Warp Asylum: The Complete Collection

by Kj Ryall

Bipolar Disorder is a chronic mental illness which causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy and ability to think clearly. The pendulum of Bipolar Mania can swing from absolute euphoria to utter despair in an instant. In severe cases a sufferer may have to navigate their way through a psychedelic landscape of both audible and visual hallucinations, blurring the lines between fact and fiction.

This book was conceived during a six month manic episode which lead to the destruction of all the things I held most dear. My marriage, my home, my friends, every penny to my name, all lost in my attempt to define a black hole as the Hand of God, connecting science and religion through a piece of art.

Once I was stable I spent years trying to make sense of my collection of apocalyptic ramblings, movie lines, song lyrics, scientific studies and math formulas fleshed out with symbols instead of numbers because at the time the numbers weren’t adding up, but pictures did. So this is my story, told the way I want to tell it, half written in a psychotic state, half while resisting the urge to return there.

Warning! This book contains graphic content, violent imagery, foul language, abusive behavior and an artistic examination of mental illness. Read at your own risk.

Visit DontBelieveKj.com for the complete Warp Asylum experience, including an audio-visual tour through a world gone mad and visions of the heroes trying to save it.

250 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2019

About the author

Heaven is a cabin in the woods. Especially when the woods are far enough from the city that door to door salesmen leave you alone but society is still close enough to acquire the occasional fast food breakfast sandwich. That's where I create, somewhere between the excitement of bright city lights and the joy of seeing a bunny in your yard. My favorite topics include mental health, metaphysics, deities, demons and dreams. On a more personal level I disagree with Oxford commas but will defend the rights of others to use them. Finally, I love the practice of naming animals after humans but feel humans with animal names should be approached with caution.

Reviews

[PJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was phenomenal! Warp Asylum was an idea birthed in the midst of a manic episode. Every manic/depressive episode is different for everyone, but I absolutely devour anyone's personal stories, artist renditions, or pieces of fiction that come during or after an episode. It is a little terrifying and comforting to see many others going through similar situations, feelings, and thought processes as I have the stages of rapid cycling. This was a crazy ride through how reality really is perceived however your brain decides. It really makes you think about reality and memories in a less science fiction setting.