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Inspired by the legendary works of Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson, Detroit writer Ryan Bartek traveled the USA to create his own metal/punk road saga of extreme journalism. 1 year, 35 States, 600+ hours on Greyhounds & 1000 cities later, "The Big Shiny Prison (Volume One)" was released - a unique travel book featuring hundreds of interviews with legends in the metal/punk undergrounds and other alternative cultures in America today. Less a "music book" and more a tribute to the Beat Generation, this genre-defying work combines the classic autobiographical road novel with the modern state of the underground.
"The Big Shiny Prison (Volume One)" features appearances/interviews with members of Brutal Truth, DWARVES, Pig Destroyer, Repulsion, AxCx, MDC, Psyopus, Abysmal Dawn, Kylesa, Ludicra, Cephalic Carnage, Atheist, Impaled, HIMSA, Melechesh, Severed Savior, In Memorium, STALAGGH, Kettle Cadaver, Otesanek, The Angelic Process, 7000 Dying Rats, Screaming Mechanical Brain, EXITIUM, Light This City, Genghis Tron, Blood Stained Dusk, Solger, VILE, Sol Evil, SINDIOS, Kill The Client, The Gracchi, My Uncle The Wolf, Apocryph, Salt Lick, Amish Noise, Lesbian, Fre-Ne-Tik, Alchemical Burn, Crematorium, Waco Jesus, Snotrokitz, Suicide Holiday, Vertigo Venus, Kill The Precedent, Beefcake In Chains, Dreaming Dead, They Live, Brian Botkiller, Diverje, Scorched Earth, Quinta Essentia, Alternative Tentacles, Whorehouse of Representatives, RU-486, Mathematicians, Anal Pudding, A.K.A. MABUS, Disgorge, Nihilistik Terrorist, Lysia Gori, The Crashing Falcon, Stormdrain, Bu Hao Ting, Potty Mouth Society, Funeral Age, Uranium Death Crow, Stahlmantel, Hammers of Misfortune, Ron of Japan, Sasquatch Agnostic, Jakked Rabbits, We Both Know, Hunab Ku, Black Flame Records & others.
"'The Big Shiny Prison' is many things; a chronicle of a journey across America, a socio-political tract of mighty proportions, a living novel with Bartek playing the dual roles of author and protagonist - but as an exploration into the bizarrely captivating world of underground music, it penetrates deeper than the vast majority of literature on the subject before, and the metallic intelligentsia nods its head in bemused satisfaction, not to mention vindication." - RockPulse
"'The Big Shiny Prison' is essentially a travel diary from 2006 into 2007 of a man that jumped on a Greyhound bus & traveled across America interviewing metal bands. Essentially, this is true, but there is much more. Bartek, in the style of Jack Kerouac & tone of Hunter S. Thompson, takes the reader into a mental journey pleading for everyone to 'Wake Up ' and 'Live for The Moment ' Formerly in the band, A.K.A. MABUS, Bartek left his band to write this book but is now working on a new acoustic album. Other aliases the author uses include GhostNomad & Klownfuehrer. If all of this seems interesting & at the same time a lot to take in, well, welcome to 'The Big Shiny Prison.'" -MetalUnderground
"I can't even begin to describe it, let alone do it any justice... Going down into The Abyss was a dangerous move in which Bartek did imperil his very life, but he was determined to write this book or die trying..." -SIBHOD Zine
"No matter what anyone says about this book, you have to respect any writer who is willing to live life on the road - in the dirt & grime, rolling from squat to squat, sleeping in parks & generally living in sh*t just to bring us the story." -Ectomag
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Read the first book and this 2nd one did not disappoint! Loved every chapter. More please!
Like it was written by George Santos
Received an Advanced Reader Copy from a friend. I am an avid true crime reader and upon completion I question if the author is credible. The timeline does not add up for his age and the times of his alleged involvement in organized crime. Some of the things in the book he is alleged to have said and done I remember almost word for word from movies I had previously watched. He literally stole a scene from the movie the accountant with Ben Affleck and said that he did it. I did a little research after completing the book and learned that this author was also claiming in 2010 that he was a long time member of the Bloods Gang. That coupled with the above leads me to believe that it is nothing more than fantasy. Do not waste your time or money
Like it was written by George Santos
Received an Advanced Reader Copy from a friend. I am an avid true crime reader and upon completion I question if the author is credible. The timeline does not add up for his age and the times of his alleged involvement in organized crime. Some of the things in the book he is alleged to have said and done I remember almost word for word from movies I had previously watched. He literally stole a scene from the movie the accountant with Ben Affleck and said that he did it. I did a little research after completing the book and learned that this author was also claiming in 2010 that he was a long time member of the Bloods Gang. That coupled with the above leads me to believe that it is nothing more than fantasy. Do not waste your time or money
What a difficult story to tell. I appreciate the honesty and vulnerability. Definitely made me think.
I had hopes for this book but was not expecting what I would read within the pages. If your kink is deplorable grammar, incoherent sentences, and inconsistent messages, then this book is for you. At first, I thought the book I received was not the book I ordered. But as I dived in, it was very confusing. I would not recommend this book to anyone
There are not many reviews on the internet for this book. In researching the many stores selling the book, it was self-published which makes a lot of sense. The online description is written perfectly, so reading the actual book was very difficult. Pages two and three are written clearly as well as the table of contents. Pages 155 and 156 are also written logically.
It appears this book was written, then sent through a program like “Grammarly.” Once completed it seems it was published without being re-read or edited. The first clue was the title narrative that used “Has” instead of “As.” The table of contents is one page off from what it shows on pages four though seven. Many of the “q’s” are written as “[]”
Below are some examples of what was within the pages of this book written verbatim:
“Chains & Discipline/ Domination & entry/ Sadism & Masochism (BDSM) is a wide classification of bed room play.” Page 9
“When bringing up the topic of chains, you are actually asking a person to offer you their depend on, their flexibility, and also possibly their suggestion of security in exchange for sensual/sexual enjoyment, power-play, and also feasible re-evaluation of your very own connection.” Page 39
“Techni[]ue can take a selection of kinds and also be as easy or facility as you pick to (new paragraph) bargain for your details scenario” Page 52
“BDSM stands for chains as well as entry, technique and also supremacy as well as sadism and also masochism.” Page 125
“SHELF means Risk Aware Consensual Kink.” Page 130
“Approval is whatever.” Page 152
“your twist isn’t my twist, yet your twist is OKAY.” Page 153
“You can be a top, base, or button” Page 153