Tag Archives: Robert Hayman

As the Gift-Giving Season Approaches…

Indeed, as the gift-giving season approaches, consider how those you love might love to receive one of our books!

What’s that you say? “Shut up about the holidays; it’s too early for all that now,” you say. Well, with online ordering you have to think about shipping and potential delays, and we wouldn’t want anything to come between your loved ones and the Problematic Press title(s) they have their hearts set on!

So, no matter what you choose to celebrate or refuse to celebrate, Problematic Press has a special little something for your special little someone!

The Troll's Side of the Story

The True Story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff: The Troll’s Side of the Story was written by David Reynolds when he was about 9-11 years old. It relates the young author’s reinterpretation of the classic Norwegian fairytale, considering how the troll might have seen things differently.

Subtle and charming, bright and playful, The True Story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff: The Troll’s Side of the Story reimagines the classic tale to reflect on the perspective of the kind troll who falls prey to the prejudice of the eldest goat Gruff. Illustrations by Myles Reichel give this tale life. Plus, this edition also includes Sir George Webbe Dasent‘s translation of the classic folktale. This book is best suited for adults reading to young children, for early readers, and for all of us children-at-heart.

Cavern: City in the Dark - Front Cover

Nicholas Morine’s Cavern: City in the Dark is now available in print and Kindle editions!

Cavern: City in the Dark is a dystopian adventure set on a ruined Earth.

Deep beneath the scarred and scorched surface of the Earth, the last of us remain.

The Cavern is deep, dark, and damp. The city is busy, expansive, industrious. Technology has been salvaged, scavenged from the surface, and repurposed to a new fashion. Survival comes in the form of the shunt, drilled deep into the skull. A device that takes all the pain away, and lays it on the shoulders of one poor soul.

The Sufferer. An old man, dying beneath the tree of tears. And when his heart breaks, it will spell doom for us all.

Nicholas Morine was born and raised in Gaspereau, Nova Scotia. Words are his livelihood. He has written many words on a range of subjects, from tech to fashion. Having returned to Nova Scotia, he continues to write non-fiction and fiction. Montag Press published his debut novel, Punish the Wicked: A Dystopian Horror. Problematic Press is proud to present Cavern: City in the Dark, his second novel.

Quodlibets - Front Cover

Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets, Lately Come over from New Britaniola, Old Newfoundland is a collection of witty, poetic verses that were penned while he served as governor in colonial Harbour Grace, Newfoundland between 1618 and 1628. His is likely the first English poetry penned in North America.

And, his work is quite impressive. Containing original poetry as well as his translations of pieces by John Owen and Francois Rabelais, Quodlibets reflects on thieves and knaves, good wives and whores, as well as the untamed beauty of Newfoundland. Hayman’s poetry exposes his love for Newfoundland, inviting the adventurous and hopeful to settle this rock. The language for this edition has been updated by David Reynolds to facilitate reading for modern audiences yet preserve the poetic voice of the author.

BookCoverPreview - Front

It’s been more than 125 years since A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder was first published, and now Problematic Press is pleased to present this annotated edition of James De Mille‘s classic masterpiece. This book is now available in print and Kindle editions!

While playing a silly game, four bored yachtsmen find a mysterious copper cylinder bobbing along the sea. They soon discover the briny cylinder contains a massive script, a journal of sorts, detailing the adventures of Adam More, a sailor lost at sea. Examining the script reveals More’s incredible story of drifting across the ocean, sailing to lost lands, encountering giant beasts, and meeting truly peculiar people. This satirical tale is sure to entertain!

De Mille was a Canadian scholar and author. He pioneered Canadian science fiction and fantasy with his masterpiece, A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder. De Mille had many lofty goals for his fantastic satire, and he struggled to accommodate all of them, leaving the denouement somewhat abrupt in his ultimate manuscript. Nevertheless, what remains is a thought-provoking tale of absurd wonder that seeks to challenge our most deeply held values. The story was first published posthumously as a serial by Harper’s Weekly in 1888, eight years after the author’s death.

The Problematic Press edition of James De Mille’s A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder features a Foreword and Annotations by David Reynolds. Reynolds briefly introduces the author and the novel while his end notes reflect on interesting elements of the text and reference scholarly works.

Narrative, Nature, and the Cock and Bull Story - Front Cover

Narrative, Nature, and the ‘Cock’ and ‘Bull’ Story: The Lockean Tristram Shandy and the Modern Novel is based on Tiller’s research as a graduate student at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her studies focused on Laurence Sterne‘s novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760). Sterne’s novel has tremendous comedic appeal, but it is also noteworthy because Shandy narrates the tale as a string of digressions and tangents. This means Sterne’s novel is one of the first English novels to stray from Aristotle‘s classical literary guidelines as presented in his Poetics. In Narrative, Nature, and the ‘Cock’ and ‘Bull’ Story, Tiller applies concepts from John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding to explore how such deviations lead Tristram, in the series of events stemming from his birth, to a more precise imitation of nature than strict adherence to Aristotle’s guidelines could have procured.

Amanda Tiller is the Humanities Collections Development Librarian at the Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s. Before completing her Master of Library and Information Science at The University of Western Ontario, she completed her Master of Arts in English Language and Literature at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Vester Vade Mecum - Front Cover Mock-Up

Vester Vade Mecum: A Collection of Short Fiction is a collection to delight educators and pupils alike. It contains a variety of important short works of English literature, featuring authors such as Mary Shelley, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Louisa May Alcott, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle, Pauline Hopkins, Stephen Leacock, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, and others. Edited by David Reynolds, the text contains contextual information about each author and story as well as questions to provoke critical reflection.

Vester Vade Mecum is a Latin phrase that means “you go with me.” As the title of this textbook, that phrase carries multiple meanings. It indicates that this is a manual that mindful students will carry with them in their studies. In relation to the enduring nature of great stories, the title alludes that these are tales we often recall in our own reflections. In relation to the nature of storytelling, it suggests how the author leads the reader along their journey.

Fawning, Fear and Frustration - Cover

Fawning, Fear, and Frustration: A Collection of Teenage Poetry from the 90s collects thirty six poems by a young David Reynolds. It features a range of poetry that considers love, death and confusion in addition to a number of matters that lay somewhere in between.

cover

Superheroes: An Analysis of Popular Culture’s Modern Myths by David Reynolds is a semiotic and cultural anthropological interrogation of popular North American superhero narratives, such as those of Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman, that provides insight into how media’s messages influence the culture’s ethical values. Since emerging in the late 1930s, the superhero has become a pervasive figure in North American popular culture. As an extension of ideas presented by Friedrich Nietzsche, Joseph Campbell, and Umberto Eco, this dissertation argues that superhero tales must be regarded as modern mythology. It follows that people observe and learn social norms of justice from such narratives, since these ideals are intrinsic to the tales. In investigating the superhero’s role as a contemporary figure of myth, this project focuses primarily on three areas: an account of the history of the superhero from 1938 to present; an examination of the cultural functions of contemporary superhero narratives; and, an interrogation of vigilantism, responsibility, and justice in these narratives and how those concerns further relate to ideologies and practices in North American culture.

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If you aren’t in the St. John’s region of Newfoundland and Labrador, then you can find print and Kindle copies of our titles online from the Problematic Press Shops (CAN and US). Otherwise, you might find us pushing books with a table at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market. We hope to see you there!

From all of us at Problematic Press to all of you, we hope your holiday season is full of joy and merriment… and reading!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Appearance at SFotR8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Problematic Press Appearances at Sci-Fi on the Rock 8

Problematic Press is pleased to announce that David Reynolds and Myles Reichel will be appearing at Sci-Fi on the Rock 8 at the Holiday Inn throughout the convention, from May 23rd-25th! The writer and illustrator of The True Story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff: The Troll’s Side of the Story will be at the Problematic Press table, found along Diagon Alley. They’re totally stoked about this book, and they’d love to hear from you and sign your copy!

This book and our others will be available for purchase at SFotR8, too, so you can pick up whichever titles tickle your fancy! We have a variety of titles in different genres. Besides this reinterpretation of a classic fairytale we have books that dabble with superhero scholarship, action-dystopia, Sterne scholarship, classic short fiction, early Canadian science fiction, early Newfoundland poetry, and more! See below for book descriptions and pricing.

The Troll's Side of the Story

The True Story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff: The Troll’s Side of the Story was written by David Reynolds when he was about 9-11 years old. It relates the young author’s reinterpretation of the classic Norwegian fairytale, considering how the troll might have seen things differently.

Subtle and charming, bright and playful, The True Story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff: The Troll’s Side of the Story reimagines the classic tale to reflect on the perspective of the kind troll who falls prey to the prejudice of the eldest goat Gruff. Illustrations by Myles Reichel give this tale life. Plus, this edition also includes Sir George Webbe Dasent‘s translation of the classic folktale. This book is best suited for adults reading to young children, for early readers, and for all of us children-at-heart.

Copies of this book can be purchased from the Problematic Press table at SFotR8 for $15CAN.

BookCoverPreview - Front

It’s been more than 125 years since A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder was first published, and now Problematic Press is pleased to present this annotated edition of James De Mille‘s classic masterpiece. This book is now available in print and Kindle editions!

While playing a silly game, four bored yachtsmen find a mysterious copper cylinder bobbing along the sea. They soon discover the briny cylinder contains a massive script, a journal of sorts, detailing the adventures of Adam More, a sailor lost at sea. Examining the script reveals More’s incredible story of drifting across the ocean, sailing to lost lands, encountering giant beasts, and meeting truly peculiar people. This satirical tale is sure to entertain!

De Mille was a Canadian scholar and author. He pioneered Canadian science fiction and fantasy with his masterpiece, A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder. De Mille had many lofty goals for his fantastic satire, and he struggled to accommodate all of them, leaving the denouement somewhat abrupt in his ultimate manuscript. Nevertheless, what remains is a thought-provoking tale of absurd wonder that seeks to challenge our most deeply held values. The story was first published posthumously as a serial by Harper’s Weekly in 1888, eight years after the author’s death.

The Problematic Press edition of James De Mille’s A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder features a Foreword and Annotations by David Reynolds. Reynolds briefly introduces the author and the novel while his end notes reflect on interesting elements of the text and reference scholarly works.

De Mille’s satirical tale of wonder has entertained readers for many years, yet the work has remained largely overlooked. For that very reason, Problematic Press is tremendously excited to add this work to our growing collection of titles!

Copies of this book can be purchased from the Problematic Press table at SFotR8 for $18CAN.

Cavern: City in the Dark - Front Cover

Nicholas Morine’s Cavern: City in the Dark is now available in print and Kindle editions!

Cavern: City in the Dark is a dystopian adventure set on a ruined Earth.

Deep beneath the scarred and scorched surface of the Earth, the last of us remain.

The Cavern is deep, dark, and damp. The city is busy, expansive, industrious. Technology has been salvaged, scavenged from the surface, and repurposed to a new fashion. Survival comes in the form of the shunt, drilled deep into the skull. A device that takes all the pain away, and lays it on the shoulders of one poor soul.

The Sufferer. An old man, dying beneath the tree of tears. And when his heart breaks, it will spell doom for us all.

Nicholas Morine was born and raised in Gaspereau, Nova Scotia. Words are his livelihood. He has written many words on a range of subjects, from tech to fashion. Having returned to Nova Scotia, he continues to write non-fiction and fiction. Montag Press published his debut novel, Punish the Wicked: A Dystopian Horror. Problematic Press is proud to present Cavern: City in the Dark, his second novel.

Copies can be purchased from the Problematic Press table at SFotR8 for $15CAN.

Narrative, Nature, and the Cock and Bull Story - Front Cover

Narrative, Nature, and the ‘Cock’ and ‘Bull’ Story: The Lockean Tristram Shandy and the Modern Novel is based on Tiller’s research as a graduate student at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her studies focused on Laurence Sterne‘s novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760). Sterne’s novel has tremendous comedic appeal, but it is also noteworthy because Shandy narrates the tale as a string of digressions and tangents. This means Sterne’s novel is one of the first English novels to stray from Aristotle‘s classical literary guidelines as presented in his Poetics. In Narrative, Nature, and the ‘Cock’ and ‘Bull’ Story, Tiller applies concepts from John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding to explore how such deviations lead Tristram, in the series of events stemming from his birth, to a more precise imitation of nature than strict adherence to Aristotle’s guidelines could have procured.

Amanda Tiller is the Humanities Collections Development Librarian at the Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s. Before completing her Master of Library and Information Science at The University of Western Ontario, she completed her Master of Arts in English Language and Literature at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Copies can be purchased from the Problematic Press table at SFotR8 for $10CAN.

Vester Vade Mecum - Front Cover Mock-Up

Vester Vade Mecum: A Collection of Short Fiction is a collection to delight educators and pupils alike. It contains a variety of important short works of English literature, featuring authors such as Mary Shelley, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Louisa May Alcott, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle, Pauline Hopkins, Stephen Leacock, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, and others. Edited by David Reynolds, the text contains contextual information about each author and story as well as questions to provoke critical reflection.

Vester Vade Mecum is a Latin phrase that means “you go with me.” As the title of this textbook, that phrase carries multiple meanings. It indicates that this is a manual that mindful students will carry with them in their studies. In relation to the enduring nature of great stories, the title alludes that these are tales we often recall in our own reflections. In relation to the nature of storytelling, it suggests how the author leads the reader along their journey.

Copies can be purchased from the Problematic Press table at SFotR8 for $30CAN.

Quodlibets - Front Cover

Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets, Lately Come over from New Britaniola, Old Newfoundland is a collection of witty, poetic verses that were penned while he served as governor in colonial Harbour Grace, Newfoundland between 1618 and 1628. His is likely the first English poetry penned in North America.

And, his work is quite impressive. Containing original poetry as well as his translations of pieces by John Owen and Francois Rabelais, Quodlibets reflects on thieves and knaves, good wives and whores, as well as the untamed beauty of Newfoundland. Hayman’s poetry exposes his love for Newfoundland, inviting the adventurous and hopeful to settle this rock. The language for this edition has been updated by David Reynolds to facilitate reading for modern audiences yet preserve the poetic voice of the author.

Copies of this book may be purchased from the Problematic Press table at SFotR8 for $10CAN.

Fawning, Fear and Frustration - Cover

Fawning, Fear, and Frustration: A Collection of Teenage Poetry from the 90s collects thirty six poems by a young David Reynolds. It features a range of poetry that considers love, death and confusion in addition to a number of matters that lay somewhere in between.

Copies of this book may be purchased from the Problematic Press table at SFotR8 for $8CAN.

cover

Superheroes: An Analysis of Popular Culture’s Modern Myths by David Reynolds is a semiotic and cultural anthropological interrogation of popular North American superhero narratives, such as those of Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman, that provides insight into how media’s messages influence the culture’s ethical values. Since emerging in the late 1930s, the superhero has become a pervasive figure in North American popular culture. As an extension of ideas presented by Friedrich Nietzsche, Joseph Campbell, and Umberto Eco, this dissertation argues that superhero tales must be regarded as modern mythology. It follows that people observe and learn social norms of justice from such narratives, since these ideals are intrinsic to the tales. In investigating the superhero’s role as a contemporary figure of myth, this project focuses primarily on three areas: an account of the history of the superhero from 1938 to present; an examination of the cultural functions of contemporary superhero narratives; and, an interrogation of vigilantism, responsibility, and justice in these narratives and how those concerns further relate to ideologies and practices in North American culture.

Copies of this book may be purchased from the Problematic Press table at SFotR8 for $10CAN.

If you can’t make it out to SFotR8, don’t worry – copies can also be purchased online from the Problematic Press Shops (CAN and US). Additionally, wholesale purchases of Problematic Press titles can be made through CreateSpace Direct, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor. Feel free to contact us if you have difficulty ordering (send email to problematicpress@gmail.com).

We’ll be involved with some other attractions throughout the convention, as well. Our own David Reynolds will be delivering a short presentation 11:30am on Sunday, May 25 titled Superman, Batman, and War-Time Propaganda as part of the Warp-Speed Workshops series. On top of that, Myles Reichel will be attending the video screening of Uneeda‘s music video, “Momentum.” You can even pick up a Ninja Story t-shirt from the Problematic Press table!

While you’re attending the convention, be sure to take in all of the other great attractions! There are special guests, film screenings, workshops, and more to entertain the whole family!

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Direct all media inquiries to problematicpress@gmail.com. Thank you.

ABOUT PROBLEMATIC PRESS

Problematic Press is a small, independent book publishing endeavour founded by David Reynolds and based in St. John’s, NL. Problematic Press has a mission with a broad scope, aiming to entertain and educate readers of all ages. Perhaps that’s problematic. Problems make us think.

Regardless, Problematic Press will produce original works as well as popular classics, with an emphasis on texts that challenge readers’ notions and the status quo. Special attention is given to Newfoundland literature, Canadian literature, and other imaginative works from such genres as speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction, pulp fiction, non-fiction, comics, and children’s books. Problematic Press will also release selected anthologies of poetry and short fiction, some of which will be formatted as textbooks suitable for high school and post-secondary education.

The attention span of the collective consciousness is too short. Problematic Press aims to challenge readers while revitalizing interest in important narratives from the past that remain relevant today.

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Problematic Press Loses Virginity

Well, last week was certainly a week of firsts for Problematic Press, including David Reynolds‘ first CBC Radio interview and first public reading of fiction! Sexy times, indeed!

Let’s begin this recap with CBC’s WAM. The amazing Angela Antle invited Reynolds to the Weekend Arts Magazine to discuss his adaptation of Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets. This collection of over 300 short poems was penned by Hayman as he served as governor of the English colony in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland from 1618 to 1628. When it was first published upon his return to England, the book was intended to encourage other Europeans to to take up the task of settling this newly found land. In a sense, Quodlibets can be seen as one of the first works to promote Newfoundland tourism.

So, in case you missed the original broadcast, let me include one of the random poems Reynolds read on the air from Hayman’s Quodlibets:

Book 1, Number 70. To a fair Whore.

When we do see a woman sweetly fair,
We say that God had done his part in her,
Thou passing fair, but passing wicked art,
In thee therefore Satan hath play’d his part.

Now, Reynolds said a lot of craziness in front of the mic for this interview, so who knows what, if any, will be included in the podcast of the show. Nevertheless, additional excerpts from Hayman’s Quodlibets can be found on past Problematic Press blog posts here and here.

Hanging out at the CBC was a lot of fun, but taking part in Myles Reichel’s fundraiser at The Ship for A Ninja Story was really exciting, too!

Reichel, who is also the bassist for Uneeda, has just begun the year-long launch of his comic book, A Ninja Story. The plan is to raise money for the comic book by releasing the first issue on t-shirts, with a new page/shirt becoming available biweekly over the next year. The first shirt features the cover art for the first issue of the comic, and it looks wicked! To score a shirt, head to Downtown Comics or a Uneeda show. Problematic Press has been privileged enough to gain a sneak peek at some of the later pages of the comic, and it promises to please!

And, to kick off the epic journey of A Ninja Story, the fundraiser was a load of fun! There was a lively array of music, comics, art, and words as Reichel’s friends came out to show their support for his comic venture. The show began with the soulful sounds of Laura Murray and Joanne Bennett, then Danielle Bailey kicked out the jams. The ladies sounded great from our seats at the merch table.

The merch table at The Ship

The merch table was almost like a second stage for this gig. This was Reichel’s base of operations for the event, where all the patrons’ questions about A Ninja Story could be answered. Reichel had also invited Problematic Press and artist Asuka Lilith to share in the festivities, so we showcased our works alongside his t-shirts. It was a great opportunity, and Problematic Press is certainly grateful!

The bar was set high when David Reynolds took the stage to read an excerpt from his short story “Showdown at the Cactus’s Prick.” Reading to a bar full of people juiced up on awesome music might seem like a daunting task, but the crowd was attentive and more than patient. Reynolds was quite pleased that he heard no audible heckling and he even heard a few laughs at the funny bits.

After the reading, Paul Brake played a great set, followed by Mike McDonald, who was hilarious. This built up to the epic finale …ToShredsYouSay?!? Indeed! And, they were tight. Problematic Press really appreciates ending the evening with a bit of thrash.

Problematic Press would like to thank all those who came out to The Ship for the show last Friday and all those who listened to CBC’s WAM at 7:30am the following Saturday. Tremendous thanks for all your support!

Cheers!

Dave and Myles

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National Poetry Month and Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets

The League of Canadian Poets have celebrated April as National Poetry Month for 15 years now. That doesn’t sound like a very long time, considering Robert Hayman was writing poetry in Newfoundland in the early 1600s.

So, in the spirit of celebrating poetry, Problematic Press would like to take you back nearly 400 years in sharing these few epigrams from David Reynolds’ adaptation of Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets, Lately come Over from New Britaniola, Old Newfoundland.

1. To the Reader of my reprehending general Epigrams.

I Do not, nor I dare not squib the State:
Such outrecuidant sauciness I hate:
Nor do I mean any one Man herein;
In private terms, I lash a public sin;
If any guilty think I him do mean,
He judgeth right: for I at him do aim.

47. To a handsome Whore.

One told me, what a pretty face thou hast;
And it’s great pity that thou art not chaste.
But I did tell him, that did tell it me,
That if thou were not Fair, thou chaste wouldst be.

49. Of the Gunpowder Holiday, the 5. of November.

The Powder-Traitors, Guy Fawkes, and his mates,
Who by a Hellish plot sought Saints estates,
Have in our Calendar unto their shame,
A joyful Holy-day called by their Name.

Hayman’s Quodlibets contains over 300 more wonderful witticisms. Print and digital editions are available through Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.

David Reynolds also dabbles in poetry. You can find out more about his work on his blog, Reynolds’ Thoughts and Fictions.

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BOOK LAUNCH – Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets

Problematic Press is pleased to present Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets, Lately Come over from New Britaniola, Old Newfoundland.

Quodlibets - Front Cover

Hayman’s Quodlibets is a collection of witty, poetic verses that were penned while he served as governor in colonial Harbour Grace, Newfoundland between 1618 and 1628. His is likely the first English poetry penned in North America.

And, his work is quite impressive. Containing original poetry as well as his translations of pieces by John Owen and Francois Rabelais, Quodlibets reflects on thieves and knaves, good wives and whores, as well as the untamed beauty of Newfoundland. Hayman’s poetry exposes his love for Newfoundland, inviting the adventurous and hopeful to settle this rock.

Robert Hamyan’s Quodlibets can be purchased through Amazon.ca and Amazon.com in both print and Kindle ebook formats. You can find this and other great titles in the Problematic Press Store! Check out the links in the menu above.

Please, read and enjoy!

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TREATS: Quodlibets Sample and a FREE Short Story

Cheers, all!

I previously promised treats, and now it’s time to deliver! Problematic Press offers eager readers TWO tasty treats for their minds to munch on. *om nom nom*

First, let me present you with a sample poem from David Reynolds’ adaptation of Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets, Lately Come over from New Britaniola, Old Newfoundland. Hayman’s Quodlibets contains over 300 poems, written as epigrams or witty verses. The following poem is a tribute to Sir Francis Drake, whom Hayman met as a small boy in the streets of Totnes. The admiration Hayman views Drake with is clear here. That meeting could have been the spark that ignited Hayman’s adventurous spirit, eventually leading to his expedition across the Atlantic to the rugged coasts of Newfoundland. So, for your reading pleasure, here is the seventh verse from the fourth book of Quodlibets:

7. Of the Great and Famous, ever to be honoured Knight, Sir Francis Drake, and of my little-little self.

The Dragon, that our Seas did raise his Crest,
And brought back heaps of gold unto his nest,
Unto his Foes more terrible than Thunder,
Glory of his age, After-ages wonder,
Excelling all those that excell’d before;
It’s fear’d we shall have none such any more;
Effecting all, he sole did undertake,
Valiant, just, wise, mild, honest, godly Drake.
This man when I was little, I did meet,
As he was walking up Totnes‘ long Street,
He ask’d me whose I was? I answer’d him.
He ask’d me if his good friend were within?
A fair red Orange in his hand he had,
He gave it me, whereof I was right glad,
Takes and kissed me, and prays, God bless my boy:
Which I record with comfort to this day.
Could he on me have breathed with his breath,
His gifts Elias-like, after his death,
Then had I been enabled for to do
Many brave things I have a heart unto.
I have as great desire, as e’er had he
To joy; annoy; friends; foes; but ’twill not be.

This poem expresses how a chance meeting could be just the right sort of encouragement for an adventurer. Perhaps that’s why I like it so much. Hayman’s Quodlibets contains many more poetic gems like this, and Problematic Press will launch that title later this month!

As for the second treat, Problematic Press is proud to present David Reynolds’ short story “Showdown at the Cactus’s Prick,” available as a FREE ebook at Smashwords! That’s right. It’s free. Just drop by Smashwords and you can download the story in just about every ebook format imaginable, like .epub, .mobi, .pdf, .html, and more. Share the link with your friends to give the story to others. It’s as easy as that.

Originally published in Late Night Dungeons, “Showdown at the Cactus’s Prick” was going to be part of a series of short stories, collectively called Sabaku, the Deserter. Perhaps it may still become that series. It’s an action-adventure tale set in a fantasy dystopia. Sabaku has abandoned his homeland to escape the tyranny of its oppressive ruler. Not far beyond the borders of his homeland, he must avoid capture at the Cactus’s Prick, a tiny refuge for rebels and outlaws. Since it’s a short story, I’ll let you read it yourself to discover the outcome.

Enjoy these treats, folks! Stay tuned for the launch of Quodlibets later in March!

Cheers!

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Upcoming Treats

Cheers!

Thanks so much for all of your interest in this humble venture thus far! I strive to satisfy your expectations, and I’d like to share with you my own expectations for 2013. Expect to see the following titles in the inaugural year of Problematic Press:

Quodlibets (1628) by Robert Hayman is quite likely the first work of English literature penned in North America. Hayman composed this collection of epigrams during his service as Governor of the English colony in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. Containing original poetry as well as his translations of pieces by John Owen and Francois Rabelais, Quodlibets reveals Hayman’s poetic insight reflects on thieves and knaves, good wives and whores, as well as the beauty of this rock we call Newfoundland. This is a saucy appeal from an adventurer’s soul, crying out to others to share in his quest! (This edition has been adapted from the original Middle English by David Reynolds.)

A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder (1888) by James De Mille was the professor’s most popular tale. Set in a lush hidden oasis in Antarctica that’s infested with prehistoric monsters, De Mille takes us for a ride in this tongue-in-cheek epic of romantic fantasy!

The True Story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff: The Troll’s Side of the Story (1991) by David Reynolds was written when the author was just 11 years old. Subtle and charming, the work reinterprets the Norwegian fairytale from the perspective of the kind troll who falls prey to the prejudice of the oldest goat Gruff.

Assuming all things run smoothly from here on out, Quodlibets should be available by March 2013. In the meantime, keep an eye out for other announcements and fun tidbits from Problematic Press!

Cheers!

DR

P.S.: Here’s a new treat I can’t wait to announce – the Kindle has come to Canada! Check the Problematic Press Shop (CAN) for all the tasty techno-treats!

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Day 1: It Has Begun

Welcome, friends!

This is a momentous occasion.  Problematic Press has just arrived on the scene with a mission to stimulate your hungry, eager intellects!

Problematic Press intends to challenge your fundamental preconceptions of the world through original works of literature as well as important, yet often neglected, texts from the past.  Our first release will be Robert Hayman’s Quodlibets, which is quite likely the first work of literature produced in North America.  Written while Hayman was Governor of the British colony in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1628, this edition features David Reynolds’ adaptation of the Middle English poetry into more contemporary language, in order to make the text more accessible to today’s audience.  Reynolds makes every effort to preserve the poetic elements of Hayman’s work, which reflects upon matters ranging from spirituality to politics and is largely an appeal to the British to settle in the Newfound-land.  Quodlibets portrays the reflections and attitudes of one of Newfoundland’s, and also North America’s, founding fathers in unabashed eloquence.

Stay tuned for updates on other upcoming releases!  Tell your literati friends that Problematic Press is here to stay!

Cheers!

David Reynolds

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