Detroit in RUINS

Michigan UFO

The entire world is covered in UFO sightings. Don't believe me? Check out UFO Stalker where they list the most recent ones and update them live. Of course a few are going to find their way drifting over Michigan skies. Like this one:

While this one might not be part of the Detroit Underground in a literal sense, maybe it's a part of the Detroit Aboveground.

Obama creates Free money Chaos

On Oct 7, 2009 a mad rush for free money broke out in Detroit. As citizens pushed forward in line to submit applications and fill out applications to recieve housing funds under Obama's new housing agenda. A sign of the underground desperation that stirs just beneath the surface in the Detroit Underground.

Detroit Based Book "The Rune Finder" free audio book

If you've been following this blog you already know there has been a book recently completed that takes place in Detroit. It's called The Rune Finder.
Here is a quick update on the book:

The Rune Finder Podcast will be coming soon. In continual efforts to "Stick it to the Man" the author has decided to do a completely FREE audio download of the entire rough draft book. Beginning in the next few weeks each chapter of The Rune Finder will be read by the author and posted for free MP3 dowload all over the world. Why? Because the author wants to break through the limitations of a restricted publishing system and give the world an entertaining story free of charge.
Go to the website at www.runefinder.blogspot.com for more details.
Also, show your support by joining the Facebook group. Simply go to the "search" bar at the top right of your home page and search for "rune finder" to locate the group and join.

Detroit Riots

It's sad to think that little progress has been made since the riots. Are the conditions of Detroit a product of the riots or were the riots a product of the conditions? My guess is both.

Robots in Detroit

At the beginning of last year a little robot named ASIMO came to Detroit. While he was here he decided to conduct the Detroit Symphony.

Also, find out more about the upcoming book entitled The Rune Finder. It's a sci-fi fantasy story which takes place in Detroit in the near future.

Rune Finder Blog is UP

The Rune Finder official blog is finally up and running. http://www.runefinder.blogspot.com/

The first draft of the sci-fi fantasy book, based in Detroit, is now finished. Editing and re-editing are now underway.

The site needs new visitors as everyone awaits the publishing of the book. New announcements about the book will be on that site as well. It will include updates and links to go and buy the finished product.

Learn the characters, submit fan art, and post comments. Everyone is welcome.
http://www.runefinder.blogspot.com/

Rune Finder - Fan Movie

A new fan movie has been made for The Rune Finder book. Based in Detroit in the year 2056 this sci-fi fantasy thriller is still in the editing process. Although this movie doesn't depict any Orc, Elf, or Dwarf characters - they are a major part of the book. Mutations have spread throughout the world and a great war is converging in the Detroit area.

The Michigan Dogman

In 1794 a fur trader passing through the area recorded in his journal that he encountered what he called "Loup Garou". That was the first recorded sighting of the legendary Michigan Dogman.

In 1857 a letter also recorded seeing a creature in the woods that stood upright like a man but was a wolf of some kind.

Ever since these instances there have been a flood of pictures, video footage, and sightings reporting that people had seen the Dogman. Mysterious accidents have been reported where people went missing - yet the scene was surrounded by dog tracks. Vehicles have been smashed and torn open as though a massive dog ripped through them.

Flying Saucer Built in Detroit . . . kind of

Have you ever seen a real flying saucer? Okay, how about a flying saucer that hasn't really flown that is half covered in snow?

You may want to give Alfie Carrington a call because he's already socked $70,000 into building one. I can't think of a better way to spend $70k of my hard earned money during these difficult economic times. Enjoy!

Third World Detroit

The economic status of Detroit is horrible. Some homes are forclosed and listed to sell for only $50. You know it's bad when Aljazeera does a report on it.

Detroit Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk is relatively unkown and unused word in regular society. Whether you've used the word before or not doesn't change the fact that you've probably been exposed to it. Let me reference http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/ for the definition:
"Cyberpunk is about expressing (often dark) ideas about human nature, technology and their respective combination in the near future."

If that doesn't sound familiar just go rent the Matrix, Bladerunner, or any of the Terminator movies. There is always a strong focus on the negative impact technology can have on society. With themes of government or corporate control there is also a running theme of hackers. This technology is sometimes blended with humans in the form of biological upgrades or cybernetic forms.

Throughout my book there is a group of individuals known as Wavers. They are an almost spiritually focused group of hackers who penetrate the Connex system. The Connex is the future replacement for the internet - a virtual realm ruled by avatars for business and people.

If you are thinking all of this has nothing to do with Detroit you have to remember a violent but classic film called Robocop. The entire movie takes place in the city of Detroit with the main character being part human but most robotic. Take a look.



I thought it was funny that the music used for the movie trailer here is the same as the Terminator theme.

The First Draft

After a long journey the first rough draft of the book is finished. My goal was to write the story in less than 90,000 words and it ended up at 89.905. When I was writing the last paragraph at 11:45pm the power went out across town for a moment. I thought I might have lost half the last chapter, but recovered everything when the power came back on.

I wrote the final words at 11:55pm May 24, 2009. I can only describe the feeling as being similar to the day I graduated college. There was a sense of accomplishment combined with a feeling of not knowing exactly what to do next.

I was anticipating a good nights sleep after finishing the book. Instead I had nightmares of a room full of paperwork that needed editing. I think I have my work cut out for me.

Keeping in mind there is a lot of editing that needs done still I've decided to let everyone have a little taste of the book. Here is a short teaser for you:

"Gelmir assessed the situation. It had been yet another misjudgment on his part to engage in battle with this one. He moved by the large hole in the rooftop and could not see the Orc on the ground below. He focused his eyes into a thermal image. He could see the Orc moving through the warehouse circling the room for an exit. Gelmir could not tell if he were the hunter or the prey at this point. He grabbed his rifle and decided it was best to flee the area.

Gelmir jumped across the thirty-foot gap to the next rooftop and scaled down a drainpipe. He had to reach a safer location in the city before the shock of his wounds set in and immobilized him. His stomach was gushing blood. He could feel it running down his legs inside his tactical suit. The dried salt water on his body made the slice in his belly feel like it was searing next to a hot flame. Although he had caught the Orc with two shots, and then dropped him two stories, he knew his own stamina was no match for the beast when wounded."

There will be more underground bizarre stuff about Detroit upcoming.

Detroit City

This is an absolutely great film depicting the mood and feeling of Detroit City. Full credit goes to http://www.youtube.com/user/bumpinrunner for this post.

Detroit Underground goes to Youtube!

The Ghetto

More evidence that the problems in Detroit are too big for the city to bother cleaning up the Ghetto. It's hard to imagine the poor people who struggle in these neighborhoods every day.

Shak-Maj

This is a sketch I did this evening of a character from my upcoming book. His name is Shak (pronounced Shock). He doesn't associate himself typically with the others of the Orc clan, but instead chooses to survive the streets on his own. Forced to steal and rob for food he suffers discrimination and brutality at the hands of corrupt police . . . when he gets caught of course.
His heart is filled with good intentions, but how long can he hold back the animal instincts waiting to boil to the surface with rage.

Read up on a previous post about how to submit your own Fan Art to be published on this site. Keep the underground bizarre moving forward!