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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 We search for unpublished, fantastic writers in the far corners of the North.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: 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 , Reply

Book Review: Welcome to the Apocalypse, Book One: Pandora by D.L. Richardson

 

Welcome to the Apocalypse, Book One: Pandora by D. L. Richardson

CreateSpace, 2016

ISBN: 9781370736201

Available: Paperback, eBook(Kindle, Smashwords)

 

Want to get away from it all but don’t have the time?  Want to experience an apocalypse firsthand?  Want to be a hero and save people from zombies or aliens?  Then welcome to the apocalypse!  In this science fiction thriller, the Apocalypse Games are the latest in virtual reality simulation gaming; twenty-four hours of simulated terror in a fully immersive virtual world where anything can happen.  Using the latest technology, players are attached to a pod with a neural network that enables them to feel, taste, touch and, smell everything they encounter.  Each player starts alone and empty-handed.  Each must find a weapon, find the enemy, find safe zones, and find survivors.  It is survival of the fittest, in a kill-or- be-killed world.

 

Welcome to the Apocalypse, Book One: Pandora has a really good premise, and I was really looking forward to it.  Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver what I had hoped for.  While the plot and setting were laid out well at the start, as the story unfolded it became harder to sort out what was going on.  The ending was really abrupt, and I still wonder what happened.  The descriptions and action parts were generally well-constructed, and flowed nicely.  The characters were pretty distinctive and easy to keep straight.  The fun part of them was that some were virtual reality characters and some were real people.  The author had several instances of telling instead of showing, and there were many instances of poorly worded sentences that were confusing and hurt the flow of the story.  The story could also really use some help with editing. Spelling and duplicated or missing words throughout the made it really hard to stay immersed in the plot, and this really made the story fall apart for me.  I have not read this author’s work before.

 

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

Posted on March 18, 2018 by , Reply
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