"Well written and thought provoking parable"
Way in the future, during a time when those living in the
twenty-first century would be considered tame, perversion
is so wide-spread it is the norm; Living Artists create
grotesque biological pieces of art. At the same time the
genetically altered meerkats plan to either turn the
lesser "natural" humans into drudges or make them extinct,
whichever proves easier. In Veniss, Nicholas is a Living Artist, but lacks the
skills necessary to become popular though he fantasizes
otherwise while producing what some say is excrement.
Perhaps it is from being raped in a chemical tub or just a
bi-product of her relationship with her former lover sleazy
Shadrach, but Nicholas' twin sister Nicola sees Veniss much
clearer than her rose colored glassed brother does. Someone breaks into Nicholas's apartment and steals his
artisan tools. Desperate he asks Shadrach to introduce him
to his employer Quin, the world's greatest Living Artist
and the uncrowned "emperor" of iniquity. Shadrach provides
directions, but Nicholas gets lost and begins a frightening
but eye opening odyssey through the layers underneath
Veniss. Take Homer's rendering of the myths and put them in a
future nightmarish landscape painted by Dante to get a feel
for the horrific adventures awaiting Nicholas as he
journeys through the underbellies of the dissolute city he
calls home. The story line is filled with detail that
brings to life loosely put humanoid like creatures that
will shock the audience as much as it stuns the lead
protagonist, who comes from an already depraved society
(some will say so do we). A well written and thought
provoking parable, VENISS UNDERGROUND is a fabulous novella
(there are also three shorts included) that grips those
brave enough to make the trek into the degenerate bizarre. Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 5, 2005
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 25, 2007
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