Sunday, September 26, 2021

New Substack post: "Political Slogans of the Future"

I've posted a new Substack text: "Political Slogans of the Future":


Here I play around with imaginary slogans to see what the future might bring. It's all tongue-in-cheek... or is it?

#substack #politics #satire #future #sciencefiction #scifi #writing #neuralink #biotech

Friday, September 24, 2021

Hardcover edition of PRECINCT 20: DEAD STRANGE now available!

 

My acclaimed book PRECINCT 20: DEAD STRANGE, previously available in paperback and ebook format, is now also available in a hardcover edition.

Each chapter is gorgeously illustrated with eerie black-and-white images. This sumptuous book makes a great gift for discerning readers of uncanny fiction. 

Buy it for someone whose dreams you'd like to disturb...

LINK:

amazon.com/dp/B09GZ98LK4


#books #horror #paranormal #TheXFiles #TheTwilightZone #weird #StrangerThings #noir #crime #HPLovecraft #Lovecraftian #LovecraftCountry #Lovecraft #ghosts #monsters #AmericanHorrorStory #horrorbooks #paranormalinvestigation #paranormalinvestigator #paranormalstories #paranormalbooks #paranormalfiction #crimefiction #noirphotography #detective #mystery #literature #thexfiles #bookstagram

Behöver du ett bra omslag till din bok?

 Behöver du ett snyggt omslag till din bok? Eller illustrationer?

Jag kan göra jobbet.

Jag är en professionell illustratör med lång erfarenhet.
Jag har gjort bilder för NRK (norsk radio), KG Johansson, , det brittiska skräckmagasinet MURKY DEPTHS, serier till tidningen SVENSKA SERIER och andra.


De grafiska stilar jag arbetar i passar särskilt bra för genrer som 
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Skräck
Thrillers
Barn- och ungdomsböcker
Humor.

Proffsigt resultat till rimligt pris!

- Arbetsprover finner du HÄR.

- Se även HÄR. 

Kontakta mig via Facebook eller epost (aryngve[AT]gmail[DOT]com).

Monday, September 20, 2021

Book review: ODIN'S CHILD by Siri Pettersen

 

Book review:

ODIN'S CHILD (2013) by Siri Pettersen
(Book 1 of the RAVEN RINGS trilogy)

My book circle has made me read several American and British fantasy novels – some I enjoyed, some not – but at last we picked this Norwegian book, and I read the original Norwegian edition.

Speaking as someone who rarely reads modern fantasy, I think ODIN'S CHILD is very, very good. The novel succeeds stylistically; as good storytelling; as ”world building”; as an original work with a personal vision; in its portrayal of characters - and in the way it grabs and holds the reader emotionally.

Pettersen's style is both terse and expressive. Where many mediocre contemporary fantasy authors struggle with too many sentences to capture mood or meaning, Pettersen can nail it with a few telling details, a brief line – or just a few
words.

There is very little ”excess fat” on her prose, yet it can say a lot. I find that level of skill admirable.

Her storytelling is unlike those brick-sized American fantasy novels I've tried to slog through, where the authors are incapable of ”cutting to the chase.” They tend to drag the reader through every single second of a scene, or flail about trying to find a way to end a scene, and I get bored.

Pettersen knows when to slow down a scene and when to cut to the next; when to get into small details and when to skip unnecessary details; making sure the reader doesn't get bored. Her narrative pacing is brisk but not hurried. That skill I admire also.

When it comes to world building, ODIN'S CHILD uses Scandinavian cultural roots and landscapes, mixed with Japanese-inspired elements - and the mix works.

I particularly appreciated that Pettersen can make the subject of magic – the prime element in all fantasy – mysterious and exciting. (Let's not name the bestselling American fantasy writers who are experts at making magic seem dull and mechanical.)

The protagonist Hirka is an unusual heroine in modern fantasy; she is neither ”the chosen one” nor does she have superhuman powers. From the very beginning she is an outcast in the world where she grows up.

Hirka has to make her own destiny in an often hostile world, and does so like a person who is forced to grow up too soon. Her personality is complex and mature for her age, and yet she is capable of youthful feeling.

The other characters are, in general, well written; none of them are without flaws. Only the heroic character Rime comes close to being a bit too spotless, and even he doesn't come off entirely uncompromised in the end.

The plot is different in depth from ”generic” fantasy; there is a complexity to the imagined world and its workings that colors characters and events in shades of gray. Fantasy may often be regarded as Young Adult material, but the psychological maturity of ODIN'S CHILD should appeal strongly to adult readers.

Finally, there is the emotional core of the story: the love story between the two main characters. This is the kind of romantic stuff that creates loyal readers and passionate fandoms.

The novel has an open ending that points to the next part of the RAVEN RINGS trilogy. I may have to read the other two books to see how the story ends (which is a highly unusual choice for me!).

ODIN'S CHILD is an outstanding novel - warmly recommended to teenage and adult readers alike.

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #bookbloggers #bookcover #fantasy #siripettersen #fantasybooks #bookseries #ravenrings #ravneringene #bookcovers


Saturday, September 18, 2021

New Substack essay: "THE [INSERT SCAPEGOATS] ARE BEHIND EVERYTHING Gets 3 Stars Out of 5."


"'The [INSERT SCAPEGOATS] Are Behind Everything' Gets 3 Stars Out of 5."


In this satirical Substack piece, conspiracy theories are reviewed as if they were genre fiction, for their artistic merits and entertainment value.
#substack #satire #humor #culture #parody

Saturday, September 11, 2021

New Substack essay: "Losing Face in the Global Village: Why Kanye West masks his face (it's not out of shame)."

I have posted a new essay on Substack, with the title:
"Losing Face in the Global Village: Why Kanye West masks his face (it's not out of shame)."

Read it here:
aryngve.substack.com


I'm fascinated by masks, and in various forms they are all the rage now.
In this essay I probe why and how masks are used to protect a sense of self in today's digitally interconnected world.


So why is Kanye West wearing a balaclava in concert? Read my essay and start thinking.


#substack #masks #sexybeasts #maskedsinger #kanyewest #socialmedia #twitter #instagram #facebook #media #marshallmcluhan #identity #internet #substacknewsletter #substackwriter