The Minstrels Are Calling

by Ben Clayton

A participation in the pathology of psychosis and philosophy

Where do you start? Where do you end? At some point, you stop, sit, and enjoy, or else you become enveloped in the darkness.

The Minstrels Are Calling is a book of nightmares, spooky stories, and poems; homages to Hunter S. Thompson and Allen Ginsberg; and a prequel for the author’s graphic novel NUMB.

Spiders, zombies, vampires, psychics, supernatural beings, death, creation, and obscure mythology are some of the topics that are embraced within this book. It is a participation in the pathology of psychosis and philosophy, mythology, psychology, and theology. This new second edition of the Minstrels Are Calling has additional edits and one extra story that is not included in the first edition.

Audible Audio

Published March 17, 2021

About the author

Author Ben Clayton has written stories and poems for newspapers, books and several anthologies over most of his life. Besides writing, Ben also creates other art working with photography, photo manipulation, prop building, and occasionally illustration. His publications include a poem, two photography books, a macabre photography/story book, book one of a graphic novel series with illustrator Manthos Lappas, a macabre and philosophical short story/poetry book, a vampire novel and a serial killer novel. In addition, he has two short stories in the online publication Subcutaneous (SubQ), and two art pieces, including the cover, in the first issue released August 1st, 2016. He has a short story in Neoleaf Press‘ anthologies „Chills Down Your Spine“ and “Chills Down Your Spine Too”. Currently, he is working on several projects to be named later.

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels. It reminded me of the first time I read Ginsberg-equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable. The blend of horror, mythology, and stream-of-consciousness writing makes it feel like a lucid nightmare you don’t want to wake from. The homages to Hunter S. Thompson and the philosophical undertones gave it a gritty, reflective weight that I really appreciated.