Much has been said over the years about how the entertainment industry is currently suffering. Much has been written about how those on the inside, including actors actors and unions have destroyed both themselves and their credibility. However, I'm not sure there is a direct and obvious example to point to in order to really nail down the trend.
Until now.
I've mentioned this before in works like The Last Fanatics, and I'll say it again here. There is a certain breed of person that gets into the arts and entertainment not because they wish to connect with others but in order to put themselves at a higher class over them. A long time ago you could get past this for several reasons. The mainstream being the only viable choice and having a monopoly, putting yourself at the head of subcultures by weaseling your way through and saying the right platitudes, and the old favorite of simply buying credibility (like Bethesda saying they invented the First Person Shooter), were all popular choices.
However, it doesn't work anymore. Not in a fractured culture where no one really belongs anywhere unless your personality is to consume or to listen to people who consume more than you or to obey the company throwing its consumers pet treats every now and then. Too many people see this and have turned away, and the the ones with the power either don't notice it or are too far deep up their own rears to realize the problem. As a result, it all just implodes on itself.
Take the recent Writer's Strike, the strike you had to support no matter what or else you hated art. Remember that one? You weren't allowed to question what the terms really were, or how it benefited you as someone outside the industry, customer or artist yourself, or even if it was all just for show. As I covered in an earlier post, it was all more or less a shadow play. And with today's example you're about to see it unfold for what it is.
You will also see where the more recent vitriol around voice actors comes from. Again, it didn't fall from the sky. See how they involved themselves in this and only made themselves even more disliked by the people they are supposed to entertain. Lies, ego, unreality, and hate, are all plentiful, all to fight a cause that shouldn't threaten them in the first place. However it does because the audience have been pushed against them and they have to choose a side. Obviously, their employer is going to come first, but many don't want to accept it. These aren't valiant warriors doing battle for the Cause, they just want to look noble while making money.
All of this combines to make an industry of people that customers simply don't want to support. And, increasingly, they're not. The only way to turn this around is to overturn everything as it is. Unfortunately for them, it's looking less and less likely that it's ever going to happen. Not when there are too many alternate options.
Regardless, watch the above video and discover more details of the strike you were not supposed to know (because they didn't think anyone would bother looking) and understand just how little those in charge think of you. If you didn't know it before, you'll sure learn it now.
That's all for this week! June's here and summer is on the way, and with it, hopefully, the heat. We've got a lot coming to be excited for!
One of the most beloved movies of the 1990s is the film Office Space, which came out at the tail end. Must has been written and spoken of how it succeeds as a comedy, but little is expressed about why it works from a thematic perspective, or why it has aged as well as it has. For an in depth look, I recommend the above video for an analysis on how it has managed to remain relevant.
The subject also tackles what the purpose of work might actually be and why we've seemed to have lost perspective on the subject leading to the way things are in Current Year. As good as Office Space is, it isn't just interested in blandly declaring Work Is Bad. In fact, the main plot is more determined to show viewers that the issue stems not from Work, but Meaningless Work which poisons both the mind and the soul. The way the working world is currently set up is dated to a time and place when technology is not what it was, but also when we knew less about the effectiveness of certain jobs and rules that have been proven to not work so well.
I appreciate that the video attempts to go into these various topics that the movie brings up, including the ending that was almost ruined before rewrites saved it. The ending, also, is good at showing how much things have changed in the quarter of a century since Office Space has been made and how perhaps we are deliberately missing the point as to how we should advance in how things are currently operating.
It's interesting how one comedy movie from the 1990s (that more or less flopped in theaters) can manage to remain so relevant, and it isn't just because of the office setting. It is because it has a surprising amount of things to say on the very subject of work itself. Definitely watch the above video to see for yourself.
There is more to the film than we might have noticed on the surface. They really don't make them like that anymore.
In other news, Rock and Roll Mercenaries is out now, my story "Spirit Rock" one of the tales within. As mentioned before, it is the fourth tale in my Night Rhythm series. Let's talk a bit about the short story series next. We've got a bit to go over.
The Night Rhythm stories all star a three piece rockabilly band in the distant future on a far off forgotten backwater planet, hoping to bring some life to their drab surroundings. They are named Three Wolves, their members Daniel, Jordan, and Edward.
The first story, "Black Dog Bend" was first released in 2020 (Five years ago!) and stars Jordan, the upright bass player and romantic, as he is caught in a motel that repeats events in a permanent loop caused by a witch! Is that a hitman? This one was released in StoryHack #5.
The second story in the series, "Living Land" was released in 2021, starring the headstrong drummer Edward. After following a troubled fan to a mysterious back alley shop, they are pulled into a painting that is both dead and alive. But what is the secret? You'll have to read to find out. This one was in the first volume of Sidearm & Sorcery.
The third story, "Mad Wind" was released in 2022, and stars the mysterious guitarist Daniel. A fan spills his guts at the bar and reveals something sinister is haunting him. But what exactly is it? And how do you stop something you can't touch? This one was put out in Pulp Rock!
As mentioned, the newest story, "Spirit Rock" was just released! This one stars all three members (and their manager) as they stumble upon the ruins of a forgotten town by the coast. But is it really forgotten? And can they find their way home again? This tale is long, the longest I've released in any anthology so far! And, yes, it's in Rock and Roll Mercenaries, out now!
And that's all four of the stories (so far) of Three Wolves. There's more to come, but for now, if you want to read more, you now have the full available list! Thanks for reading and following the band's adventures! I'm sure the guys appreciate it, too.
That's all for this week! Have a good end of May is we soon spin into June and, hopefully better and more suiting weather. We're about due for some real warmth and some sun.
Today I'm proud to announce the official release of Rock and Roll Mercenaries anthology edited by Mistcreek Publishing, This brand new book contains fifteen exciting stories of hard rock adventures all inspired by and/or centered around the art of rock and roll music. Both a throwback and a tribute to the greatest musical style of the 20th century, and an inspiration to all the above writers, this is the kind of thing that could only come from NewPub.
You might recognize the above authors from various different projects over the years, but they all share two things in common: a love for pulp-inspired adventure stories and of the art of rock. Both of these aspects come together to form an anthology that is a celebration of two of the greatest things to come out of the 20th century as well as a look towards what might be laying in wait on the road ahead. As the world is getting gradually more and more reenchanted with has been lost by those in charge fumbling the ball, one has to wonder just how much the stories and music we lost along the way might help guide our way forward.
As the band X once said, "We knew the gutter, also the future." Despite all the sad songs, the cocky rants, the blazing fury, the overindulgent behavior, and the goofball antics, there is a truth waiting there under the surface waiting to be discovered from this nearly forgotten genre of music. If Rock 'n Roll never truly dies it will be because of that wild and carefree spirit that lies deep within its chest: a celebration of the joys of life that will never stop beating.
My stories have quite a lot of musical influence to them, some of which are even directly inspired by the music itself, and my entry into this anthology is no different. In fact, NR LaPoint of Mistcreek was kind enough to generate a song to tell you about it!
Harmonica included!
If you recognized a couple of names in there, well, there's a good reason. This tale is a new entry in my Night Rhythm stories starring the band Three Wolves. I've written three stories before, each starring a different band member. You might remember Daniel, Jordan, and Edward, three guys in a rockabilly band driving across a forgotten backwater planet in a distant future on a world time seems to have forgotten. "Spirit Rock" is a novelette starring all three, as well as their manager, who find themselves in a situation more dire than any they've seen so far.
You see, Three Wolves are a band that exist to revive a forgotten music style in a future where such simple joys are on the edge of becoming extinct, a world where even technology has been discarded for the shadows and the shade. The band got together after rediscovering such forgotten treasures and, not seeing a future for themselves where they were, decided to wander out into the world to share it themselves. It is their life's mission and calling.
The leader and guitarist, Daniel, is the one most in touch with the intangible hidden in the gaps of the world, always distracted by things he can't explain. The bassist and rational one, Jordan, is the romantic that desperately wants to see more than he can see and tends to get caught being the band spokesman. The muscle and drummer, Edward (don't call him Eddie!), is the blunt instrument who doesn't care if the threat is man or monster, but will push through regardless. Then there's the manager who is in it to give the boys all he thinks they are owed, even at the cost of his well-being. Learn more about them all in "Spirit Rock", the grandest and best of these stories so far.
The way this story came together was rather simple. I wanted a tale that brought all these characters into the driver seat and gave a reason they would all need to act individually in a crazy situation. What better excuse than discovering a legendary town on the coast that was rumored to have up and disappeared one day? Why did it vanish? Was it even real in the first place? If so, what could possibly exist to destroy it all? What is waiting out there in the wilds of this backwoods world?
And how can a bunch of dudes that can only rock do anything about it?
Suffice to say, music is powerful. The band knows it, but its not a weapon to them: it's a way of life. That said, as Silver John taught us long ago, there is power in the audible that isn't quite understandable for those limited by their immediate physical sensations. And yes, this series of stories was very much inspired by those very stories written by Manly Wade Wellman. The difference is that I wanted to bring about the mysterious and powerful force of 20th century rock music in a place where its effects had been mostly forgotten and itself relegated to legend. Unlike the false advertising technique of selling rock as "rebellion" that's been a technique since the 1960s, I wanted to bring about rock's power to break tension and anxiety and strike through like a hammer through to the truth where emotions swirl about unchecked and entangled with hope.
Rock has been used as a weapon, an advertising technique, and an aesthetic, but I wanted these stories to cut to its essence of why it is so powerful. The depths of the blues, the warmth of the country, and the heights of the gospel, all inspiring to pick you up from the doldrums that threaten to ensnare you. Rock music consumed the music world for half a century for a good reason, and it is the same reason no other musical style can seem to replace it and never truly will. Much like how classical music has its place that can never be overthrown, so too does rock have a role no other can ever really fulfil, and I hope these stories can show how that might be.
[From L to R: Edward, Daniel, and Jordan]
I've never touched much on where the band itself comes from, but I don't think it matters as much as where they are going. The short story is they come from a small town like everyplace on this world, tucked away in a corner of the galaxy forgotten for progress among brighter stars waiting for better men, or so has been said. They are normal guys like you or me inspired to climb to greater heights than they thought they would.
Just like today we have younger generations taking inspiration from a past that was either demonized or deliberately buried. The main guys in Three Wolves find life in what was thought to be dead, finding light in what they were told was only darkness, and they have discovered adventure. In a sense, it is through the power, energy, and life, in the music, that they are able to discover more of who they are. Plus, it is eternally cool. What red-blooded male does not want to be cool?
But in "Spirit Rock" they have to face a different kind of forgotten world--one much different than the one they sought to discover. I could go a bit more into it, but I would much rather you read the tale for yourself. This is quite a fun story with a lot of moving parts (four protagonists will do that) and an ending that is the most outright cool I've penned so far. Of the four Three Wolves stories released, this one is my favorite so far. Read it and I think you will agree.
Are there more stories to come after "Spirit Rock" for the band? Yes, actually. I have one half written, another outlined, and a big finale I have yet to nail down. I like these guys and I want to see where their journey through the forgotten backwoods world takes them, and I would like to take you with me through these adventures.
Of course, Rock and Roll Mercenaries isn't just about me. It also contains 14 other stories by some top notch writers who love music and pulp-inspired adventure as much as I do. It's going to be a perfect summer read, too. Make sure you pick it up today!
It's been a bit since we did one of these, so I wanted to pick something of a bit more obscure subject to cover. This time I wanted to cover the current practice of character rot currently plaguing modern mainstream franchises and revivals. It isn't just an ignorance problem, it's an ignorance problem brought about by stubborn ego.
A lot of talk is spent about why so many properties forcibly change old things to "fix" them while a loyal cadre of people who got into it for what it originally was always complain about it. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't the customers who are wrong in these cases: it is the creators who willing ignore what they don't like or understand about the property and set about to "repair" its perceived problems. All while pop cultists who will consume anything let them uncritically demolish it because they too do not care much about the issue.
For an example of this very problem I suggest the above issue from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and franchise itself that has had one nasty identity crisis its entire existence, but only really became a problem when a certain sect of western obsessives got their foot in the door and started making demands instead of approaching the assignment with pure intentions. What you get is the mess above that completely misses the original intent of the project.
We go on a lot about how ideology is responsible for these trends, but the truth is that it all stems from an ignorant misunderstanding of a subject then, instead of correcting course, doubling down the way the ideology tells you to. In the end, it's ego. While artistic ego is real, when working with others one is meant to reign it in and collaborate to make the best of both worlds. At no point should you consider it carte blanche to run roughshod over everyone else and assume you are the final arbiter of what is right and good.
It's a strange narcissism that runs in this generation of creators that seems to be just about everywhere, even when it's completely undeserved. Whether in comics, TV, video games, and even books, there is a disturbing lack of humility to be found in it, even in something like an old stalwart property from the 1990s. Every 20th century IP is infected with this mentality now, and it appears to be completely inescapable.
However, what's not inescapable is the change in the independent spaces and NewPub. There you don't have to go through any of this decay because it's all owned by the original creators who have no aspiration to sell out to a dead industry for a quick buck. It's about building, not cashing in and going home. We have a duty to create, and we're going to do it.
In other news, there's a new podcast episode on the Patreon. This one is over an hour long and is about tertiary characters and creations and how they matter more than we might think. I also go on a bit where I think the industry is heading beyond this modern rut. It's an exciting one!
We've got quite a lot to look forward to.
Thanks again for all your support, and I'll see you next time!
The first thing I wanted to announce is that today marks another new free episode for the podcast on the Patreon. In this one I talk about the Post-Geek mentality we're going to have to decide on in order to move from the crumbling culture we're currently clinging to.
If you want more, join the Patreon for more episodes as well as the ongoing Psycho Mission serial and other goodies now and to come. I make sure to give you as much as I can for the support you give me. Believe me, ever little bit helps.
Next, you might have noticed the above advertisement. The next project I will be in is the Rock and Roll Mercenaries anthology out later this month! It's a book containing 15 adventures based on the music, spirit, and legends that formed out of the genre over its half-century history. The eBook version is up for preorder now, and even includes a custom soundtrack made for fun (which is also free!) based on the stories included.
For those curious as to what is the "tracklist" or the author roster for the anthology, I have included a helpful graphic below:
A lot of great writers included in this project. I'm excited to read it all for myself when I get my own hard copy. Until then, you can preorder the digital version here.
My story, "Spirit Rock", is a new Night Rhythms story, one that's been in the works for awhile. For those who don't know, I've written three stories each starring a member of the band Three Wolves before. "Black Dog Bend" from StoryHack #5, "Living Land" from Sidearm & Sorcery Volume One, and "Mad Wind" from Pulp Rock, each starred the bass player, the drummer, and the guitarist, respectively. the goal was to show different aspects of this backwoods forgotten world where the unknown awaits around every corner. "Spirit Rock" is the sequel to all three of these, though you don't need to have read them to get it for yourself.
So what's it about?
"Spirit Rock" is a novelette that stars all three of the protagonists from those stories, as well as their manager. The titular Spirit Rock is a legendary town from when humanity touched down ages ago that was said to have disappeared into thin air. A beautiful woman arrives to tell them that it does in fact exist. But is she telling the truth, or is there more to this than she's letting on? What is the truth of Spirit Rock? You'll have to check out Rock and Roll Mercenaries to find out!
I'm proud of this one, as it's been a story I've had in my back pocket for some time without any real way of getting it out to readers, until now! If you like adventure, wonder, music, and myth, you'll definitely dig this one!
Rock n Roll might be dead as far as culture is concerned, but there is remains a power and mystique to the genre that has managed to last and influence the way we see things. As the hedonism and arrogance that had once encircled like a boa to crush the life from it fades into memory, what remains is a power and passion that cannot be replicated in the same way elsewhere. Art is immortal, reaching for something higher than the here and now, and of all the 20th century arts that have died in the transition to the 21st, it still retains that strength, remaining even as the worst of it fades away. And I think this anthology helps show that.
While times are changing there are truths that never will. Even if rock n roll wasn't destined to last, what originally drove its creation, its evolution, and its tenacity, over the half century it was a powerhouse, cannot be understated. There will never be anything else remotely like it, and that's probably a good thing.
But that also doesn't mean it's going away anytime soon. Rock n Roll, despite its irrelevance for nearly two decades now, still inspires and still exists on the fringes, which is the way it was always destined to end. It started in a garage, and that's where it should end. When a bunch of teenagers with more free time than sense decide to make some noise, they are telling us all the spirit will never die. And that's a fitting end to its legacy.
Thanks for reading! I know this post isn't the typical one we get around here, but I thought it was a necessary one. Times are changing and I still really don't know what that means yet, but I'm going to go with what I know regardless. What else can I do?
