Corpses not Coffee

by Shane Porteous

A City Shrouded in Shadows. A Legend That Shouldn’t Exist. A Warrior Facing the Unthinkable.

Rivenare is no stranger to danger. A man of formidable skill and unyielding resolve, he has battled foes both seen and unseen. But when he is sent to a mysterious city on a mission unlike any before, he quickly realizes that he is stepping into something far more sinister than expected.

Grisly reports have emerged—tales of toys that move on their own, innocent playthings turning into nightmarish abominations, and men being torn apart as if made of paper. Most dismiss these as mere superstition, the product of fearful imaginations, but Rivenare has learned to trust his instincts. And now, standing alone in a dark medieval courtyard, with only the suffocating silence and his own thoughts for company, he senses an undeniable truth—something unnatural lurks here.

What began as a simple investigation may become a fight for survival. Because in the shadows of this forsaken city, reality bends, legends breathe, and fear takes shape.

A Landmark Tale from Shane Porteous

In celebration of his 70th publication, acclaimed author Shane Porteous brings together characters from across his vast collection of works into a single unforgettable stand-alone story. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer, prepare for a story that searches shadows, stillness and sorrow.

48 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2025

About the author

Ever since I was old enough to retain memory I have wanted to be an author. I must have written at least 100 original stories as well as alot of fan fiction.

I cannot remember the very first story I wrote because I would have written it years before I could properly spell more than ten words. But the two earliest stories I can remember writing are "Blood got on Big Boss" and "Mad Lab".

Blood got on Big boss was a ridiculous story that told of a group of kids being hunted down by a ruthless crime boss that had motocycle driving ninjas as henchmen along with many other ludicrous things.

Mad Lab was equally ridiculous and told the story of how there was a science building that had been taken over by bio-engineered monsters. It was so dangerous that the police force refused to enter the building and a team of elite mercenaries were called in to destroy the monsters.

In total I wrote 8 sequels to mad lab though I must admit each were only 4 or 5 hand written pages long.

When I was ten or eleven I saw an anime that would forever change the way I wrote and thought about stories. That anime was Guyver Bio-Booster Armor. I was mesmerised by this cartoon that was filled with some of the most goriest scenes I had ever seen at that time. The fact that it was a cartoon that had swearing and intense violence shocked me as much as it thrilled me.

But beyond all the violence and the swearing Guyver Bio- Booster Armor also possessed many layers to it's story. It was a much more complex and philosophical way of telling a story that was light years beyond any movie, book or cartoon I had ever seen before.

Guyver opened my eyes to the world of Manga/Anime, a world where black and white convention was rejected, replaced by a complex world of grey. I loved it and found when I wrote stories that I was always striving to be different.

Now with my boyhood dream of being a published author completed I only hope that I successfully strive to write stories that are a little different. But that is not for me to decide it is up to the readers, so please if you ever read one of my books please let me know what you thought about it!