Paul Green's Blog, page 2
October 19, 2015
Lost Trails: Forgotten Tales of the Weird West – Vol 1
Editor Cynthia Ward kindly contributed the following words about her book Lost Trails: Forgotten Tales of the Weird West: Volume One
“It may sound nonsensical when I say Lost Trails: Forgotten Tales of the Weird West: Volume One, the anthology I edited for WolfSinger Publications, was born of the disconnect between the “Wild West” in nonfiction and the “Wild West” in fiction. After all, there’s always a disjunction between fact and fiction, even without the Weird factor. But the disjunction that moved me to editorship was the one between the mostly straight white cisgender worlds I was encountering in Weird West fiction, and the realities of everyday life not only in the modern West, but in the historical.
I live in the rural West and my neighbors within one or two doors are white, black, Hispanic, Asian, mixed race, young, old, Christian, atheist, neurotypical, neurodiverse, able-bodied, and differently abled. I study the historical West and encounter black cowboys, gay cowboys, transgender Zuni, Chinese prospectors, Native and mestizo vaqueros, African-American sheriffs and marshals, Muslim cavalry scouts, buffalo soldiers, male prostitutes, rodeo horsewomen, cross-dressing stagecoach drivers and jazz musicians, Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe, Sephardic Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, and even more diversity and intersectionality.
Yet, when I was reading Weird West fiction, I encountered mostly twenty- to fortysomething, able-bodied, straight, Euro-American, cisgender men and women (mostly men) in largely stereotypical roles. I didn’t even see many Native American characters (perhaps as a response to Hollywood’s century-plus habit of confining Indian roles to savages, sidekicks, and/or corpses – http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/25/1189574/-A-Reprise-Savages-Sidekicks-American-Indians-in-Cinema-Part-I#).
Given the Grand Canyon-sized chasm between what I experienced and knew, and what I read, I found myself craving more diverse Weird West fiction, to the point that I found myself editing two volumes of Lost Trails: Forgotten Tales of the Weird West, and selecting the following stories for Volume One.
In “One-Eyed Jack,” Connie Wilkins uses the Weird West genre to examine the assumptions underlying some of the most popular Western archetypes and situations with her differently abled gunfighter and whip-handy brothel madam. In “What Happened at Blessing Creek,” Naomi Kritzer considers indigenous/immigrant relations and Manifest Destiny in a world of magic and shapeshifting. Magic and shapeshifting also play a role in Milton Davis’ “Kiowa Rising,” a steamfunk alternate history about an almost superheroically accomplished historical figure, the African-American U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves.
As it is in Western fiction, the savior archetype is common in Weird West fiction. In both genres, this archetype often takes the form of a lone, gun-toting, male drifter–someone straight and white and not only able-bodied, but supremely competent. Sometimes the savior is a frontier knight in shining armor, but more often he’s unreligious–even amoral. However, in Misha Nogha’s alternate history, “Assiniboia,” it’s a devout French Catholic priest who wants to save the souls of Indian and Métis…only to find himself in need of salvation. In Vivian Caethe’s steampunk alternate history, “The Noonday Sun,” a frontier knight in shining armor shatters the expectations of gender, ability, and sexual orientation. In his alternate-history fantasy, “A Scene from the Yaqui Wars,” Don Webb’s savior subverts the expectations of race and size.
Weird West fiction may incorporate archetypes and beings barred from direct participation in the mundane Western. In Steve Berman’s “Wagers of Gold Mountain,” a Chinese immigrant faces trickster spirits from East and West. In Rudy Ch. Garcia’s “How Five-Gashes-Tumbling Chaneco Earned the Nickname,” a Conquistador’s expeditionary army encounters shamans and nagual spirits. In an excerpt from Ken Liu’s novella, “All the Flavors,” the Idaho gold rush draws a Chinese god. And uranium attracts attention from beyond the stars in Kathleen Alcalá’s “Midnight at the Lariat Lounge.”
Reconstructive study of history finds no shortage of homosexual relationships or gender variance in the Old West. The male buddy pairs in Wild West movies and fiction do not lack in homoerotic undertones. However, open same-sex relationships were not necessarily welcome in the Old West, as Gemma Files reveals in “Sown From Salt,” her grimdark horror story of the aftermath of a couple’s deadly breakup, and gender reassignment did not guarantee a long and joyful life, as a Native girl learns when she is assigned to a traditionally male role in Carol Hightshoe’s “Wolves of the Comanchería.” Between the California and Alaska gold rushes, a lesbian couple in Nicole Kornher-Stace’s “Deal” draws the unwelcome attention of Pinkerton agents. And in Scott A. Cupp’s “Thirteen Days of Glory,” one of the archetypal battles of the Old West centers on the right of man to be with another man.
Some states are viewed as quintessentially Western–Arizona, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming spring instantly to mind. Perhaps because of unique elements in its journey to territory and state, New Mexico features far less often in Western fiction; but Nicole Givens Kurtz’s supernatural revenge story, “Justice,” is a quintessentially New Mexico and quintessentially Weird West tale. California too is somewhat underutilized in Weird West fiction, perhaps because it became a state much earlier than most Western territories, or perhaps because it was put under the rule of U.S. law much earlier. But its high arid mountains are the perfect venue for a post-apocalyptic scientist-outlaw’s hideout and bounty hunter’s search in Beth Wodzinski’s steampunk “Suffer Water,” and its high desert is a natural setting for the zombiepocalypse of Cynthia Ward’s “#rising.”
The Western frontier was not a fixed border or region, nor was it confined to the contiguous United States. Misha Nogha’s “Assiniboia” concerns a proposed Canadian province that was stillborn in our timeline. In J. Comer’s “Soldier’s Coat,” a steampunk war between Russia and the United States plays out in Alaska. In Carole McDonnell’s time travel fantasy, “A Thing of Beauty,” a modern black Catholic priest finds himself in the pre-Civil War territory of Kansas, while a mixed-race girl fleeing an unwanted marriage lights out from Missouri for the land rush in Oklahoma Territory, in Rebecca McFarland Kyle’s steampunk fantasy, “Cross the River.” It is in Arizona Territory that Edward M. Erdelac’s Hasidic lone drifter faces an ancient supernatural threat, in an excerpt from “The Blood Libel,” and it is in Mexico that a steampunk airship fleet rises against the United States, in Ernest Hogan’s “Pancho Villa’s Flying Circus.”
No anthology (or pair of anthologies) can capture all the complex sociocultural realities of a historical era, but I hope Lost Trails: Forgotten Tales of the Weird West: Volume One suggests them, and entertainingly.”
Lost Trails: Forgotten Tales of the Weird West: Volume One is available from Amazon.
Text copyright Cynthia Ward and Weird Westerns 2015.
September 29, 2015
“The Comic Book History Of Beer” Non-Fiction Graphic Novel Review
Tracing the history of beer from 7000 BC and its beginnings in Mesopotamia to the present day, this new 176 page book is a must for anyone interested in the beverage that has taken numerous forms through the centuries. Authors Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith and artist Aaron McConnell cleverly mix historical events with the story of beer in a social context that reflects the tastes of the times. A mixture of traditional comic strip style along with diagrams and various beers highlighted in detail make for a fact-packed entertaining book. The “Meet the Beer” pages introduce readers to the complexities and qualities of the Trappist Dubbel, India Pale Ale, Pilsner, Porter, and more as well as an illustrated guide to the brewing process. No doubt after reading this book you might want to sample some of the beers for yourself.
The book was recently featured on NPR, and in the Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Food Republic and the authors are touring throughout the US this fall, visiting breweries, book stores, and comic book conventions in 17 states.
Events
9/29 Dangerous Man Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN
9/30 Backpocket Brewing Company, Iowa City, IA
10/1 Barnes & Noble, Kansas City, MO
10/3 Beermiscuous Craft Beer Café, Chicago, IL
10/4 The Beguiling, Toronto, ON
10/5 Nicola’s Books, Ann Arbor, MI
10/6 Lizardville Beer Store and Whiskey Bar, Copley, OH
10/8-10/11 New York Comic Con, NYC
10/15 Back East Brewing, Bloomfield, CT
10/16 Mayflower Brewing Company, Plymouth, MA
10/21 Yards Brewing Company, Philadelphia, PA
10/22 Atlas Brew Works, Washington, DC
10/24 Atomic Books, Baltimore, MD
10/26 Oskar Blues Brewery, Brevard, NC
10/30 Wizard World Austin, Austin TX
12/4 Powell’s Books, Portland, OR
Now available from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Powells.com, IndieBound.org or any online bookseller of your choice.
Reprinted with permission from The Comic Book Story of Beer, by Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith, copyright © 2015, published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Artwork copyright © 2015 by Aaron McConnell.
Review copyright Paul Green (Weird Westerns) 2015.
September 11, 2015
Deep Dark Fears by Fran Krause book review
Irrational fears are common to us all. And as Fall approaches and the dark nights creep in those fears take on a new life. Fran Krause’s new book explores these fears with over 100 illustrated comic strips based on real fears submitted by readers to Krause through the popular Tumblr that has 270,000 followers. The result is an entertaining and often creepy book that is perfect reading as Halloween approaches. I read the book in one sitting. It is hard to put down as you encounter one irrational fear after another in the full-color strips that are illustrated in a simple but expressive style that perfectly captures those fears with a touch of humor.
Highly recommended reading from Ten Speed Press. 144 page hardcover book released September 29, 2015. $14.99.
Review copyright Weird Westerns 2015.
When Clowns Attack – A Survival Guide by Chuck Smabuchino book review
Most of us have a love-hate relationship with clowns. They can make us laugh and be creepy at the same time. Horror writers such as Stephen King have explored this dual personality of the clown. Now we have a new book by Chuck Smabuchino that explores Coulrophobia – the fear of clowns. The author examines every manner of clown from Party clown to Circus clown to Hobo clown to Street clown to Dunking Booth clown to Cirque du Soleil clown. He provides instructions on how to prevent clown attacks and spot for signs that an attack is imminent. Clowns are a serious matter in this humorous book that comes complete with full-color photographs of the many clown types plus their clothing and weapons of choice. This Halloween be on high alert for the Clown Attack! This book will serve to protect you.
Published by Ten Speed Press. This 144 page hardcover book is released September 29, 2015. $14.99
Review copyright Weird Westerns 2015.
August 31, 2015
“Deadlands: Ghostwalkers” by Jonathan Maberry
From New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry, the first in a thrilling series of novels based on Deadlands, a hugely successful role-playing game (RPG) set in the Weird, Weird West.
Welcome to the Deadlands, where steely-eyed gunfighters rub shoulders with mad scientists and dark, unnatural forces. Where the Great Quake of 1868 has shattered California into a labyrinth of sea-flooded caverns . . . and a mysterious substance called “ghost rock” fuels exotic steampunk inventions as well as plenty of bloodshed and flying bullets.
In Ghostwalkers, a gun-for-hire, literally haunted by his bloody past, comes to the struggling town of Paradise Falls, where he becomes embroiled in a deadly conflict between the besieged community and a diabolically brilliant alchemist who is building terrible new weapons of mass destruction . . . and an army of the living dead!
JONATHAN MABERRY Maberry is probably best known for his Joe Ledger novels from St. Martin’s Press (including Patient Zero) and his award-winning Rot & Ruin zombie books for young adults. His novelization of The Wolfman, which he did for Tor, was a New York Times bestseller. Maberry’s work has been adapted into comics, a board game, and has been optioned for film. jonathanmaberry.com
Published September 15, 2015 – Tor-Pinnacle Entertainment-Visionary Comics. Watch Book Trailer
August 28, 2015
“Chrononauts” by Mark Millar & Sean Gordon Murphy TPB Vol 1
After 10 years as one of Marvel’s biggest writers, Mark Millar (‘Wanted’, ‘Kick-Ass’, ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’, ’Superman: Red Son’, ’The Ultimates’ and ‘Marvel Civil War’) works exclusively now for his own company Millarworld, building his brands in print and in cinema with nine different blockbuster franchises currently in production.
His latest release, ‘Chrononauts’, is now available for purchase from September 9th.
Synopsis
The story opens with a satellite fired back through time and sending images of the Civil War back to the present day. The world watches, mesmerised, and excited as Dr Corbin Quinn and Dr Danny Reilly embark upon the first manned mission into the past. Their plan is to meet Columbus as he reaches the Americas, but their planned route goes way off-course, leaving them to fend for themselves in an era-hopping adventure from ancient Rome to the Roaring Twenties to the dawn of life itself.
“This is by far the most ambitious project I’ve ever undertaken,” explains Millar. “The actual canvas we’re working on is the entirety of human history so the scope for drama has been amazing. We’ve got things going on here no-one’s ever done before, in comic-books or in cinema. Sean and I are really excited about it.”
Continuing, “I’ve worked with the best in the industry in recent years, but Sean Gordon Murphy beats them all. The research he’s done on this is just astounding. He’s a New York Times best-selling artist for a reason. I can’t think of anyone else who could have pulled this off so well.”
When does Millar plan to make this into a movie like Kingsman and Wanted and Kick-Ass before it?
“Actually, we’re working on it right now. Universal Pictures has bought the rights and we’re making it with Chris Morgan as producer, the brains behind the Fast and the Furious juggernaut over at that company. We’re all really excited about this and getting the screenplay together for a director at the moment”, he adds.
This volume collects issues 1-4 and is published by Image Comics.
“Steve McQueen: Full Throttle Cool” Book Review
In this new biography Steve McQueen’s illustrious life and career is told in graphic novel format. From his harsh upbringing as a child that included time spent in reform school to his Hollywood career starting with “The Blob” and the Western TV series “Wanted: Dead or Alive” McQueen was always something of a rebel, often showing more interest in his leisure time pursuits in motorsports. This book takes time to cover his often dangerous passion for motorcycle and automobile racing that resulted in a serious accident in Phoenix, Arizona that left his foot broken in six places. Undeterred he continued filming on “Le Mans” in a plaster caste hidden by a leather boot.
Greg Scott’s excellent artwork complements McQueen’s life story as told by Dwight Jon Zimmerman. McQueen comes across as a tough-minded individual whose childhood molded his gritty personality. His premature death from mesothelioma was a great loss for all the fans who loved his films.
Published by Motorbooks, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group.
August 27, 2015
“The Art Of Dave Seeley” by Dave Seeley Book Review
Boston born and Andover raised Dave Seeley began his career as an architect. Influenced by European artists and Heavy Metal magazine Seeley decided to change careers in the 1990s and moved into illustration. His first assignments were for various role-playing games, collectible card games and RPG game guides for publishers Wizards of the West Coast, TSR and White Wolf.
Photo provided by Insight Editions © 2015 Dave Seeley. All rights reserved.
Book jacket commissions offered more creative and complex imagery and bigger pay checks. Seeley describes his working methods in this lavishly illustrated 176 page full-color hardback guide to his work that ranges from military to science fiction (Battlestar Galactica, Aliens vs Predator) to Star Wars artwork.
“I’d make detailed drawings, initially in very limited ways and then scan those disparate drawings and bring them into Photoshop. I began to digitally color the images and found that by scanning the photograph, I could pick and choose colors from it as a coherent palette that would lend a sense of realism to the drawing….Photography was the raw material and Photoshop was the glue.”
Seeley also describes his digital modelling of kits for his Star Wars work and his work with live models in this highly recommended book that is worth the price alone for the 200 + examples of Seeley’s beautiful color artwork.
“The Art of Dave Seeley” by Dave Seeley is published 9/8/2015 by Insight Editions.
June 20, 2015
The Sixth Gun-Deadlands RPG- Comic Book
The Kickstarter campaign has unlocked the seventh stretch goal for a Tall Tale of the Sixth Gun—including new original comic material from Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt!
$54,000 Stretch Goal: Fractured Frontiers Adventure
Two halves of a powerful relic, separated and dropped into parallel realities…
One, a world teetering on the edge of oblivion as six mystical guns are fated to be drawn together to rewrite reality itself…
The other, a world trapped in a waking nightmare where forces from beyond spread terror across the west—with the goal of remaking the world in the image of the Deadlands.
Now, a chosen few must cross over into the spirit realm that lies between worlds to heal the relic before the evils that dwell on either side unite and become one!
Check it out here: http://ow.ly/OzvDB
June 15, 2015
“The Devil In Snakeskins” novella by Andy Henion
In a post-apocalyptic future, the world has reverted to a lawless Wild West existence where life is below cut-rate, books are used for target practice, and a contemptuous character known as the professor dissects human abominations for his medical curiosity then scatters the remains for his hog-beasts to devour. But this harmonious life can’t last forever …
Published May 20, 2015 by BEAT to a PULP books. Available from Amazon – The Devil in Snakeskins
