Simmer; a sense of direction; cheese
News & Bits
https://twitter.com/ryanklindsay/status/1388200772823748608
As mentioned in the previous issue, Everfrost (Words: Ryan K Lindsay, Art: Sami Kivela, Colours: Lauren Affe, Letters: Jim Campbell Edits: Me) is out real soon from Black Mask. Issues #1 and #2 are now both in Previews. People are saying supremely nice things about Issue #1 on Twitter. If you are into grand sci-fi with strange landscapes, frantic action and memorable characters it’s a must.
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Creeper 002 is funded! Thank you to all who pledged. There is still time to do so if you haven’t already. You’ll be privy to some awesome articles, fiction and imagery, as well as a piece I wrote about the Hitman series and architecture and how the latter ties in with hierarchy and power structures.
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Last, but not least, I is for Internet went on sale this week. The book is part of Red Cape Publishing‘s A-Z of Horror series.
I is for Internet, the ninth book in an epic series of twenty-six horror anthologies. In this book you will find a collection of thirteen unsettling tales from some of the most imaginative independent horror writers on the scene today. Each story takes a new look at the potential horrors of the online world, from stalkers to cyber-demons, artificial intelligence to predators. I is for Internet will plug you straight into the mainframe and have you desperate to pull the plug.
I have a short story in the volume, the first of my prose to see the light of day, entitled ‘Simmer’.
The story asks the question, if we pour all of our collective hate and frustration into the dark corners of the internet, what comes crawling back out? I had incredible fun writing it, even though the material itself is incredibly dark. A lot of the situations and scenarios the main character deals with were taken from the headlines.
I had a lot of material to draw from.
The book is available in both paperback and eBook formats. Amazon UK//Amazon US.
Links
Rank and File
https://reallifemag.com/rank-and-file/
An excellent essay on note-taking systems and how one can become subsumed and lost in ‘the process’. A certain kind of person, like me, will feel very seen by this article.
Why Animals Don’t Get Lost
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/05/why-animals-dont-get-lost
A beautiful and fascinating article on various animal’s sense of location and their amazing navigational feats. Full of interesting facts and awe of the wonderful creatures that surround us on a daily basis.
The King of the Geezer Teasers Inside Randall Emmett’s direct-to-video empire, where many Hollywood stars have found lucrative early retirement.
https://www.vulture.com/article/randall-emmett-movies.html
The story behind the guy producing most of those Bruce Willis direct to VOD movies. He was also responsible for Gotti. A fascinating look at the lower tiers of Hollywood.
Vegan Cheese Is Ready to Compete With Dairy. Is the World Ready to Eat It?
https://www.eater.com/22315684/vegan-cheese-history-ingredients-process-grocery-brands
Even if you’re not Vegan you will learn more than you will ever need about the process of making cheese (vegan or otherwise) by reading this piece. Cheese was what I missed the most when making the switch, but they’re that close now I barely notice the difference.
Puncher’s Chance
https://thebaffler.com/salvos/punchers-chance-ryan
One of the best bits of writing about Boxing I’ve read in a while. Growing up I was a complete Boxing nerd. I devoured magazines and books on the subject and my wall was a shrine to many of the British boxers mentioned in this article. Hidden to me at the time, but painfully obvious to me in adulthood, are the aspects of class and exploitation present in the sport then and now.
X-Men: Children of the Atom: An oral history
https://www.polygon.com/2021/4/14/22336505/x-men-children-of-the-atom-an-oral-history
Polygon does it again with a fantastic oral history of one of all the all time best beat em ups.
Marvel Superhero Lettering
https://reaganray.com/2021/04/06/marvel-lettering.html
Beautiful.
Out of thin air: the mystery of the man who fell from the sky
A long read on a modern mystery that begins when a man drops from the sky. It soon becomes apparent he is the latest in a long line of modern stowaways who try and secrete themselves on commercial airliners. It hardly ever ends well.
The article shows the desperate lengths some will go to when fleeing persecution or seeking a better life. The imagery of a desperate, frightened man fleeing from what was likely abject poverty, dropping from the sky into an upmarket London neighbourhood is not subtle, but has stuck with me ever since I read this piece.
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I’m off to enjoy yet another three day weekend. See you in two!