Wednesday, October 14, 2020

B(oo)k! : Death Sweat of the Cluster

Demeter, nurse and mother of my art, Let me be worthy of thy Mysteries.     --Aeschylus from Frogs, Aristophanes


                                  http://www.conorwalton.com/images/new_images/new_rogerdepiles.jpg

 

It has arrived! Those who have been patient, my sincerest thanks. 

27 essays taken from Groupname for Grapejuice from 2012 to 2015 plus one yet unseen introduction. Four hundred and two pages, seven major sections, their titles composing a Lovecraftian tale of seven lines. 

Gorgeous original cover and interior art by Kaylee Pickinpaugh -- a new zodiac gyring out or spiraling into an interior empyrean of the Earth and transfiguring the whole text into a magic item. Endless curling details. Flanked by Moon and Sun, bridged at usura and Eleusis, shining throughout. Thoth and Pan.

Editing and layout wizardry by Alan Abbadessa and Jason Barrera of Sync Book Press. A melange of fonts, formats and letter dimensions: start it anywhere, bibliomantic and aphoristic. A tactile object that's exactly the right smoothness, size and weight in one's hands.

"But can a blog be a book?" No, it turns out. This is nothing like a blog. Even though the words may be (mostly) the same, the whole has become something else. Through a process beyond intention, these pieces gel together and achieve autonomy. 

I was worried how relevant it would be. Yes, certain events, people, concerns have scrolled far down the feed, but now they've changed into symbols, ciphers of the dot-connection, aughts of the nought. I've tried to loom out a weavework between literature, other media and my own experiences, and the book has got all tangled up in the threading. I am in no sense still concerned.

Now that this is finally out -- just in time for the revolution and the deluge -- I should have more moments to spend here. That's the hope. I tremendously appreciate everyone who has continued to read this blog, even in the fallow months. More to come! Questions or comments below are always the most fulfilling part of this. If you have any I promise this time I'll respond. Thanks for truly helping to make this come about. I'd have lost my will to go on with this ages ago if you weren't there.

 

Death Sweat of the Cluster: Selected Essays from Groupname for Grapejuice

 

20 comments:

  1. the most momentous event of all 2020!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Huge congrats Znore!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just arrived. It feels like someone plunged their hand into the chest of the Internet and pulled out a still beating heart. It is alive and it is beautiful. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Bill. You were the first guy I encountered out there who had the same crazed prophetic take on the Wake that I had. It was so good to find you. Still good. Your comment should go on the book page.

      Delete
    2. I don’t know how I first stumbled onto your blog, but I instantly recognized the kinship. What an absolute miracle it is that we managed to find our way into such an incredibly diverse group of “others” that supported our deep dive into “tradition”. To the poison!

      Delete
    3. It absolutely is a miracle. Why hasn't there been a renaissance yet?

      Delete
  4. Just ordered. Very exciting news! Congrats znore!

    Can't wait to check this out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Much obliged, PQ. You've been there from the start and continue to produce some of the best out there.

      Delete
  5. Congratulations. I have blogged and will order a copy shortly. Not a surprise to see PQ in the comments -- he turned me on to your blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Then that's another reason to be grateful to PQ for. Thanks, Tom. You've brought me tons of views through the years. May your own blog never die!

      Delete
  6. Wonderful news! I bumbled onto your blog about 7-8 years ago and enjoy it very much.
    I loved the PKD blogs.
    Cheers,
    Devin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the long reading, Devin. The PKD stuff is all in there.

      Delete
  7. Huzzah! I am anxious to take it to the river and see what the chinkapins and cottonmouths make of it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Score!
    Just arrived to Vancouver, Canada...looks like Sunday will be dedicated to this new relationship.
    Thanks Z, please keep up the important work.
    Dig the cover and font (obviously, what is inside).
    KC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, KC. That's the first in Canada as far as I know. I'm trying to get other things done.

      Delete
  9. Haven't clicked on your site in awhile but was pleasantly surprised to see your book out! It will be fun to reread your blog posts in an actual book--can't wait!

    ReplyDelete