Evolution Device

by Lif Strand

Evolution Device , a novel of music and magic in classic rock's 1970s.

A guitarist fighting his power. A muse who's losing her power. And a guitar whose power may be not what it seems.

Evolution Device is an entertaining mix of backstage drama and spiritual fantasy, imagining a quintessential 1970s rock 'n' roll success story from the not-quite-real perspective of an artistic muse who makes the music possible.

Taking off from a fictionalized amalgam of Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and Heart, mixed with a bit of Janis Joplin and a dash of the Jefferson Airplane, Lif Strand introduces an unusual (but refreshingly original) angle of Native American mythology into the more familiar behind-the-music elements.

The result is a credible account of rock stardom that depicts the most idealized visions of the audience, as though they were as real as the all too human affairs of the performers themselves - with an original subtext reflecting on the meaning of musical inspiration and the deepest sources of musical creativity.

Crafted with the passion of a true fan, Evolution Device is as unique as a 1959 Les Paul and authentic as a Stratocaster solo.

Audible Audio

Published December 16, 2020

About the author

Lif Strand’s first novel, Evolution Device, is the story of Eddie Edmunds, a rock guitarist who follows the path to fame and fortune typical of 1970s London. Except Eddie's music is powered by something like magic - a power he both craves and fears.

Strand's Mangas County Mysteries series features Special Deputy Jessie Torres, whose job focuses on investigating livestock deaths caused by wolves in the remote, rugged high-country of western New Mexico. But Jessie's heart also calls her to follow the path set by her ancestors - women of strength and skill, and true power.

Lif Strand lives off the grid in a straw bale house way outback in New Mexico. When she’s not writing she hikes, takes a lot of photos, paints and creates fabric art, and cares for her aged Arabian horses.

Reviews

[M. Heitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invoking a mixed and powerful heritage of indigenous medicine, musical genius Eddie Edmunds inadvertently invokes his muse, Lilith, who helps him achieve all he thinks he wants from the chaotic creativity that is torturing him. He's like a river overflowing its banks: all those around him trying to manage and control his power -- stacking their metaphorical sandbags ever higher on the levee to keep him contained and focused -- even as he erodes the levee underneath them.
But being a guitar god is rough: exhausting and unforgiving. It can destroy one's body, one's relationships, one's will and in the end it can even drive a muse to rethink her connection to the host who manifested her.
It's also the story of possession: by the Lady, an instrument that at first translates his genius. But soon, both Lilith and the Lady form a toxic triangle in battleground Eddie, sometimes working at cross-purposes, as he and his band rocket to fame on the way to rock bottom.
My favorite section involves Eddie's visit to his aunt in New Mexico where the door to enlightenment opens a crack. There's opportunity to dig into the inherent power he was born to and solve for the toxic dependence that has taken over his life. We really want Eddie to find the path he's meant to step upon and see where it leads.
The story, cleverly told through Lilith's eyes, becomes a lens for seeing both the self-destructive and generative sides of creativity and fame. Not my usual reading fare, I was happy to have found this one.

[Karen Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliantly written. Excellent first-person execution. It was as if I was a fly on the wall in some very interesting rooms, and situations that I had personally never experienced in my life, so the storyline certainly had my attention and kept me turning the page as I truly did not know what might happen next. The dialog of the characters was also perfectly timed and well written. Yes, it had that magical twist to it, but being a creative person myself, it was very believable. Someone has clearly been paying attention to the muses who help us along on our creative journey.
Kudos to this author. Job well done on this first novel. I definitely look forward to reading more books by Lif Strand, to whom I will say, thanks for the change of scenery, Lif!

[Sher Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

I'm actually surprised I liked this book. Evolution Device is of my generation but I had a much more innocent experience with music. I found myself frustrated with Eddie and painfully sorry for Lilith, but then, I was supposed to. I loved the subtleness of the magic. It was so subtle that you had no doubt It was real. The ending was inevitable, but it still broke my heart. Thanks for the book, Lif. Can't wait for the next one.