Forrest Aguirre is the Winner of World Fantasy Award (2003) and THE VARVAROS ASCENSIONS is his first exclusive book for Mount Abraxas Press.
A collection of two novellas, published in the same series of tall, oversized books as SALT FLOWERS FROM THE YEARS OF DROUGHT (Colin Insole), THE VARVAROS ASCENSIONS is an astonishing, intoxicating, heavy slab of Weird and Fantastic Literature.
The book's feverish artwork is by the amazing Valin Mattheis.
An obscure bibliographic reference to "The Arch: Conjecture of Cities" leads a student of Urban Planning on an obsessive search, resulting in the discovery that at the root of all cities are people; mostly oblivious to the part they play.
"The Ivory Tower" links the chains between the deep history of mankind's emergence from the bowels of the earth and its reaching up into the cosmic void.
Both works explore the question: does Man create civilization, or does civilization create man?
A black curse, an endless wound and an invocation of Nihil for all clandestine dreamers.
Hail, hail the Nightmare!
exoccidente@gmail.com
If you'd like to purchase any of my other books, books I've edited, or books from publishers I may have worked with in the past, please check out this blog post, which should have plenty to whet your appetite!
I can't wait. I bought,and loved, Heraclix and Pomp.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The Varvaros Ascensions is a very different animal than H&P, though.
DeleteEnjoyed Varvaros immensely. Intend to review.
ReplyDeleteMay I quote a line from it?
My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. Yes, not a problem.
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ReplyDeleteHello, I have been really looking forward to reading this since I ordered it back in September. Sadly, I still haven't received my copy and communication with Mount Abraxas press has been like pulling teeth. In case I never receive my copy, I was wanting to ask, have the novellas been published elsewhere?
ReplyDeleteKind regards,
Christopher, I know that Dan, the proprietor of Mount Abraxas, had a very bad, lingering case of Covid. Hoping you received your copy!
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ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me know, I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteWell it hasn't arrived yet, but I'm still hoping! Plus, it puts things into perspective now, knowing that Dan has been unwell. Thanks for getting back to me.
Christopher, any luck yet? Are you in the US? I've had packages take up to a month to get here from Dan - a month after he had taken them to the post office!
DeleteSadly, still no luck. I am in the UK. The last message I received was on the 14th of April, saying the book was going to be posted again the following day and that the tracking number would be forwarded to me then. Unfortunately, no tracking number was sent, and I haven't received any reply to the enquiries I've sent over the last four weeks. I will give it to the end of the month, fingers crossed!
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ReplyDeleteWell, I gave up and asked for a refund, as 8+ months is a long wait and it had become all too obvious that there was no way I was going receive my copy. Only Dan knows the reason for this, I am completely in the dark as almost all of my questions were simply ignored.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I would like to know is, who are the pictures by that are shown above? I've asked Dan this a couple of times, also to no avail. I am curious as they don't look like the same artist that did the cover, but his is the only name I see listed.
Your book reviews on this blog have been wonderful btw. Lots of interesting stuff I doubt I would have come across otherwise.
Roj Friberg is the artist on the internal pieces.
DeleteSorry you had such a rough experience on getting a copy. Did you get your full refund?
And thank you for your comments on my book reviews. I really appreciate it!
Yes, I got a full refund. It has been a long and disappointing experience.
DeleteThe art work is fantastic, I've been trying to find out who made it for ages, thanks!
One day I'll get to read The Varvaros Ascensions, one day...
Hi, Forrest.
ReplyDeleteYour work is amazing!
Is t possible to purchase a copy of the varvaros ascensions with you?
Thank you!
Thank you, Fabio! Unfortunately, I am out of copies. I will say that Mount Abraxas is planning on doing another collection of my stories, though not until early next year (exact date unknown).
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