Articles on alternative dark culture and art, and social issues. Profiles of symphonic metal, darkwave bands, and alternative artists. Reviews of fantasy books and movies. Updated frequently.
The Greywalker novel by Kat Richardson is the first in a series of five books, the latest is due to be released in August 2010, which has a great paranormal detective story.
It tells the story of a private investigator in Seattle, Harper Blaine, who is clinically dead for about two minutes, and after that experience, she develops the ability to interact with the creatures of the Grey.
The Grey is the dimension between the physical and spiritual worlds, in which vampires, witches, ghosts and other magical creatures dwell.
Harper Blaine has to go on with her life though, and she is immediately faced with two cases, one of a missing student, who turns out to be a vampire, and of a mysterious artifact, which is a sort of time bomb. Though she is still groping with this new reality and her abilities, she is the only one who can keep the worst from happening.
The Greywalker is written on a first-person narrative, with terse sentences, but that doesn’t compromise the story, which is very interesting and rich. Kat Richardson’s writing seems to have improved a lot since then, having acquired a more fluid rhythm, as far as the excerpt of the last installment of the Greywalker series shows.
Kat Richardson told in an interview about how she created the character Harper Blaine. She said Harper was originally a male clichéd character of a tough PI with blazing guns, who never complained and never got hurt. She then started a long process of shaping the character into something more believable.
She said: “Making the character female was some immediate relief, but it still had that ‘man with breasts’ problem. The former military or spiritual martial artist trope has been done to death, too, so those were not options for developing the character and breaking her out of the cliché, so I considered the women I knew who were competent and physically tough and drew Harper based on them.
“I let her go ahead and acknowledge her discomforts, but do the job anyhow—just like most of the women I know.” [1]
The author Kat Richardson seems to be a very interesting and unconventional person. She has a degree in Magazine Journalism from California State University, and presently she lives in Seattle with her husband in a sailboat.
She has worked as a writer and editor in the computer industry, and has also written RPGs, film scripts and computer games plots and has experience in theater and music. She is a supporter of the California Ferret Legalization, which aims at making it legal to own ferrets as domestic pets, instead of considering the ownership illegal and the animals as wildlife ones.
About her working process, Kat Richardson said “I'm not a seat-of-the-pants sort of writer. Since the stories are structured like Mysteries, that makes timing and placement of clues very important, so I work out a lot of the details in the outline before I get a lot of the writing done and that eliminates a lot of heavy revision or re-writing later. At least so far it has.” [2]
Check the sites below for more information on the book and the author.
Selina Fenech is a very talented Australian illustrator, who specialized in pictures of fairies. She has always had an interest in mythical creatures, and as a child loved illustrated fantasy books.
A professional artist since age 23, Selina Fenech had her artworks sold all over the world, and published in books and magazines. In her site, her beautiful illustrations can be acquired as posters, stationery, t-shirts and other products.
Her working medium is mainly watercolor and acrylics on paper, but she has also used other media such as inks, pencils and even digital painting.
Selina Fenech describes her passion for her work on her website: “I want to live my life like it's a fairy tale, and I want my artwork to make other people feel the same. I love that for a person of any age my fairies can bring back the magical memories and feelings of adventure from their childhood. I hope that they also create new memories and dreams of magic!
“As an artist, I paint because of a true, driving need to create beauty and magic. It is an inner need which I fulfill by putting brush to paper. But there is no magic there until it is shared, no joy to be found in the forms and colours until it is seen by another.” [1]
She has also published several articles on drawing and painting techniques, which are available on her site.
Here is a selection of Selina Fenech’s artworks. Visit her site for more.
The Bulgarian band Irfan is a great Ethereal band, with a sound reminiscent of Qntal and Dead Can Dance. Using instruments traditional to the music of Turkey, Egypt, Greece and the Balkans, Irfan’s sound is a blend of the Eastern, the Medieval and the Modern.
Talking about the band's mysterious and dark sound, vocalist Denitza Seraphimova said that “We believe that music is an act of the spirit… The vibration of the sound and the music has the "magic" power to create new worlds, to open gates to other space and dimensions. But this is also very dangerous because creating spiritual music is a big responsibility that needs a clear mind, intention and pure heart.” [1]
This concept begins in the band’s name. Irfan is a Sufi term from Persian and Arabian, which means gnosis, mystic knowledge and revelation.
The musicians of Irfan, Denitza, plus Ivailo, Kalin and Kiril joined together in 2002, and had their first album released in 2003, with the band’s name, and their second in 2007, named Seraphim. The line-up is made of Denitza Seraphimova vocals, Ivailo Petrov - programming, strings, Kalin Yordanov - vocals, percussion, Peter Todorov – percussion and Yasen Lazarov - keyboards, woodwind.
They have already done soundtracks for a Bulgarian documentary and a movie, and they have played all over Europe.
One of the interesting things about the Irfan musicians is that all of them work with archeology, history and culture, and have side projects as musicians. They also like to experiment with old folklore music and instruments like the daz, bodhran and tamboura.
As for the vocals, the songs seldom have any lyrics, they prefer to vocalize sounds in a Cocteau Twins-like way. When they do, the lyrics are in Church Slavonic, Latin and Medieval Spanish.
Their process of composition is very democratic. Denitza described it as “It is a common and collective process. In the beginning one of us (mainly Ivailo and Kiril) brings a primary idea and then all of us work in the building of the composition.” [1]
Throughout Europe they often play in Goth Festivals like Summer Darkness, and also Folk Festivals. Talking about the way their music seems to attract people from so many different cultural backgrouns, Denitza said: “We believe that the message of our music is universal and that it is for everyone who could understand it with his heart nevertheless his language, color, religion or music stream and preferences.” [2]
Check the videos below for samples of their fascinating music.
I’ve recently watched an interview with Twilight: New Moon Native American actor Chaske Spencer, in which he talks about the hardships the Lakota Sioux people have been facing in the US, and his own experience living in reservations.
Before watching that interview, in which he talks frankly about delinquency, drugs, alcohol and prejudice being a constant in the lives of the Native Americans, I had no idea how bad their life conditions were. I’ve done a little research on the main points he raises in the interview, and I’d like to share them with you.
Oppression & Poverty
According to the interactive world map on the Indigenous Peoples Issues & Resources site (image above), there are Indigenous Peoples all over North America, who often live below poverty level, with serious social, health, educational and developmental problems.
What is the origin of such problems? Chaske Spencer draws attention to an important point, when he says that “When you take a conquered people, and you take their religion right away, and tell them to be ashamed of themselves, then it starts a pattern... And the cycle of that, I believe is... you have a generation of people that are very ashamed of their culture.. and you have a lot of... self-esteem issues, and... that's when alcohol takes place, drug addiction and abuse…”
Recently it was reported that a student at a South Dakota school won’t be allowed to dress in his Lakota traditional dress for graduation because: "We are a district school, an open-enrollment school. We're not a Native American school," [Superintendent Lawrence Jaske] said. "You have to respect the people from this area. They pay the taxes. We don't get money from Pine Ridge. So the tradition here is cap and gown. That's in the handbook. That's what we'll follow." And that when 95% of the school population is made of Native Americans.
And what kind of “scandalous” clothes that would so disrespect non-Native American tax payers are those? The clothes consist of: “ribbon shirt with beaded cuffs and armbands, his beaded moccasins and his medallion, his eagle fan, his feather and his beaded medicine bag.”
So, in order to keep a school tradition of caps and gowns, a student has to set aside his wish of celebrating his achievement as a member of his people, and at the same time honor them. O-K... Luckily others don’t agree with that, and he still may wear his traditional clothes at the graduation, as he should.
Then there’s the poverty issue, which is maybe even worse than the lack of respect for their culture. In the interview, Chaske Spencer mentions visiting the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations, both of the Lakota Sioux people.
Most of the Pine Ridge reservation area is located within two counties listed as some of the poorest regions of the US, the Shannon (2nd poorest) and the Jackson (23rd poorest) in South Dakota. As for the Rosebud reservation, it is located in the Todd County, which is the 5th poorest in the US. [1]
This is what Pine Ridge and Rosebud look like:
On Google Maps there’s no date for when those pictures were taken, and they only show the view from the highways. In the videos at the bottom of the post, there are detailed images of the people’s awful housing conditions.
Chaske Spencer commented on the government help the Lakota Sioux, and the Native peoples in general, have been receiving, and the long-term ineffective results it has: "...It's funny that we depend on the government, but the government set it up [the water system at the Sioux reservation], so we have to depend on them... it's a vicious cycle, it's almost like a drug, you know. The drug dealer gives you something, gives you a taste and you want more and more, and you try to get off but you can't."
On January, 2010, the Cheyenne River region faced one of the worst winters ever, in which over 3,000 power lines were damaged due to ice storms.
And as the 10,000 inhabitants depend on the electricity transmitted across hundreds of empty miles to run pumps, ignition modules and heaters, they were left without it, and are still living in precarious conditions.
The local water system is totally outdated and would require US$ 65 million to be restored, which is something very difficult to raise from the federal government. [2][3]
Another comment from Chaske Spencer’s interview shocked me, but after some googling, I’ve found out it is even worse than that. He says: "Someone gave me a text telling me about how the suicide rate for Native teens on the Pine Ridge reservation is up to 85%. I couldn't believe that..."
Actually the teenage suicide rate on Pine Ridge is 150% higher than the US national average. The unemployment rate is 85%, and 97% of the population lives under poverty level. Some other stunning numbers are:
“The infant mortality rate is the highest on that continent and is about 300% higher than the U.S. national average.
More than half the Reservation's adults battle addiction and disease. Alcoholism, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and malnutrition are pervasive.
The rate of diabetes on the Reservation is reported to be 800% higher than the U.S. national average. Recent reports indicate that almost 50% of the adults on the Reservation over the age of 40 have diabetes.
As a result of the high rate of diabetes on the Reservation, diabetic-related blindness, amputations, and kidney failure are common.
The tuberculosis rate on the Pine Ridge Reservation is approximately 800% higher than the U.S. national average.
A Federal Commodity Food Program is active but supplies mostly inappropriate foods (high in carbohydrate and/or sugar) for the largely diabetic population of the Reservation.”
(check this site for detailed information on the Lakota Sioux life conditions)
Chaske Spencer gives more details about his personal experience growing up in reservations:
"I would go to parties when I was 13, 12, and there were stabbings, there were shootings, and I thought that was the normal thing... until I went to a different school, and went to a party there and I found out that that's not how life is."
Melanie McBee, an Oglala Lakota who lives in Pine Ridge, gives a poignant account:
Alcoholism, addiction, violence, and suicide predominate in this once tranquil place… These people...MY PEOPLE were committing a slow suicide by the huge amounts of alcohol they were consuming…
Many of these families are living without necessities like running water, electricity, sewer, heat--even food, diapers, and formula. Despite these things--they somehow always seem to find the money to drink, or to buy a can of hair spray to huff, or a can of paint to sniff. [4]
Her account complements the information of the NY Times article, published in December, 2009, describing the growth of gangs in Pine Ridge, which mirrors those of big cities in all its worse aspects. [5]
Perhaps the saddest thing about those lost boys mimicking the ‘gangstas’ who are their idols, is the utter loss of identity it shows. The Native Americans have a rich culture, with powerful and respectful personalities, from who they should draw strength, if only they hadn’t been brought so low. The same goes for the African Americans and Latin Americans they copy.
Then again, lack of identity is an epidemic nowadays. Who do all of us, the young, have to look upon? Where do we draw our strength from? Who are our idols and what are they doing?
Those we have to mirror on are as lost as we are, even those who are older than us. We listen to their songs, which talk about despair, hardships and looking endlessly for a way out, and that’s the sort of comfort we have. There has to be more than this for all of us.
Taking action to help the Lakota Sioux
In the last few months since the January blizzards incident, the Cheyenne River region were given some help by the government and charities to repair the damage caused by the weather, and tackle some of their most serious social problems.
The One Spirit non-profit has been one of them, and it sponsors several local programs, from food distribution to fuel assistance and bed donations in the region. They are constantly in need of support, so visit their site to know more about their work and for ways to help. [6]
Chaske Spencer’s project takes on a more political approach, drawing awareness to the urgent need to give a voice to Native Americans.
According to the mission statement on the site, its purpose is to “create awareness of the current issues and conditions; create alternatives that promote dignity, justice, unity, and accountability and take action that supports the creation of these alternatives.”
Chaske talked about his reasons for starting the project:
"The one thing that really made me want to do this with the Global Shift/Shift Power to the People, was that I had so many experiences with...my own people, Natives... they're the underdogs, people who don't have a voice... Giving a voice to someone who needs help...
I've been in a place where I needed help, and luckily someone else was there to help me... and being blessed with Twilight, you can be all about limo[usine] rides and meeting famous people, but that doesn't do anything for me... it's not what the bigger picture is, what can you do with the medium, what can you do to help people… And I do it for reasons… it feels good to give back, but also I'm on a service of some sort, not just this useless actor sitting around..."
To take part in his project, you can use this form to petition the government for improvements on the Lakota Sioux living conditions. For non-US citizens, the site also has the option of sending a digital letter to the White House.
Finally, Chaske describes his own way of helping, which is a great advice to anyone who wants to start doing something to improve his city and his country: "How I try to help change and make a difference is just talk to people, see if you can make synergies and get help, and take one step at a time… You can start a circular ripple effect."
Below are the videos of Chaske Spencer’s interview, and others with more information on how the Lakota Sioux have been living.
If there’s anything in your district, city and country that you think should be improved, look for ways to draw attention to it. Don’t allow it to go on, expecting others to take action for you.
Even the work of a small group of people in a short period of time can effect some change, but the joint effort of many over a long period of time, doing whatever they can, little by little, will certainly change the face of the world, just as it has already been done.
The Finnish Entwine is a Gothic Metal band with a very melodic sound, and vocals that despite being quite unpretentious, fit perfectly into the heavy and sometimes raw sound of the band.
Entwine started out as a Death Metal project of drummer Aksu Hanttu, guitarist Tom Mikkola and bassist T. Taipale in 1995. By the time they released their first album, The Treasures Within Hearts, in 1999, their sound had changed dramatically to a more melodic metal orientation.
The current singer, Mika Tauriainen, joined the band in the same year, and has become the voice by which Entwine’s sound is identified. The other members of the band are: Jaani Kähkönen (guitar), Joni Miettinen (bass), Aksu Hanttu (drums), and Tom Mikkola (guitar).
Their latest release is Painstained, about which guitarist Jaani Kähkönen commented that “this time we were able to combine all of the elements we have had during the last six years or so. I also had to mention that this time we had probably the best producer in Finland, Hiili Hiilesmaa. We cannot underestimate his contribution for this album. He’s so professional yet really easygoing.” [1]
Also Tom Mikkola said about the album: “Painstained contains some of the heaviest stuff we've ever written but at the same time you can find really mellow atmospheres, so there are contrasts between and even within the songs which is a good thing.” [2]
This will be the first album the band releases throughout Europe, as their label has recently opened an office in the UK. Jaani talked also about the current state of Entwine and its members:
“Everyone else but Mika is working or studying at the moment. It is extremely difficult to make a living in the music business. Especially in Finland where there is quite a low population. The amount of gigs we are able to do is limited. Actually I’m studying music and media management so I’ll probably be working in the business also in the future. I mean if I stop playing some day.” [3]
3rd part in a science fiction trilogy by Kristin Landon, The Dark Reaches is the story of a period in the future in which Earth has been dominated by intelligent machines called The Cold Minds that enslaved humans. Those who managed to flee, colonized planets called The Hidden Worlds.
In a trip through space, pilot Linnea Kiaho is contacted telepathically by humans living on Earth, who are seeking help against the Cold Minds. Because of the shock caused by the contact, she is separated from her partner Ian sen Paolo, and when she finally joins him, her only thought is to go with her partner to their rescue.
Together they will find a secret which may either save the Hidden Worlds or destroy it.
Kristin Landon has created a very clever and enticing future time, with some interesting concepts.
One of these is the neural and physical connection the pilots have to their ships, which sustain them during the journeys, and which they control directly with their minds, experiencing the trip with all their body, requiring them to curb their emotions so that the brutal effects of the voyage through space won’t affect them.
The author said that her favorite scene in the book was “when Linnea and her companions must hide from Cold Minds robotic probes aboard an abandoned spaceship. I'm proud of the trick Linnea comes up with to hide them—but the Cold Minds are thorough searchers. . .”
As an advice for fledgling writers, she says: “Work hard on writing the best book you can. Get feedback from people you trust, and be ready to spend whatever time and effort it takes to make your work the best it can be. A lucky break, a chance to get your work in front of the right pair of eyes, won't get you anywhere if the work isn't worth reading.” [1]
Kristin Landon has been a fan of science fiction since childhood. She has a degree in Chemistry and has worked as a research lab technician for several years before taking up writing.
Find out more about The Dark Reaches novel and her other books on her site. An excerpt, which gives a good idea of what awaits the reader can be found here.
