Skull Kingdoms: An Imaginary Omnibus

by Matthew Burnside

Boasting a cast of dreamful characters, from Young Escher to George Bailey to a wide array of inanimate objects absconded from the dark tonics of our childhood – be they headless dolls, cuckoo clocks, inverted carpets or ravenous prisms, SKULL AN IMAGINARY OMNIBUS dives headlong into the radii of the imagination, measuring our inner landscapes against the sharp, enchanted edges of the playgrounds we create to keep us safe from the outer world. In these formally audacious escapologies, speakers duck the responsibilities of adulthood, choosing to crash into Ottomans or sway along with imaginary galleons over the violence of growing up and its hungry regimes that would blot out all color to leave us listless. Concluding with a roleplaying game of loneliness, Skull Kingdoms proposes a fanciful, novel cartography for reimagining an otherwise jagged, savagery of terrain.

Genres: Poetry

75 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Sarah Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

For disclosure sake, I did receive an ARC of this book. However, there is no pressure (financial or otherwise) from the author or publisher to provide anything specific in the review, just a request that I please review the book. :)
Skull kingdoms is an almost dream-like collection of thoughts/musings and poems, mixing everyday objects with imaginative, vivid imagery and metaphor that shifts one's perspective and opens a world that floats by rather than making any sort of sense. There is also the added fun of a footnote at each section giving instructions on how to interact with the piece: everything from "read while clutching a doll or stuffed animal" to "requires a D20, paper, pen, and imagination", encouraging active participation in the process of literature rather than passive reading. I gave it a 4/5 not because of any inherent issue with the piece but rather because it just isn't striking me at the moment. It may be exactly the thing someone else needs to read, and may be perfect for me at another time. Just make sure you come prepared to participate!

[Andrew Mossberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skulking Doms. Skull-Kin g-doms. Why are the doms skulking through the free form psychedelic playful aggressive pleading words of this collection? Poetry poet words on a page. It’s a playful adventure story at heart. A meandering path through - a mind? imagery? image a nary butterfly flitting through these interactive pages (complete with game((s))).

Is it e.e.cummings doing burroughs-esque cut-up while a dadaist mime plays out-of-tune bongos and hums an almost but-not-quite-recognizable song?

Yes, quite possibly. Enjoy.

[Note, I received a pre-publication early review copy. Honestly enjoyed it nonetheless]