not just the story of Portia and Imogen. This is evinced by the exclusive e-book prequel, A Prelude to Penemue, featuring Lady Hester12. The emotional centre of this serial is the love between Portia and Imogen; they are willing to journey into Hell (literally) for each other. If you are hoping to satiate a prurient interest13, look elsewhere; we are presented with the nurturing side of the relationship with a glimpse to their passion. Harvey brings the feel of the relationship to the forefront in the Labyrinth of the Dead. In the first book, it did not seem obvious why Portia would try to save Imogen, save for lingering guilt. The interactions and sense of love ring true the farther we trek through the novellas. The advertised steam punk aspect of the serial is minimal in ye reviewer’s estimation. True, Portia uses a motorcycle and a wireless radio and there is electric light along with various and sundry devices such as airships, but these items could have mostly been left out and not affected the tenor of the story. It is primarily a dark fantasy (magic, angels, devils) wrapped around political intrigue enveloped by a love story. The steam punk tropes are window dressing on the story as a whole, with rare exception that I shan’t spoil. Magic and politics are more important than machinery, which could have been easily replaced by magic. The Penemue Trilogy is an entertaining read that we here in the catacombs would like to see expanded. There are various threads that are not resolved within the main plot, as well as characters who intrigue enough that back story is wanted. Please note that the books are significantly cheaper in e-book format, but you lose the interior illustrations as well as the tactile sense of the physical copy. Apex Publications has been putting out quality books, primarily with a dark sci-fi bent, for several years now and also produces an onlineonly version of Apex Magazine14 since production costs made the physical edition unfeasible. As we work our way out of the catacombs for this installment, allow me to expound upon a few musical notes (as if you could stop me…). There are a few albums I would like to touch on outside of a full review before a year or more passes until the next “music” column. Spindrift spent the fall opening for The Black Angels and Dead Meadow in the U.S. Of late, most opening bands have been a major
disappointment; this was a happy exception. Primarily an instrumental band, Spindrift look and sound like they walked out of a spaghetti western as the bastard children of Ennio Moriconi and Clint Eastwood with music sounding like that of a lost, acid-drenched movie from 1969. The new album came home with me.15 Definitely check out the videos on YouTube! Astute readers may recall the review of Dead Dick Hammer and the t.b.a. Band’s debut EP; there was promise, but the execution was lacking. In time for All Hollow’s Eve, they were booked in a dive16 in St. Louis and tore. the. roof. off.17 The last time I saw a high energy set like that was a couple years back with The Darkness and the Wildhearts: nonstop rock that made you forget the shite of the opening band. Go see this shockabilly band if they descend on your town! Once again, I would like to thank everyone who reads this column. You give me the most valuable thing: your time. As I write this, I am, after a strange year of trials, tribulations, skirmishes and victories, looking forward to 2012. Thank you, and I’ll see you here next time with graphic novels; may you all have a Happy New Year and stay strange! ROCK N’ ROLL IS DEAD: TALES INSPIRED BY MUSIC www.bloodboundbooks.net This new anthology from Blood Bound Books is dedicated to the late Ronnie James Dio and features a wide selection of fresh new stories each inspired by a different artist or specific track from the mainstream to the downright obscure. It is by no means an original concept, but Rock n Roll is Dead delivers where others have fallen well short in presenting a delightfully diverse showcase of emerging talent. “Thermogenic” by G. Winston Hyatt, apparently inspired by a Throbbing Gristle track called “Hamburger Lady”, is one of the most depraved things I’ve read all year. Don’t read it on your lunch hour. The tightly-woven “Saving Grace” by Quentin Pittman addresses a different kind of horror, one that affects most of us in the end, and the result is no less disturbing. I also liked “Beth Short and the Carnivals of the Damned” by Monique Bos, which uses one of the most famous unsolved murder 15
12
She dies early in the first book, but casts a long shadow over the trilogy. It is best to read this prior to the third book for background on some of the events. 13 Perhaps http://ladiesofsteampunk.com would be apropos. 14 www.apexbookcompany.com/collections/apex-magazine
www.spindriftwest.com The Way Out Club made the Empty Bottle in Chicago look like the House of Blues. It was in a ROUGH neighborhood, an area worse than CBGB’s. 17 www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEm-F_ocvXM 16