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Book Review: The Dark North by Martin Dunelind, illustrated by Peter Bergting, Henrik Pettersson, Joakim Ericcson, Magnus Olsson, and Lukas Thelin

The Dark North by Martin Dunelind, art by Peter Bergting, Henrik Pettersson, Joakim Ericsson, Magnus Olsson, and Lukas Thelin; forward by Clive Barker

Dark Horse, 2017

ISBN: 9781506704678

Available: print, Kindle or comiXology ebook

The Dark North is a prose art book that contains five unique stories written by Martin Dunelind,with illustrations showcasing the work of five Scandinavian illustrators and artists. Each of the stories has a different feel and is set in a different time period. Three of the five stories really stood out from the rest: “E18 West,” “Archon,” and “The Daughters of the End.”

“E18 West” is told in 19 short parts, with the narrator telling of her past, present, and future. A road trip in her trusty Oldsmobile leads her to a wraith who has a vendetta against her family. Bergting’s artwork for this piece is perfect for the tone of the story. A few of the panels are represented as photographs in a scrapbook and sketches. The wraith appears in several stages of the road trip before it is even mentioned. The artist also makes use of light and shadow in truly beautiful ways. One of the most effective pieces is an image of the narrator, armed with her shotgun, standing under a streetlight. She is illuminated in the shadows, with a look of defiance on her face. It’s truly beautiful.

“Archon” is set in the distant future. Saul is searching for his wife and child on a planet full of the Clergy’s brainwashing, corruption, and contempt. When he learns the Clergy has used their “indoctrination protocols” on his daughter, his search becomes more pressing, and the hunt for the Architect begins. The artwork for this story is incredibly detailed and fits the story amazingly well. The vast landscapes, futuristic tech, and muted colors all add to the atmosphere of Dunelind’s story. Joakim Ericcson’s art would fit well into the Warhammer 40K universe.

“Daughters of the End” presents a pantheon of sorts. Henrik Pettersson’s beautiful artwork accompanies the short text provided by Martin Dunelind. While the verses are short, they are as powerful as the artwork. The depictions and representations of Wrath and Hunger are particularly impressive.

“The Rest-Red Rooster” is the story of a man visiting a childhood haunt with his sister; he discovers why their mother never went back after an accident, what hides within himself, and his destiny. Both this story and the last, “The Way of All Things,” a dark tale of the tragedies of man, are fantastic, with equally great artwork. However, the first three stories are where the bulk of the greatness of this tome lies.

I do hope Dunelind continues to produce this kind of anthology. It’s beautiful and terrifying, with gripping stories worthy of a gallery showroom. Recommended.

Contains: brief nudity

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Kirsten, Reply

Book Review: True Fiction by Lee Goldberg

True Fiction by Lee Goldberg

Thomas & Mercer, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1503949188

Available: Hardcover, Kindle, audiobook, MP3 CD

Lee Goldberg is a skilled screenwriter who has written for hits such as Monk and Diagnosis: Murder, among others. He has written 15 Monk tie-in novels, each filled with the humor that made the show rock; and readers have figured out that Goldberg is one hell of a storyteller. In True Fiction, already a best-selling thriller, Goldberg spins a wild tale about a novelist caught up in a real-life plot that he penned himself. The writing and wit are razor-sharp, and the characters will keep readers laughing throughout.

Ian Ludlow, author of the Clint Straker novels (cheesy thrillers that are included within the text via hilarious snippets), once worked with the CIA to dream up scenarios for the agency to solve in global disasters. When a plane crashes into a Honolulu hotel, he realizes that he wrote about that exact event during a retreat with several of his contemporary thriller writers. He discovers that one by one, the writers who participated are dying off, with Ludlow himself surviving an assassination attempt that led to a broken arm.

While on a book tour, Ian and Margo, his author escort (who also works as a dog walker) find themselves on the run from those truly behind the attacks. Margo serves as a perfect foil for him as they escape together in the most improbable ways from enemies who can see their every move.

True Fiction is a wild, fun ride that doesn’t let up until the final page. Goldberg tells a masterful, fast-paced story with a perfectly balanced mix of humor and action, as the novel straddles the line between the thrilling and absurd. Highly recommended for fans of Goldberg’s shows, great storytelling, or simply a rollicking, good read. This would make a great film and thankfully, is planned to be a series of books.

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Kirsten, Reply

Musings: Revisiting Stephen King’s Rage

I wrote about Rage five years ago, just a few months before the Sandy Hook school shooting. Shortly after the shooting took place, King released a Kindle single titled Guns that spelled out his thoughts on gun control (he is a gun owner, but supports restrictions) and was very accurate in describing the way the media, politicians, and the public perceive mass shootings (He also mentioned handgun violence in urban areas, although it wasn’t the focus of his essay), and the blame that settles on the culture of violence. The aftermath of the Parkland shooting has followed a much different pattern, but in 2012 there weren’t as many teenagers on social media, news didn’t travel as fast, and parents were the ones who took initiative. Many things are different now, but much of what he wrote is still relevant.

Much of his essay connects to his feelings about his novel Rage, which he wrote a first draft of when he was still a teenager himself, and which was published under a pseudonym in 1977. Rage is about a student who shoots and kills his teacher and then holds the class hostage, and in the 1980s and 1990s, four incidents involving four different boys led to them acting out scenarios from Rage. Two of them fatally shot and killed multiple people. King asked that it be pulled from publication– it is the only novel of his to have gone out of print. Of course we have the Internet now so you probably can track down a copy if you really want it.

My son brought it up last night.

I thought maybe I had spoken about it around him in the past, since I’ve written about it, but I was wrong. Some kid on the bus told him about it. He said it was easy to get a copy of it and asked if my son would like to read it. Can I tell you how disheartening it is that King withdrew the book from publication and now this book is not only easy to get ahold of, but middle school kids are recommending it to each other? The Monster Kid knows where to draw the line as far as what he knows he can handle, and he said no, but even as a freedom-loving First Amendment supporter, I don’t know what I would do if he brought it home now.

At any rate, here is a link to the original post, written shortly before the Sandy Hook school shooting. And I do recommend checking out the Kindle single, Guns, that he wrote shortly afterwards. Any profits go to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Kirsten, Reply