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Kickstarter for Soft Matter from The Dark North

We recently reviewed The Dark North– Volume 1 from international publisher The Dark North. They currently have a Kickstarter going for their second project, Soft Matter. If you are interested in more information, the press release is below.

A link to the Kickstarter is here.

NEW SCIENCE FICTION FROM THE DARK NORTH

 

SOFT MATTER

 

A Stunning Blend of Science Fact and Fiction

 

Following the successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for the narrative art book The Dark North – Volume 1, the same team is dipping their toes in uncharted waters with science fiction novel Soft Matter, by Swedish debut writer Pär Karlsson.

 

It’s a chilling story about a Swedish family, where the son – a soldier – ends up in an irreversible coma, and the father – a respected neurosurgeon – loses everything but his mind. A top secret medical facility in the United States offers them a startling solution, and their decisions will end up affecting them for the rest of their lives.

 

In a stunning blend of science fact and fiction, psychology and existentialism, Soft Matter explores what it is to be human, even if your body isn’t your own.

 

2018 marks the 200 year anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – the first science fiction novel – and we at the Dark North only saw it fitting to bring these eternal questions into new light. Pär’s tragic – but also inspiring – tale of a family in ruins makes something of a Frankenstein for the 21st century.

 

For Soft Matter, Pär did extensive research in the fields of neuroscience and psychology and put these scientific fields in the face of a terrifying opportunity. The result is a mesmerizing story, with a premise that may very well end up a reality in our near future.

 

The Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for Soft Matter will go live on April 11.

 

 

Scandinavian Talent is an International Matter

 

Based in Stockholm and Los Angeles, The Dark North is an international publisher with one, simple goal: to bring Scandinavian talent in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror (and everything in between) to the rest of the world.

 

Since the dawn of the Swedish gaming wonder at the turn of the century, Scandinavia is breeding ground to some of the finest artist and writers on the globe. We hunt for treasures in the desk drawers of concept artists. We search for unpublished, fantastic writers in the far corners of the North. And we truly and sincerely believe that we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.

 

With The Dark North – Volume 1, we started a journey that took a few of these artists over the Atlantic and straight into the publishing powerhouse of Dark Horse Comics in the USA. Volume 1 currently has an Amazon Vine rating of 4.5 out of 5 and has received stunning reviews worldwide.

 

One can only wonder where this will lead, with Soft Matter and beyond.

 

Reviewers and journalists, feel free to contact us for digital review copies of the novel and press photos.

 

Robert Henrysson, +46 (0) 73-343 91 90, E-mail: henrysson74@gmail.com

Kickstarter: kickstarter.com/projects/darknorth/343207490

Facebook: facebook.com/darknorthart/ Web: darknorthart.com

Posted on April 12, 2018 by , Reply

Book Review: Songs of Dreaming Gods by William Meikle


Songs of Dreaming Gods by William Meikle

Macabre Ink, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-1946025951

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook

 

Haunted house stories have been overtaken by tropes and lazy writing, and in most cases, should be boarded up. In recent years, however, a few have managed to introduce something new. Books such as House of Leaves, The Unseen, and The Haunted have introduced new wrinkles to the sub-genre. Songs of Dreaming Gods is one of these: it’s far more than a haunted house story. It is a solid read that stretches the imagination: readers may have to flip back a few pages occasionally to be certain they’ve caught all the nuances and plot twists. Is it horror? Definitely. But it’s not contained by the genre.

Those familiar with the works of William Meikle know that the author conjures up some pretty freaky designs for plot and setting (The Hole and Fungoid quickly come to mind).  In Songs of Dreaming Gods, we see that Meikle has once again done an extraordinary job in the telling of the story and in the layering of both the house and characters. Reading the book is like peeling an onion, or opening Russian nesting dolls.

A trio of local cops are called to the house where a bloodbath has occurred. Several bodies, or what’s left of them, are discovered in an old house. What’s been done to them is unlike anything one would expect from any human being, or animal. The trio realize that this is unlike any crime they have yet encountered. Doors that led to the stained floors where the forensic team should be now open up to another room not in their reality. Each of the investigators come to the house with their own wounds, mentally or physically, and face different doors, each which lead to scenes and realities that break down what each has known in his or her life. Once the characters go deeper into the house, and themselves, the reality they knew cannot be retrieved. All they can hope for is to escape with whatever the house allows them.

Songs of Dreaming Gods is decidedly different from most recent haunted house reads. With its fast-paced plot and complex structure, Meikle’s latest is a welcome addition to the sub-genre. Recommended.

Reviewed by Dave Simms

Posted on April 11, 2018 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Hellboy in Hell, Library Edition by Mike Mignola, art by Mike Mignola

 

Hellboy in Hell, Library Edition by Mike Mignola, art by Mike Mignola

Dark Horse, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-1-50670-363-3

Available: Hardcover

 

Hellboy in Hell, Library Edition contains storylines originally collected in the trade paperbacks The Descent  and The Death Card, and takes place after The Storm and the Fury.  In the opening chapter, we witness Hellboy’s liberation from an abyss by Sir Edward Gray, followed by a battle with a demon he once defeated, and a Dickensian introduction to Hellboy’s journey through Hell. It is the perfect beginning to the end. We witness Hellboy’s travels: Pandemonium denying his birthright and throne; the creation of his immobile army by the Fisher of Souls (who tells him “there is only one object that can breathe life into that army—your own right hand” p. 49); the birth of Hellboy; uncomfortable family reunions; a battle for the unwanted throne; facing old enemies thought long gone; and, ultimately, fulfilling his destiny to destroy Pandemonium. Shakespeare and Dickens references are scattered throughout, which really helps solidify what is happening at certain points in the story.

Mignola’s art is superb, as usual. The atmosphere and feeling of each chapter, with shadows and oppressive environments, set the tone for the overall book, even when there are brightly rendered scenes such as in Chapter 7, “The Trials of Dr. Hoffman”.

Looking at other reviews for this book, it seems that the consensus is clear: it’s sad to see the end of such a remarkable character, but what a graceful ending it is. I could not think of a better send-off for Hellboy. It still feels too soon for his saga to be over, but there is so much more to the character revealed in this last tome. I can’t go beyond that, lest I spoil the book for potential readers.

Additionally, this volume contains “The Magician and the Snake,” by Katie Mignola (age 7) and Mike Mignola (“much, much older”) and “The Exorcist of Vorsk: A puppet story told in Hell” by Todd and Mike Mignola. The first story in particular is moving in its storytelling simplicity. Also included is Mignola’s sketchbook material. Highly recommended.

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on April 8, 2018 by , Reply
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