Published in 1934, The Night Palisades is one of Straka’s 19 novels.A defense structure used all throughout the world, palisades most likely means that the book discussed some sort of battle or threat. It is translated by, and at the same time, considered to be one of the finest of Straka’s by F. X. Caldeira.

According to Eric, who manages to get a hand on the manuscript of Victor Martin Summersby’s recording, the book is written in a pretty straightforward and linear plot that bears much resemblance to Summersby’s work (Straka 65).  Eric also implies that the style of The Night Palisades is so different from Straka’s some other writings, such as Triptych of Mirrors and Washington & Greeene, that the works can hardly be attribute to one single author.

On page 247, Jen agrees that The Night Palisades  

“sounds a little like Summersby”,

an argument that further explores by both her and Eric. Eric states that, while different in style,

“there’s something consistent in the VMS books.”

He also brings up the Erlebnistrager theory, which attempts to explain the inconsistency of VMS’ style. Erlebnistrager contends that VMS collects, translates, and edits stories from others and then publishes them under his name. However, this argument is soon discredited by both Jen and Eric, who says that all of Straka’s books feel “personal” to him (247).

The Night Palisades is, to sum up, an important piece of evidence that supports the claim that V.M. Summersby is Straka.

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