Honored samurai, ruthless ronin, wayward vagabonds, shadowy ninja and helpless villagers... welcome.
Opening Volley
This minimalist post continues the dig into past issues you may have missed as I continue to work on publishing short stories and novellas set in the samuraipunk genre.
Speaking of, I sold "Something CUTE This Way Comes" (a near-future Japan short story about govt-controlled AR vision that kicks in when a horrific biological emerges to consume all life in its path) to Bruce Bethke (Stupefying Stories) and it should be appearing in issue 26, the Halloween special(?). Here's a link to Stupefying Stories on US Amazon. It will be available in print and e-version, as well as available across the online bookstore-verse. So check your favorite retailers. I will post deets when I have them.
Main Event
Comics, films, and music...
Main Panel, page-centered.
[Slow-mo mid-air leap, hand out to stop Reader]
Made in DNA [all caps, large lettering, maybe in red or outlined]: NO!!!
Tristan Vick is a Japan "alum," who spent many years here, is familiar with both language and culture, and tells a hell of a story. In this issue, I explored some of his work, in particular his then-new Alicia Carter comic series. It's been nearly a year now and he continues to do well in his new role as an indie comic publisher, so check him out.
Matthias Von Braun is a dark, surrealist filmmaker from Germany who caught my eye with his gritty work and friendly demeanor. His work embraces the erotic side of cyberpunk, biopunk and transhuman themes. Influenced by Akira, Tetsuo, Blame! and more, his work has won awards across the globe.
I turn to music to relax. Ambient, instrumental soundtracks, dnb, . New, old, I don't care. I just want to float away for a few moments to refresh my soul. Here's Siddhartha Barnhoorn (an award-winning film and video game composer) and Hearts of Space (still going after all these years).
Bonus
Some of the AI art generated for the simple prompts (“person jumping at button on machine console” and “person flying mid-air jumping at wall switch”) I used were too amusing not to share. All with Wombo’s Dream.
We Never Meet Without Parting
Next issue... Updates on published work (hopefully) and new material (looking at you, Ooku).
Until then!
Made in DNA
https://campsite.bio/madeindna
Man, that AI art is so wonky! I love it. Wombo makes some really weird gems sometimes.