[Novel] Midnight Timetable: Commemorative Re-cover Edition for UK/US Translation Publication

■ Work Description

"Do you like scary stories?"

The senior asked. It was my first night at work. I nodded.

This is the first story the senior told me.

(Page 49 of the main text of "Midnight Timetable")

Do you like scary stories? What about ghost stories?

A genre fiction writer recognized internationally before being noticed in Korea, anda self-proclaimed and widely acknowledged curse specialist writer, is Bora Chung's collection of horror stories, "Midnight Timetable" is a book that compiles stories set in a mysterious laboratory that stores and manages unidentified objects.It contains seven strange tales about employees working night shifts while following "slightly unusual safety rules" at the lab, and the haunted entities kept there. "Midnight Timetable"is similar to "Cursed Bunny" in thatit is a horror novel that gives a place to marginalized beings around us, mourns with those who grieve, and in which every character equally faces the consequences of their choices in the world of Bora Chung, and is considered the novel that best demonstrates the natural order of Bora Chung's world.

"Don't look back. If your eyes meet, it will follow you."

I froze in place.

"Even if you want it, it follows you."

The senior said.

"So it's better not to look."

And the senior began to walk again, slowly and leisurely.

I hurried to follow the senior. I wanted to look back, but I was too scared to do so. Relying on the flashlight's beam, I tried to look only ahead, suppressing both the urge to run and the urge to look back, and walked slowly behind the senior.

(Page 92 of "Midnight Timetable")

The act of murder itself,"Why won't you meet me?" As with most incidents connected to this phrase (or as is often favorably concluded during investigations and in court), it was impulsive. Shouting "Why won't you meet me?", men have stormed into the homes of women they considered their property and committed violent attacks with weapons (April 2021), detonated explosives they made themselves (October 2020), or even killed not only the victimized women but also their families (many cases).The history of men killing women while demanding "Why won't you meet me?" is long-standing.

(Pages 196-197 of "Midnight Timetable")

What humans can see, hear, and touch is very limited. Therefore, humans inherently do not know the world well. People say that things go around and come around, but humans often cannot even guess what is turning and how it returns.

"Do you want to come with me?"

I bend down and stroke the dead cat with green eyes.

"I know a place where you can be safe."

Instead of answering, the cat licks my finger. The cat's tongue is soft and rough. I gently touch the cat's cold head and damp fur with my fingers, waiting for dawn.Hoping that, in this way, I can bring even a little comfort to the most vulnerable being.

(Page 219 of "Midnight Timetable")

"You can't come in here." Starting with the sentence,"And then we returned to our duty of protecting lifeless beings from suffering in the bright world." This collection of stories, which ends with the sentence,is the first work presented by author Bora Chung after "Cursed Bunny" and has been loved by many readers as well as received critical acclaim.In 2023, it was selected as the Youth Book of the Year by the Korean Publishers Association!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A story that is endlessly chilling and beautiful, with an unpredictable ending.A rumor you cannot forget, no matter how much you want to.─ Author Kang Hwa-gil,

"The Ghost of Daebul Hotel," "White Horse," "The Light of Healing"Bora Chung's ghost stories are strange and

divine.They are a cleansing ritual for the innocent common people who are unjustly persecuted.For those who could not find comfort in reality, they come fluttering down from beyond the tangible, releasing the deep sorrow that lingers.─ Novelist Kim Bo-young, "The Origin of Species," "The Fifth Sense," "How Much They Resemble Each Other," "The Seven Executors"

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

■ Introduction to the details of the recover edition and T-shirt goods

On September 30 and October 2 of this year, the international editions of 'Midnight Timetable' will be published in the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively!(The English translation was handled byAnton Hur, who greatly contributed to the English translation of 'Cursed Bunny' and its nomination for the Booker Prize.) While considering how to celebrate this occasion in Korea,'Midnight Timetable' hardcover limited special edition andrecover commemorative T-shirt goods will be introduced on Wadiz.

Introduction to the recover edition cover

On the landing,a sheep was sitting.

DSPa sheep The sheep

a sheep(Page 119 of the main text of 'Midnight Timetable')

On the next landing, DSP again

다음 층계참에서 DSP는 또다시 Sheep was discovered. The one seen a little while ago Sheep like Sheep was not certain. This time, Sheep also had dirty gray fur with patches shaved off here and there. DSP observed for a moment and then realized that the location of the scar on the Sheep seen earlier and the Sheep sitting in front of him now were different.

When DSP took a few steps up, there was another Sheep sitting on the stairs. The stairs were narrow and the Sheep was large. However, the Sheep sat on the stairs looking at DSP as if nothing was wrong, as if it were completely comfortable.

Even after climbing a few more steps, a sheep was sitting there. DSP raised his head and looked up the stairs. Now, on every step, layer upon layer of Sheep was sitting.

(Pages 119-120 of the main text of 'Midnight Timetable')

Sheep on sheep on sheep on sheep!

The short story 'Cursed Sheep' included in 'Midnight Timetable' is about an employee who, after harboring ill intentions and breaking the lab's rules, becomes trapped in an endlessly repeating staircase and keeps encountering sheep. In the following short story, 'The Silence of the Sheep,' it is revealed that these sheep from 'Cursed Sheep' actually have a deep connection with the Deputy Director! (※Surprise spoiler! ※ The Deputy Director also appears in a spin-off short story included in the special supplement!) This commemorative recover cover for the UK and US releases visualizes the infinite staircase and the repeated encounters with sheep from 'Cursed Sheep.' Doesn't the intense red square, which creates a gloomy atmosphere, fit perfectly with the world of author Jeong Bora? EvenProduction specifications were upgraded from the previously published paperback editionto a hardcover edition— that's a fact!

+ And only on Wadiz, the first 100 copies will be available as a special signed edition, personally autographed by author Jeong Bora.(The fastest-clicking fan gets the signed copy!)

T-shirt goods introduction

Limited to 100 pieces on Wadiz funding The design of the commemorative recover T-shirt goods, available exclusively through Wadiz funding, also utilizes the cover image.Top featuresthe English title of 'Midnight Timetable,' 'Midnight Timetable',Bottom containsThe English table of contents of 'Timetable at Midnight' is written to highlight the purpose of this funding, which is to celebrate its publication in the UK and US. The design can be worn on its own or layered as an inner piece, making it convenient for everyday use!

*30-count fabric, planned for screen printing

Special Supplement Introduction

Moreover, the special supplement sold together with the recover edition in this fundingspecial supplement canbe accessed first through Wadiz funding. To commemorate the publication of the English edition of 'Timetable at Midnight,' an exclusive written interview with author Bora Chung anda never-before-released 'Timetable at Midnight' spin-off short story are included, so if you are a fan of Bora Chung, don't miss out!

■ Reward Configuration Guide

Regular Price

'Timetable at Midnight' UK and US Publication Commemorative Hardcover Limited Edition: 19,000 KRW

'Timetable at Midnight' Limited Edition Special Supplement: 9,000 KRW

Wadiz discounted price (10%): 28,000 KRW > 25,200 KRW

T-shirt regular price: 19,800 KRW

■  Reason for launching funding on Wadiz 

“For people wounded by reality, those who have experienced severe physical and mental discrimination and abuse to the point that their reality collapses, there is a sense of despair that reality can no longer serve as an objective and solid foundation. Such despair can only be expressed through fantasy.”

(From the author interview in the special supplement)

An author who leaves the message, 'Overthrow capitalism and save the Earth. Struggle.' An author who attends international award ceremonies with a rainbow headband around their neck. An author who had no choice but to write fantasy literature to calmly record the stories of those who are sad and angry. Did you know that author Bora Chung, best known in Korea for 'Cursed Bunny,' is actually a professional 'demonstrator' whose hobby is protesting? And that she is not only skilled in science fiction but also in fantasy literature?In Korea in 2025, where the importance of remembering the forgotten and standing with the vulnerable in literature is emphasized, author Bora Chung is one of the Korean writers most deserving of the title 'pioneer ahead of the times.'

Purple Rain, a genre literature publisher, is the publishing house that has published the most books by Bora Chung in Korea. To celebrate the publication of the English edition of 'Midnight Timetable,' we wanted to get closer to our readers and introduce not only this work but also Bora Chung's earlier and latest works through our existing short story collections. That is why we planned this Wadiz funding. Through this funding, we hope that Bora Chung's chilling short stories you may have missed so far, and her eerie tales that offer not apologies but revenge on behalf of the vulnerable, will reach even more readers.

■  Maker Introduction 

“When purple rain falls, a strange story begins.”

Purple Rain is the genre literature brand of Galmaenamu Publishing. With strange and incomprehensible stories and subversive, provocative imagination, we publish unique genre novels that are distinctly Purple Rain.