Mark Rice's Blog: All Things Metallic - Posts Tagged "devil"

Well, it's been a long time coming. Somewhere back in the mists of time (actually, in a cottage in Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, September 2005) I had an idea for a work of fiction that would weave together mythology, religion, folklore, heavy metal culture, childhood dreams, blood rituals and lots of rock 'n' roll excess. Coming up with the idea was the easy part. What came next was a year of non-stop writing as the story sprawled out into a War and Peace-length manuscript, then two years of editing to trim the fat and make sure every page of Metallic Dreams flowed easily and naturally.

The story challenges prejudices and contains an underlying message which is communicated via the actions of characters, not by authorial intrusion. My job, as I saw it, was to get out of the way and let the story unfold. As the old saying goes, 'Show, don't tell.'

Metallic Dreams is not a book for the faint-hearted. It is cerebral, visceral, graphic and emotionally charged. While editing, I turned my bullshit detector up to maximum and removed everything superfluous or pretentious. The novel is inspired by timeless childhood dreams and my ongoing love affair with music.

I hope you like it.

Mark Rice, Hamilton, January 2011