Dire Kindle

Dire Planet and Exiles of the Dire Planet are now available on Kindle at the amazing prices of only 99 measly cents for Dire Planet and $1.99 for Exiles. Download them at Amazon.com.

Dire Planet Compendium #6: The Wings of Mars

The wings used by the Martian Tribes are constructed from hollow wooden tubes stretched tightly with elastic fungal membranes harvested from dank caverns beneath Mars which grow thick with stuff. They are sometimes stretched with arshen skin, which is actually preferable to the fungal membranes--but harvesting arshen skin is a difficult task. The framework for these wings are generally constructed from a bamboo-like species of wood, called Gejassoas, the cane of which is sealed with arshen pitch. The Gejassoas wood is hollow and very strong. Though it is the reduced gravity of Mars that makes flight possible, the buoyancy of the flyer is often increased by pumping these pitch-sealed tubes with a buoyant gas.

The Galbran Tribes are known to stud the edges of their wings with razors. When they attack their foes they swoop low and slice them down with the edges of their wings. This tactic hasn't widely been adopted by other tribes, since the maneuver is nigh on suicidal. If the wings become entangled or the momentum of the flyer is abruptly halted it usually means injury or death for the galbran strapped into the wings.

Mothers Day Madness

This weekend at the Toronto Comics Art Festival artist Noel Tuazon will be on hand to premiere two new book projects which he and myself (Joel Jenkins) were involved with.

The first is a promotional chapbook, The Blood Vault, which contains the fully-illustrated short story which was the precursor to my novel, Devil Take the Hindmost. This story features Damon St. Cloud as he hunts down a missing congressional intern and uncovers an unholy alliance of the undead and politics (really a natural mix, when you think about it). There will be a limited number of copies available, but these will be free at Noel's table.

Also, you'll find copies of The Pirates of Mirror Land--which is my debut in the field of children's literature. At night the stuffed animals in Chase and Destiny's bedroom come to life and Imo, the gopher, and Floppy, the bunny, chase an errant hamster into the lost realm of Mirror Land in an effort to find her. Noel did a fantastic job on the illustrations and he'll have copies of hand in Toronto.

So what if you aren't in the neighborhood of Toronto this coming weekend? Well, it so happens that Amazon has jumped the gun and Pirates of Mirror Land and The Blood Vault chapbook (which also contains sample chapters of other novels) are available via their website. If you order now, just perhaps, you'll be able to get your hands on these books by Mothers Day.

How the West was Weird and Lone Crow

How the West was Weird gets reviewed over at Pulp Fiction Reviews. Swing on over and check out Ron Fortier's critique...

And in response to Mr. Fortier's question, it does look as though there will be further adventures of Lone Crow seeing print. It appears that a Lone Crow story (with Wyatt Earp) will be showing up in the next issue of Dark Worlds. I'll keep you apprised when I have further information.

In the meantime, copies of How the West was Weird are available at Pulpwork Press or Amazon.

Countess Oblivion

Josh Reynolds serialized tale, Countess Oblivion, is off to an intriguing start. It stars a version of the ubiquitous Countess Felluci.

Check out the first chapter.

Dire Planet Compendium #5: Arshen

The arshen is a large slug-like creature which dwells in subterranean pits. They exude a thick pitch-like substance which the Martian Tribes use to waterproof clothing, boats, and wings. The skin of a slain arshen is difficult to remove, but is semi-translucent and naturally waterproof. It is used for tent, tarpaulin, clothing and for covering the gejassoas frames that form the wings that so many tribes use for travel. The arshen seem ponderous and placid, but they have an unpredictable temperament that makes them dangerous. They can move more quickly than most imagine and they are capable of swallowing large animals or humans whole, and their corrosive gastric juices quickly break down their meals.

Copyright 2010 by Joel Jenkins. All Rights Reserved.

Pick up the Dire Planet books at Amazon or PulpWork Press.

Dire Planet Compendium #4: The Rotteliver

The humble rotteliver is a Martian insect pest with twelve legs and a hard carapace that makes it notoriously difficult to kill. These like to invade grain stores and supplies, tainting them and making them unfit for consumption. This gives rise to the comparisons, "as tenacious as a rotteliver" or "as resilient as rotteliver."

Certain species of these insects are omnivorous and will eat carrion or flesh. In fact, some healing shamans use them to treat infections, by setting the rottelivers in the wound and letting them eat the infected and necrotic flesh.

However, this treatment is best performed only by skilled shamans as there are some species of rotteliver that have a taste for living flesh just as well as dead flesh and are not so selective about what they eat. There are reports of entire scouting parties that have been devoured by rottelivers after they had the misfortune of stumbling into a colony.

Copyright 2010 by Joel Jenkins. All Rights Reserved.

Pick up the Dire Planet books at Amazon or PulpWork Press.