Frank Herbert wrote “Fear is the mind killer.” A certain faction was trained to say this whenever they felt scared, or were in pain, or knew they would be shortly. A mantra.
Classic literary advice: a protagonist is defined by his antagonist. If the antagonist isn’t scary or deadly or something, your protagonist isn’t much of a hero.
I agree with what you’re saying. Personally, the things I found were just kinda like me. Sorta average and drowning. 😉. Seriously though. You beat fear by facing it. That’s the only way.
Frank Herbert was an incredible author, despite being an enormous dick in person.
The Dune series(6 books) is the best selling sci-fi series worldwide of all time.
He spent 6 years building the world before starting the first novel. After he died, his son inherited 10s of thousands of pages of unused lore, which he had ghostwritten into about 10 more books.
The 6 books spanned thousands of years. Every page had absolutely incredible dialogue.
The setting is I think 20,000 years in the future. He took religions and cultures from around the world and combined them in a way that felt natural language changing with time.
In the first book, he planted a prophecy. A prophecy that a few main characters knew but the reader didn’t get it until book 4.
Of course, FDR said, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." Of course the best writers use your technique fully. I recommend, "Love in the Time of Cholera" by my favorite writer Gabrial Garcia Marquez.
I'm also very fond of Cormac McCarthy and Peter Matheson, known mostly for non-fiction, but also having written some superb fiction, ie: "Killing Mr. Watson" and "Far Tortuga."
Sometimes the best way to fight your monsters is by writing about them. "The pen is mightier than the sword" so they say. Wonderful piece, thanks for sharing!
Yes... rock bottom. How far into the spiral does one fall before reaching the bottom?
And yes, one can channel such a descent into poems, music and art, as you have done so skilfully in the artwork. Made me smile.
My own nightmare... or one of them, beset me in my mid twenties. I wrote a story based on it called Ritual 5. Cathartic? Yes. But still the Piranha of Fear swims near...
I think of the Book of Numbers: To end the nightmare of the snakes that are killing you with their venomous poison make a bronze sculpture of a snake raise it up on a stake, look on it and you will be healed. This sounds like the worst advice ever—but making our own ARTificial version of something scary and looking at it has the power to defang the deadly monsters.
Frank Herbert wrote “Fear is the mind killer.” A certain faction was trained to say this whenever they felt scared, or were in pain, or knew they would be shortly. A mantra.
Classic literary advice: a protagonist is defined by his antagonist. If the antagonist isn’t scary or deadly or something, your protagonist isn’t much of a hero.
I agree with what you’re saying. Personally, the things I found were just kinda like me. Sorta average and drowning. 😉. Seriously though. You beat fear by facing it. That’s the only way.
Yes, it is. Loved Herbert's phrase.
Frank Herbert was an incredible author, despite being an enormous dick in person.
The Dune series(6 books) is the best selling sci-fi series worldwide of all time.
He spent 6 years building the world before starting the first novel. After he died, his son inherited 10s of thousands of pages of unused lore, which he had ghostwritten into about 10 more books.
The 6 books spanned thousands of years. Every page had absolutely incredible dialogue.
The setting is I think 20,000 years in the future. He took religions and cultures from around the world and combined them in a way that felt natural language changing with time.
In the first book, he planted a prophecy. A prophecy that a few main characters knew but the reader didn’t get it until book 4.
Herbert had a complicated life and was a a difficult person. For sure.
Great creators are often complex personalities. It’s important to be able to separate the art from the artist.
Of course, FDR said, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." Of course the best writers use your technique fully. I recommend, "Love in the Time of Cholera" by my favorite writer Gabrial Garcia Marquez.
It's a great novel. I think García Márquez is the greatest novelist ever in Spanish.
I'm also very fond of Cormac McCarthy and Peter Matheson, known mostly for non-fiction, but also having written some superb fiction, ie: "Killing Mr. Watson" and "Far Tortuga."
Sometimes the best way to fight your monsters is by writing about them. "The pen is mightier than the sword" so they say. Wonderful piece, thanks for sharing!
You're welcome.
Funnily enough, I’m just finishing off a video I made for my ‘Rock Bottom Treasures’ artwork. A lot of my work is inspired by my monsters!
Gives us something to create from doesn’t it :)
Yes they do. Gotta fear them and love them, too.
Yes definitely. Make peace with your shadows :)
I agree. Monsters and fearing them can definitely bring speedy clarity to my writing—laser focus. Thx.
You're welcome, Amber.
“We're all part monster in our subconscious…” — Forbidden Planet
Yes we are.
In my dreams--that is exactly what happens. And that dream is a recurring one.
Oh my.
Yes... rock bottom. How far into the spiral does one fall before reaching the bottom?
And yes, one can channel such a descent into poems, music and art, as you have done so skilfully in the artwork. Made me smile.
My own nightmare... or one of them, beset me in my mid twenties. I wrote a story based on it called Ritual 5. Cathartic? Yes. But still the Piranha of Fear swims near...
Sometimes the bottom is very deep into the darkness.
Sometimes, there is no bottom...
Well said! And I love your metaphor for it in the panel sequence. The last one especially.
Thanks, Ray.
Fear doesn’t prevent death. Fear prevents life! And once I realized that, my whole life changed :)
Absolutely true, Velouria.
I think of the Book of Numbers: To end the nightmare of the snakes that are killing you with their venomous poison make a bronze sculpture of a snake raise it up on a stake, look on it and you will be healed. This sounds like the worst advice ever—but making our own ARTificial version of something scary and looking at it has the power to defang the deadly monsters.
That's pretty much the idea. Glad you liked it, Regina.
terror meets acceptance meets consciousness
and all of that meets weirdness!
if you so desire
Plagued by skeletons everywhere
That's everyday life for The Condor.
This is the realest shi I ever seen
Thanks, Jozella.
Great job 👏
Thanks, Layla.
Welcome 🙏