ALL OF MY PUBLISHED WORKS
(except works where my work was used but uncredited)
COMICS, PROSE AND POETRY: JOSH HOWARD PRESENTS: SASQUATCH
Technically my first book, but it was an anthology so mine was one of many. It was a fun book, but there was a small issue some had with it. The editorial work gathered all works in one lump, the scary, the philosophical and the action stories were all plopped on the same grouping, while many stories were fully different than the one that preceded it, and the one to follow. So to enjoy it, it is important to read whatever works one at a time, and enjoy each for what they are. Mine was never intended as a story, so much as a commentary about why modern humans see monsters in the darkness. The artist on the book Paul Harmon was brilliant, and most were struck by the work, but one overt libertarian said I was a self important stupid leftist telling everyone what to think. Twenty three other critics said mine was among the best of the bunch. So make up your own mind.
Technically my first book, but it was an anthology so mine was one of many. It was a fun book, but there was a small issue some had with it. The editorial work gathered all works in one lump, the scary, the philosophical and the action stories were all plopped on the same grouping, while many stories were fully different than the one that preceded it, and the one to follow. So to enjoy it, it is important to read whatever works one at a time, and enjoy each for what they are. Mine was never intended as a story, so much as a commentary about why modern humans see monsters in the darkness. The artist on the book Paul Harmon was brilliant, and most were struck by the work, but one overt libertarian said I was a self important stupid leftist telling everyone what to think. Twenty three other critics said mine was among the best of the bunch. So make up your own mind.
MYSTERIOUS VISIONS: AFTER HOURS
Dimestore Productions put out this comic book anthology. I don't want to go into depth here, except to say, my work with Earl Gaier was good, as were the works of Josh Brown that I found within the pages. This had a very small print, and I doubt there are any books anywhere for anyone to find. Good luck if you are searching.
FOURTH REICH FINAL STRIKE
Alex Ness Words, Jason Moser Art
In 2005 a very close friend and I had developed an idea for a war game. The concept was one where the Nazis had not died, but rather prepared for an escape, and did so. Then when ready, attacked the world. The game designer/artist friend died of Lung Cancer in 2009, but my story was written. A while later I shared it with Jason Moser, a very fine artist, and this project is the result of that connection. Perhaps some day the war game can still happen. I regret that I didn't proof my work as well as I could have, and Jason was great, but I was unclear and left too much to be clear about both what happened and if it indeed ended the way it seemed. The book looks beautiful, due to Jason alone.
BAM TOO! BIG ASS MINI COMIC
A LIFE OF RAVENS
LANCELOT
Lancelot from Cyberwizard was a mass effort by many artists and a brilliantly talented co-writer G.F. "Geoff" Evrard, who is Breton French, and his side of the project included many fabulous artists. My side of the project had numerous great talents, but numerous people dropped out, leaving me hanging. Some of those were great, but one was very unprofessional (he comes from Ohio). So, for me it was a troubled work, but, it is a beautiful error free project. It is also out of print, which is a horrible thing because for all the work done on this book, it deserved much better. To the publisher Cyberwizard's credit, she fulfilled a promise of publishing the work in color. This edition remains available on Amazon. It is very expensive, but I promise, it is worth the cost. There are page embellishments by a skilled artist, along with the new color art, it is a beautiful work deserving of collection.
ARTHUR, REX ETERNUS
Arthur Rex Eternus was born as a sequel to Lancelot, only the publisher requested my work, but never worked on it for a year. After that time I asked Josh Brown (mentioned above) to edit and format it and write a tale, and we were joined by an artist Trent Westbrook. Of my work, I like these poems, rather more than the Lancelot poems, despite liking the book on the Lancelot more. I think it comes from growth as a writer, of course, but also, having the freedom to work for Josh as an editor instead of someone I do not know.
THE HOLY CHALICE: THE QUEST OF ARTHUR
I had an idea, to write about Arthurian love. It was gold, GOLD I tell you. Some see love as the ultimate quest, but lust interrupts that quest. Some say fulfillment is the ultimate quest. But does the Holy Chalice, the Grail of legend represent fulfillment, or are we fulfillment of the quest, when we love another fully? Arthurian Romance and quests surround the love of others, of service, and of lust. The quest is to learn what is the Holy Chalice.
KING OF AGES: An Anthology
The concept of the book was new. Arthur and Merlyn were/are ever existing. They appear in different forms throughout history, and the future. The tales of King Arthur have appealed to me since my earliest memories. When Josh Brown presented his theme/concept for the book I immediately turned to the primal templates of Arthur and Merlyn. Arthur lived with the blood of a brave but iniquitous man, Uther Pendragon in his veins, was born of a rape of the mother. Arthur was an innocent, despite the perverse origins, and the one to counsel him, and announce him was Merlyn. Understanding them then from Josh's direction, I saw Arthur as King and Merlyn his seer as the iconic theme of John the Baptist, and Christ the King. However, I also saw them in the future, with Christ returning to earth, in the form of Arthur. Wherever there is Arthur, there is Merlyn, and wherever Christ appears, he is foretold and announced by John.
AMONGST THE RUINS
This was published by Diminuendo publishing and is a book about fantasy and ancient events from the perspective of battle and adventure. It was purely text, and some people thought that it would be a chance to focus upon my poems rather than the art and poems. I enjoyed the work I did, and despite a snafu that marred the first print, (the printer's proof was different than the final product and it was left with two pretty obvious and frustrating errors in product) I am proud of my words. It is now out of print. But Amazon has copies.
MYTHIC MEMORIES
The publisher of Mythic Memories is the person who was responsible for finding my project Lancelot and getting it in the publishing stream. Jason Waltz of Rogue Blades Entertainment was great, remains a friend, and he did a magnificent job on this book. I wrote this immediately after A Life of Ravens and thought of it, initially as A Life of Ravens II. But it became a more focused work upon myth and is illustrated with public domain work and images from the great works of sculpture and history.
EMPIRE OF STONE
This book was originally written for a certain artist from a concept I had that I thought he'd be perfect for illustrating. But since writing it, it has been with various artists and now, was self published. As such, the work is a shared beast with lots of people doing the work and I have no idea when it will be for sure published, other than soon. The concept is a world where wars have left few living, and Dwarves living in the lonely mountain ridge are beset in final combat by hordes of evil beings... It is bloody and it is epic. The cover is by Jason Moser, the interior art is by Trent Westbrook, additional story telling is by Josh Brown, and Dara Syrkin kicked my ass with the edits, thank you.
HUNT THE WINTERLANDS
EYE OF THE DAGGER
Friend Josh Brown and I'd both submitted our works for a project and while both made it to the final round, we didn't succeed. However, we obviously both disagreed with the decisions. Josh suggested that we do a book. I said, of course, huh? and he said, I'll do it. Eye of the Dagger is a show of his genius in formatting and edits, he did some stories, as I did, and so did my friend Marc Kleinhenz. As a result we wrote stories about assassinations and dark acts of subterfuge. I think it is a lovely work.
SAVAGE PAST: LIFT HIGH THE RAVEN BANNER
When an artist who took on many projects and then quit on all of them after two years, accomplishing 1 page and not a good one, even, I was steamed. I went to a convention that I'd been guaranteed to have product to sell at, in fact I had very little. Across from me was an artist who was spectacularly talented, and quiet. He looked at my stuff, asked many questions. He asked me if it was easy getting the things I had into print. Since all my work then was through publishers, I said no, but supposedly there are print on demand printers and publishers who should make that easier. By the end of the convention we had traded lots of things, and made big plans. Daniel Mann is a great artist, and I like him very much, so I am sad that we didn't do more than this, but I will say, I am glad we did do, SAVAGE PAST: Lift High the Raven Banner. It is a single poem, illustrated, with a color cover, in comic book size, but with only a single tale inside. Both Daniel and I have been told the story and art were great. So, it was a good happenstance that happened.
A series of events occurred leading me to write a series of poems, from the personae of the killer Jack the Ripper. His acts were and still remain vile, by any measure, and were more so in the past due to spectacular events media attention, the relatively new kind of crime spree, and, the letters used by the killer, possibly, and a vast number of hoaxers, to flame the intensity of the emotions regarding the events. Never before had the media played such a role in a series of murders, and, since the time of the murders, all crimes of a sensational nature can point to this one as their influential source. So I wrote from the perspective of a participant, and provided a long essay, along with Joseph Hilliard and Nichole Porter, and there is a special back cover from friend Daniel Mann. Other participants include Kurt Wilcken and Robert Wilson. The writing on it is intensely dark, and I would say that the accompanying images from Public Domain sources makes the work a stunning one.
WARBIRDS OF MARS
WINTER KILL
I wrote this work as a personal journey, both a fictionalized autobiography, as well as a commentary upon the world. It was made amazing by the images, first by Simon Huelsbeck, a fine artist who kicked major ass. And then with a hopeful gallery by Mark Orluck, a beloved cousin of mine. This was written mostly during my mother's hospice stay, and finished right before her passing. It is a work meant to be beautiful, and it is marred by 4 typos that happened, due to my negligence of sorts. Please forgive those, but read the work and understand, it is me poured upon a page. Mark and Simon were wonderful partners to work with, and if I do ever work with people again collaboratively, I'd love to work with partners so kind and so talented.
This work and its sequel are now presenting free to read in the pages section of this website.
SACRED GROUND
RAVENS OF ODIN
UNION OF THE CROWNS
My friend Ed Quinby did some excellent work with me. His art was beautiful and enriched the quality of my words. We did three books together, and I am very much his fan. He passed away in 2016, and I am still grieving his loss. Celts, Romans, Vikings, and a Celtic fusion world are shown in short prose and poems and images.
CATASTROPHIC DISCOVERIES
SAMURAI: CHERRY BLOSSOMS FALL
Short prose stories, Haiku/poems, quotes and images. From the world of the Samurai warriors of Japan. Josh and I wrote from our interest area here. We both adore ancient and medieval Japan, and the Samurai embodies that deeply. The Samurai commonly describes a warrior in Japan who serves a lord, using combat skills and living by the code of Bushido. But not everyone followed the code so directly, nor was every samurai so bold and courageous. So while the truth is somewhere between the idealized icon of fidelity and bravery, and bullies with swords, this work features the samurai who lived by their code. Inspired by the great and legendary samurai themselves, this work of short stories, poems, and quotes is meant to evoke, however briefly, life from the viewpoint of the samurai.
VISITATIONS INTO SIDHE AND TIR NA NOG
These poems were written a long, long time before the book came out. Thankfully, having Josh Brown as an editor & publisher, he put the shine on the old words and they came out nice. I wrote poems about how normal human life takes place in a world very unlike Sídhe and Tír na nÓg. This magical place is where faeries dwell, the Wild Hunt goes on, and bodies never age. Go into The Gray with poems about life and death, and love.
THE DEATH CYCLE BOOKS
BIRTH TO DEATH
My life's observation following the loss of my mother in 2012, my getting lymphoma (cancer) in 2013 and the loss of one of my very best friends Cathy, in 2014. Life and death is our primary experience. Birth to Death is a collection of poems that explore the joys and pitfalls of the human life cycle from beginning to end. Drawing on the personal experiences of his mother's death, contracting cancer, and the death of a very close friend, all in the span of three years, Alex Ness poetically lays down the cycle of birth to death into words.
THE DEATH CYCLE
In my previous work, Birth to Death I dealt with losing my mom, my good friend and then having cancer in there as well. It is not the end. There is more to life than birth, eat, sleep and die. A life lived without purpose and direction when lost to death, is a tragic waste of existence. But a life that has been focused upon helping others, doing good works, having a family that has good positive values is one where the death will be sad, but the life had been used well. How can we complain if we do not allow our flame to be wasted?
MEMORY'S CATACOMBS
I suffer and have helped those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My life has worth, as with those who I have helped, but due to the damage we've suffered, our lives play out differently. We are alive, we are worthy of love, but due to our scars others treat us differently. This is my story.
DECIDING DESTINY
A comprehensive look at the things that make up a poet, create a poet, and evidence of the work done. Published by Uff-Da Press and Josh Brown.
ENTER OBLIVION
War is oblivion, and this was a collection of poems and narrative about the cost of and the addiction to war by humans. My best friend Russ Stewart edited and formated the work and it is a nice looking easy to read collection.
REFLECTIVE POEMS: Memoria and Time Ends
Considering the beauty and disaster, the madness of life and the power of existence
A VIOLENT STORM Vikings and their way of this world
VICTORY is a book of essays, poetry, and images aiming at asking the question, if we hate war so much, why do we fight. It was written with Jason M Waltz, who is a poet, publisher and helluva nice guy. He published CROSSBONES & CROSSES featuring stories about Pirates and Crusaders. I have a poem in the Crusader section.
TALES OF LOST KINGDOMS
Joe Monks on each book, because he kept my writing during cancer and a broken neck and more. So sorry Peter for my mistake, and I remain grateful for all you did.) Either of us with give you a better deal that Amazon.
CHAPBOOKS
Joe Monks saved my life after my broken neck and various bouts with cancer. He kept me positive, he kept me strong, and guided me through a maze of issues. We had a plan, and the first book that occurred from that plan was DISPOSABLE and RAVE MASSACRE AT GLENCOE MN. Joe wrote about a police unit chasing and searching for a coven in Southern MN of witches, and refers to a weird happening 20 years or so prior. Which is what my story covers. He did it so well I read it three times over and said HEY he just referred to my work! I love Joe, and 4 more years of work together were lost when he passed away, one month before our premiere...
I have 800 pages of unused Cthulhu stories and poems. So I cut into that unused stock to make two chapbooks with more to come. I love writing in the worlds of Lovecraft. Dreamlands is a work that features poems about the Dreamlands, and short stories about the same. It is not meant to be all encompassing, of the mythos, but it does present how humans are different, when trapped in dreams, as corrupted by Cthulhu.
DEVILS NIGHT LUCHADOR and SKINWALKER & THE BERSERKERS
A Mexican woman wrestler, or Luchador, wrestles on a special night called Devil's night, and she is doing her best, even hurting her opponent, but can't seem to win. There is a reason for that. This was written by my amigo, Joe Hilliard. It is really clever and well done. My companion story features a Great Spirit created being called a guardian. When that being sees the Viking ships first land upon Canadian shores, he prays for powers to turn them away. Since the Vikings brought along Berserkers, the stage is set for one Skinwalker, in man wolf form, versus the Berserkers, for the right to stay or leave North America.
MADNESS AWAKENS
Another collection of Cthulhu works, I tried to choose works that illustrated my fascination with the concept that lays in opposite of my own. Lovecraft believed that there were no gods, only other beings, perhaps with massive power. Primal humans would likely obey and serve these aliens, should they appear on earth. Since reading a collecting so much Cthulhu related books and articles, I can honestly say, since Lovecraft believed humans a superstitious and frightened species, the beings conjured by Lovecraft and his circle, are truly frightening, because, how can you defeat such a being, if most of your own species serve it out of fear?
CONSIDERING THE GENIUS OF MARY SHELLY
Mary Shelley was among the earliest women writers who were easily as
good or better than their male counterparts. But in addition to that
quality, she considered two incredible concepts in the works we
considered, The Last Man doesn't think or blame God for the pandemic and
end of humans as a species. The work is directly opposite of what
people would think in that era. Frankenstein, on the other hand, was
the replacement of God as maker. And with AI, DNA and tech of all sorts,
Man then went from taking from God his role of creation, to creating
the tech that may indeed be our end. I wrote a more serious toned half
of this, but it was about Mary Shelley's life and the concepts of the
book. Writing partner Mike Harmon speaks about how Frankenstein broke
many rules, but then takes the reader on a tour of the works that later
came in an evolution of the concepts introduced by Shelley. It might
well be that we wrote differently, but for the purpose served, Mike
truly shared helpful and interesting information in a easily read
format. As I said, he takes you on a tour through Shelley's work and
its dark offspring.
SASQUATCH ENCOUNTERS
Nate Barlow & Alex Ness
Two writers take different angles at telling stories about encounters with Bigfoot. Is he a violent carnivore, or a timid frightened creature. Are they without intellect, or are they different in language, and entire outlook on life.
CRASH: THE ANCIENT GREEKS VS CTHULHU
Paul Ewert & Alex Ness
The greatest days of Ancient Greece might have passed, but in the current era written about, unusual events not likely to be those of men or Gods are going on. The land is confused and frightened. Good men are making war on neighbors, strange events are leading to scouts seeking the source. In this, Greek warriors meet Cthulhu's kin. Who will survive?
POSTCARDS FEATURING MY POEMS
All art is original and copyright is owned, public domain, or found on public domain web sites.
I thank all the artists and estates for the works of their long passed family member, and for use of their family member's wonderful works.
