European Reader

He's Back! - Two new Hertzan Chimera novels - available now in trade paperback

(News from Mike Philbin)

It's been two years since the 'early retirement' of my subversive writing persona Hertzan Chimera - but as they say, "You can't keep a good 'invented persona' down." This Halloween, under the banner "Writing ! As Hertzan Chimera", Chimericana Books are releasing two never! -before- seen full-length novels Twilight's Last Gleaming and The Hoo-Hoo Are Coming.

It's a tale of resurrection, it's a tale of fanaticism, it's a tale with a happy ending.

Hertzan released a number of books through the alternative press, Szmonhfu (novel, Eraserhead Press), Animal Instincts (illustrated collection, Double Dragon Press), B.F.G.S. (collaborative collection, Massacre Publishing), Chim+Her and Chim+Him (collaborative collections, Cyber Pulp Press). These works were the epitomy of extreme sci-fi horror fusion and genre rule breaking. Hertzan waged a private war against mediocrity in the short span of his writing career.

Then he was dead. Killed off by his creator.

Did the literary world mourn? Not at first, no. Most were relieved that this 'extreme loudmouth' had been laid to rest. But, you know what? People (readers) started to miss Hertzan's extreme worldview. Do you know something else? People (readers) started to suspect there were a couple of Hertzan Chimera novels still to be released. The buzz on the internet grew and grew.

They were right about those missing books.

This November, the world will finally be able to experience those new Hertzan Chimera novels in 6 inch by 9 inch trade paperback format from Chimericana Books - $14.99 each. In a move that mirrors Stephen King's re-issuing of the Richard Bachman books, they will both be released under the "Writing As Hertzan Chimera" banner.

Twilight's Last Gleaming:
by Mike Philbin, writing as Hertzan Chimera, novel (80,000 words).
Written in the early eighties and set in the north of England, the split narrative tells the interwoven story of the a trip to a parallel world from both the physical and the mental perspective. It's up to the reader to decide which. The world is in danger and aliens are harvesting the souls of mankind to further their intergalactic cause. Aliens were never supposed to be this seductive, though.
Here's a teaser from the opening paragraphs:
The limp trickle of liquid on porcelain. The filthy tap squeaking as it is turned off. The static cling of tights being pulled on. The hot smells of the flesh. The juicy odours. The lubricated thrashings and tortured sighs. The scampering of footsteps on the uncarpeted staircase. The slamming of the front door.

The Hoo-Hoo Are Coming:
by Mike Philbin, writing as Hertzan Chimera, novel (80,000 words).
Written in the late eighties, this book explores future European politics and the role of dolphins in human evolution. But it's not really about that. It's about horror, sheer mental and physical horror. The horror of the flesh, the horror of the machine, the horrific interface between the two. Will mankind survive the frenzied amalgamation of desire and chrome?
Here's a teaser from the opening paragraphs:
The scourge began amid the dizzying pyrotechnics of a spectacular thunder storm and a frenzied knuckle assault at an, as yet, undisclosed, door. Stewing in the! bath was the only answer to these terrible twinges of pain her monthly scourge brought her. Geraldine Kablensk brought her head from beneath the soapy surface sat up in her bath. Was she hearing things?

Both books were written with an adult audience in mind - fans of David Lynch, David Cronenberg and Japanese uber-director Takashi Miike will be right at home within the bleeding walls and screaming furnishings of these crazy mansions of terror.


URLs:
Mike Philbin, artist/writer
Chimericana Books, publisher

posted by Ilona @ 12:39 PM