The Red-Hot Head Rot

Episode I (the Jung and the Restless)

Being a writer of fiction (and now Substack non-fiction) means I have to be an ardent consumer of content.

Thankfully, I've been such a consumer for so long. Whether it's new music, new books, or new podcasts—I'm all about it.

Which is why I'm starting a new series. It's to be called The Red-Hot Head Rot. Because if you're going to shovel coal into your brain, shouldn't it at least sizzle? Here I will be featuring new things I'm consuming, along with new snippets of ageless “wisdom” that I massage my ego with by thinking I've unlocked the Black Iron Prison and darted onto the Elysian Felds like Usain Bolt with shoes custom-fit for Hermes himself.

Here goes:

Currently reading

Psychology and Alchemy by C. G. Jung. The revered Swiss psychologist interprets patients’ dreams by exploring esoteric archetypes, all while charting out the alchemical workings of the subconscious and the psyche. Great stuff. Loaded with exciting pictures from various traditions throughout the centuries, this book runs just under 500 pages, which is why I've been on it for over a week. When I'm done with it, I should have the Philosopher's Stone stuffed in my Jansport for all eternity.

Favorite quote from book: “Our dreams practice philosophy on their own account.”

Currently listening to

Through the Hourglass, by Mondo Drag.

As a stoner rock fan who doesn't get stoned, this is the best I can do at replicating velvet concert posters, launching piratical attacks on the seas of psychedelia, and engaging in recreational paranoia. This prog-rock outfit from Iowa brings the Hammond B3 organ à la Deep Purple to the wedding altar with Jim Morrison-esque doom crooning. Beautiful and downright fun music. I featured this recording as a road-trip listen in my article Half-Assed Hedonism from a few months ago.

Currently creating:

Two novels about a snarky SoCal private eye named Paisley Fuentes. I wrote these books two and three years ago, respectively, and will publish them in two months’ time. They are tributes to one of my favorite novelists, the great Raymond Chandler. They are titled Crushed Trachea Blues and The Sisterhood of the Wick. Both feature Paisley Fuentes, jiu-jitsu sidekick/bodyguard Mazagon, gold prospector/blood donor Tutmoses Ochoa, hacker Tricky, and a cast of villians:

• Pimsy Rifkin, a vegan realtor with predatory practices

• AI Charles Manson, a digital reboot of the notorious cult Family leader

• Attila the Hunk, an over-educated douche/gameshow host with a perfect bod, a mullet, and an unhealthy fascination with explosives

• Unethical Ted, a dubious dude who cuts his cocaine with borax that he mines out in Death Valley

• Yarum Bickleburr, a philosophy professor whose questionable tract is titled Milf and Supermilf

• Rudy Robles, an outsized courier who moonlights not only as an ordained priest with a mobile confession booth, but runs a deadly cosmetics company.

I just finished editing Crushed Trachea Blues and after a week-long break will begin editing The Sisterhood of the Wick. Cover art coming soon.

Finally

Want a free PDF of one of my published novels? All I ask for is a quick Amazon review. I'm looking to bolster their presence in order to gear up for the other books’ launches. Hit me up for either one or both:

• Our Lady of the Hypercube : a female muay thai champion suffers a devastating loss and becomes a trans-dimensional dominatrix. Her enemies? The haunting memories of a severe mother and carbs. Ah, carbs. (194 pages)

• Angels with Engine Failure : cortical modems, neural-network flying carpets, utility fog magic lamps…the Arabian Nights meets the Matrix in this cyberpunk tale cycle where politicians and police have become obsolete. (365 pages)

Dear Reader, that is all. As you were. Thank you for your time. Ti amo.

Ci vediamo,

Bradley Vee

https://bradleyvandeventer.com/