Released October 31st, 2024 // 112 pages // 978-1-916938-57-1 // RRP: £13.99
RADIOACTIVE DREAMS, HALLUCINATED MEMORIES, LOVE SONGS TO THE SWAMP.
The kaiju that stalk our imaginations and flatten our cities are deep reservoirs of meaning. Wonder, dread, the sublime – the giant reptilian feet slamming through concrete, the radioactive fire melting steel, humanity’s doom made vicious, eldritch flesh.
Collecting poems and short stories about giant monsters from Godzilla to Gorgo and everywhere in between, Devastation Songs is an essential companion to your monster movie of choice.
A portion of proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Freedom From Torture, a charity who work with torture survivors and refugees.
PRAISE for Devastation Songs:
A gorgeous collection of poetry, fiction, and self-examination, all through the lens of giant monsters; the authors are not simply fans of kaiju but weavers of their mythology. Within these pages is something for anyone who’s ever felt a kinship with a great beast.
— Cressa Maeve Áine
Devastation Songs is a treasure chest for anyone casually interested in (or downright obsessed with) Godzilla and other kaiju. This diverse, rich, and endlessly creative collection of poetry and prose inspired by giant monsters from Japan and around the world is a revelation and a joy. Offering vivid imagery, raw emotions, a touch of sadness, and flashes of humour, this book is bursting with insights on kaiju, why we are fascinated by them, and what that fascination reveals about us as humans.
— William M. Tsutsui
Fascination, awe, dread and love: this anthology of short stories and poems explores the complex emotions that monsters stir. With creativity and verve its authors probe what Kaiju portend and gift. A riveting read.
— Jeffrey J Cohen
ABOUT Alex Adams & Aaron Kent:
Alex Adams is a writer and musician based in North East England. They have published four critical books on political violence in popular culture, and they are writing Godzilla: A Critical Demonology, which will be a full critical account of every Godzilla film. For full information on their writing and music, visit atadamswriting.com. They can be found on social media at @gdemonology and @AlexAdams5
Aaron Kent is a working-class writer, stroke survivor, and insomniac from Cornwall. His 2nd collection, The Working Classic, is available from the87press. His poetry has featured in The Guardian, The BBC, and The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, he has had work published in various journals, and is an Arvon tutor. His poetry has been translated into languages including French, Hungarian, German, Cymraeg, and Kernewek, and has been set to music.
