy, and bad-fucking-ass. Cold-blooded cool with a warm, righteous heart. Raw, yet refined. My only complaint is that it's really short, and only the first part of a longer story that is, thankfully, To Be Continued. In the meantime I'll be waiting impatiently for Knox's next book, THE PUSSY DETECTIVE...

[Edward Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn. So, I really wanted to get one last book in before I kicked 2021 out the fucking door and I'm so glad that I'm ending this godforsaken year on such a high note.

Soul Collector is a gem. It's funny and surprisingly poignant, a perfect parable for the times we find ourselves in. But the thing that makes it sing, the reason that you can sit down and devour this tiny tome in a single sitting isn't because of its brevity. It's because the voice of Duvay Knox is so compelling. He's a master storyteller, a front porch raconteur. A 21st Century Griot of the highest order. And I'll be first in line to hear his next tale.

[Alex Delogu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is funny and casually profound. A fluently told story. A breeze to read. Its being written in phonetic dialect did not hinder my reading experience one bit. It's the story of a neophyte soul collector learning the rules of his new position in hell.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your average read, and funny as hell. Scene setting, exposition, not really needed when the dialogue is this spot on

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most punk rock books I have ever read. To me, punk rock is a raw emotional output with a genuine voice that addresses genuine concerns in society in whatever way an individual feels the most honest doing so. This book is so honest it would break a lie detector machine. The way DuVay Knox writes is a breath of fresh air. He’s writing in his voice, using his words; no bullshit to be found. The story itself is a unique take on the Grim Reaper and the afterlife presented with tons of great back and forth dialogue. A story that has some heavy thought going on in its themes but presents it so honestly that you don’t feel like some pretentious asshole for reading it. I do not like to say something is unlike anything I’ve ever read, but this is. DuVay Knox has a completely fresh, unique, honest, and passionate writing style/voice; it’s truly not comparable to anyone else. K thx.

[MCWow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A supreme raconteur