Continuing his Gothic fairy-tale short stories, Author Lorin Morgan Richards has produced a new limited-edition hand-made book entitled "A Boy Born From Mold (and other delectable morsels)".
This book (the second I have reviewed by the author) is in the style of what came before, and as a complete package it works wonderfully. Beautifully typeset, with quaint hand-drawn illustrations, "A Boy Born From Mold" contains numerous short stories (some as short as two pages) that are all entertaining and imaginative.
It is the highly imaginative nature of these stories that makes them unique -- there is no attempt to create a sense of reality: these stories are simultaneously fantastic and charming, and told with a seemingly reassuring voice that invites you to suspend disbelief.
If you have an opportunity to pick up one of the author's books, I recommend doing so -- you will not be disappointed. -Bart at Disdeinen.net
http://www.disdeinen.net/
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Review by Sarah “Fatally Yours” Jahier
Following his unique first book, Simon Snootle and Other Small Stories which I absolutely adored, author Lorin Morgan-Richards has released another delightfully delectable collection of illustrated short stories in A Boy Born From Mold. In this, the author’s second pocket-sized, handmade and handbound book, he returns with quirky stories of fantastical characters, from the titular boy born from mold named Ruin (or Rune proper) to a young vampire named Zoog whose parents are distressed at his distaste for blood. The small tome boasts seven new tales, each a delight to read!
Just like the first book from Morgan-Richards, A Boy Born From Mold boasts a very high quality with the handmade craftsmanship. This book’s longevity is ensured with the high quality of its faux leather, black ribbon and acid-free blue linen paper used. Only 400 copies of the book were handmade by the author, so these are definitely a collector’s item!
A Boy Born From Mold and Other Delectable Morsels from Lorin Morgan-Richards is a fun collection of stories for those with darker sensibilities. Fans of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton are sure to fall hopelessly in love with Morgan-Richards’ unusual characters and their disturbing situations. Plus, it’s the perfect size to fit in your pocket so you can take it with you during your daily stroll through the cemetery!
http://www.fatally-yours.com/
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Lorin Morgan Richards charts the paths of weird clouds that pass far overhead and then maps the changes that their rain makes on the lives of people living below. His writing has become better and more interesting in his newest collection of very odd stories, A BOY BORN FROM MOLD. The stories are amusing and make me think of the likes of Shel Silverstein and Tim Burton. As I reported with his last book, I was left wanting more outrageous tragedy and monsters and wished it wasn’t printed in ALL CAPS. If you like zines, Tim Burton, and nonsense stories, you may wish to check it out. Maybe creepy, maybe suspenseful, not violent and not erotic. Odd.
- Dark in the Dark Magazine
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I was quite delighted to find in my mailbox the other day another beautiful edition from Lorin Morgan Richards, author of Simon Snootle and OTHER small stories, which I received last year for review. Again, fans of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton will love these seven short tales. I also believe that Morgan Richards has really developed his storytelling technique with this volume, as the stories seem to have a little bit more heart and soul than his previous volume. I think my favorite would be the title story, "A Boy Born from Mold." It may sound a little bizarre (which it is, but that's rather the point), but it also tells a story of discovering your family and becoming who you are.
As with Simon Snootle, this volume is 100% handmade by the author; it is a beautiful presentation. With each volume being handmade there is a certain amount of imperfection to each one, but it fits so well with the tone of the book itself that the entire package, story and all, becomes a unique whole.
Recommended for fans of Burton and Gorey and anyone who appreciates a true work of art from an artist who obviously loves his work.
-From my Bookshelf Blogspot
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De nuevo este literato, dibujante y músico ha confiado en Mentenebre para dar a conocer su segundo librito después de “Simon Snootle and other Small Stories”. Se trata de una edición limitada a 400 copias hechas a mano por el propio autor con cuero y papel libre de ácido. Una concienciación con el medio ambiente, sin duda.
El librito tiene un cuento principal 'Un niño nacido del moho' y que vive en la parte de abajo de una casa familiar. El contacto entre ambos mundos, superior e inferior es prácticamente nulo, tan solo la pequeña Edie Mae, quien, no se sabe muy bien como, atribuyó a nuestro personaje al que llamó “Ruina” pero que él finalmente cambió por “Runa”. Quizá sea este un guiño al misterioso lenguaje nórdico. No se hasta que punto esto es posible, pero Lorin tiene su propio grupo musical underground de estilo electrodark, quien sabe si comulgará también con las huestes de Odín. En cualquier caso se trata de un cuento alegórico con un sutil sentido del humor y nada pagano.
El resto son relatos muy cortitos con situaciones intrigantes como Lawrence que verá pasar los años con un coche aparcado en su paso de carruajes que nunca se moverá de allí o el joven vampiro Zoog cuya intolerancia a la sangre, le produce borracheras y gases en el estómago para disgusto de sus padres.
Como en su primer entrega, los personajes de Lorin son casi siempre infantiles o vinculados al mundo infantil. A todos les pasan cosas pequeñas y es ahí donde reside la clave: encontrar el genio en los detalles, no hace falta una gran epopeya para contar cuentos curiosos y simpáticos. De nuevo señalo que el lenguaje utilizado en el libro, al igual que en la primera entrega, resulta a veces complejo, por lo que hay que leer practicamente con el diccionario delante y perdiendo, en muchos casos, el doble sentido de muchas de las ironías del autor.
De nuevo el libro viene ilustrado con dibujitos a tinta con ese toque naif que es el paralelo de la narración literaria, otro lugar donde Lorin encuentra un espacio para dar rienda suelta a su creatividad. Además las ilustraciones nos ayudan a encontrar ese sentido que a veces se pierde en este inglés tan elaborado.
Desde aquí deseamos suerte a Lorin Morgan-Richards con esta publicación y que pronto podamos contar con una nueva entrega de sus libritos hechos a mano. Si tu inglés es fluido y te gustan las propuestas originales sin duda te recomiendo este excelente y especial trabajo.
-Mentenebre Magazine
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