EGL Magazine

5 November 2011

Part graphic novelette, part story, part poem and part piece of art, 'Interment' is the first of three illustrated prose poems written by RJ Barker and illustrated by Mikko Sovijärvi. These two long-time friends had often talked about combining RJ's lyrical prose and Mikko's psychedelic collages, and 'Interment' is the first publication of that collaboration. And in the words of the creators, they 'hope you find it unsettling.'

This disturbing and idiosyncratic work of pyschological horror is the first in a three-part series, and will be followed by 'The Social Diary of a Ghoul' and 'The Boy Who Listened in at Doors' - the first of which having been originally published in 'Champagne Shivers' where it received a nomination for the James B Baker award for literature.

This book is a clear representation of how well collaborations can work between the right people. RJ's haunting words are edged with an intimate tenderness from deep in the narrator's soul, and unearths the dark demons that reside in their family relationships. These words are perfectly mirrored by Mikko's foreboding and sinister collage illustrations; neither one swamping the other. The whole book has been carefully put together with a sympathetic balance between the words and the art.

'Interment' has certainly set a high benchmark for the following two books in the series, and the relationship between writer and artist can only become even more seamless. Heaving with gothic romance, this is a wonderful book full of inspiration and power.

RJ Barker's has received three honourable mentions in 'The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror' for his short fiction and his 'Dead Dave' novellas (published in 2003 but now out of print) were described by one critic as 'like a B-movie Douglas Adams'; RJ is sure there's a compliment in there somewhere. Despite chronic illness keeping his writing ambitions on hold, RJ remains too stubborn to give up. He has also had short plays performed at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and at Manchester's Three Minute Theatre, and is currently seeking representation for his dark fantasy crime novel 'Felt's Theorem'. RJ lives in Yorkshire with his wife, baby son and a collection of poor quality taxidermy.

Mikko Sovijärvi has co-edited and designed two, now out of print, books on 70’s and 80’s obscure indie genre films; 'Gods in Polyester' and 'Gods in Spandex', and is one of three editors of two books collecting stories of lesser known Finnish entertainers’ gigs gone to hell. All the books have gained some degree of critical acclaim somewhere. He lives in Jyväskylä, Finland, and collects vintage Dennis Wheatley paperbacks.

You can purchase 'Interment' as an ebook from Amazon here.