VOODOO INFERNO

Voodoo Inferno is quite a tale. It’s filled with some of the most colorful characters that I think I’ve ever encountered, all beautifully created with a myriad of perks and flaws that make them memorable, if not likable. There is also a very dark undertone to Voodoo Inferno which I really enjoyed, and I think most readers will appreciate this walk through the shadows.

Author Doug Thurston certainly understands New Orleans, where the tale is set. We learn about the history of the city, kind of, and get to smell, taste, hear and feel its vivacious culture.

I’ve read a few attempts at taking Dante’s Inferno and applying it to modern times, but I can’t say I’ve found anything quite so successful at doing so. I found myself going back and reading the original text and comparing it to the time-traveling main character’s adventures here, and they match up quite well. I would almost suggest stripping the section heads from the chapters to avoid hitting the reader over the head with the theme. Perhaps I’m being too hopeful as to the intelligence of the typical reader, but it would be a pretty cool moment when they realize for themselves that this is just like Dante’s Inferno.

Not as a criticism, but more of a comment: Voodoo Inferno takes more concentration from a reader than most stories. But it’s like a blue chip stock. You have to put a lot into it and if you do, it’s a safe bet that you will get a lot back out. I invested a lot of time here and feel it was very well spent, but Voodoo Inferno is no summer read on the beach. What this might mean for its commercial prospects I don’t know, but it will certainly be the darling of critics and book club circuits when published, which might help it get into the hands of the mainstream. Backed with pleasure.

John Breeden II
Old Number Seven
(A novel also set within that “evil” city of New Orleans)

Backed purely on the strength of the name. Oh and the small matter of some incredible in your face writing.


richard

Hey up mate. Looks like some of the other reviewers got freaked by all the busyness, visual as well as story and voice wise. Ignore 'em. Sometimes we have to read like we got a pitbull in our eyes. James Joyce kicked it all off some time ago. But so what if it's a good read, why not? Your style put me in mind of Naked Lunch also.

It doesn't matter that we don't always know where we are and who is what and who said what. We can read the whole as an impression. And if we really have no idea what is going on we can just enjoy the glinty bits here and there.

But this will not be everyone's cup of tea as they want nice orderly sentences and graphs and A doing X to B who is related to C. With a nice bow around it.

Your story puts me in mind of all sorts of things Easy Rider, Heart of Darkness, American Rust, Taxi Driver, Cloud Atlas, Catch 22, One Flew Over... Midnight In The Garden Of... and even Matterhorn. I also think of Marylin Manson '...babble-babble-bitch-bitch...don't forget the sex-n-violence...' Ach, and of course Clockwork Orange.

I was sold into the Cane is a serious mess view and felt sorry for him. The system makes the Cane. I thought the 'celebrating Earth Day' deliciously arch. The land of have a nice day n Citizen Cane.

It all sounds like a serious straight situation -- even the 17ch century aspects -- and I kept writing hurrah! whenever I saw a reference to British assertiveness. The melding of stories was all very Cloud Atlasish.

I began to think 'this guy is a bit of a cliche' when I got to Corpus Christi trailer park. He ticks every box for bumdom.

But, sir, there then came some great dabs which I loved. I cld see and hear the flies buzzing. But it was the portrayal of C's mum that I think is really cracking. All thoughts of cliche were swept aside with the razor sharp pic of her. 'her eyes were made of milk glass. You're no son of mine.' She is just a broken human and, while herself powerless, she has a potent negative influence on C.

The concludion on religion is hard to refute

Meanwhile, Cane spreads his pain around the world

I thought the notion of C's dislocation was cleverly done. As was the way you segued into the recalled opium high. Some things have not changed. Also the Brits and the Dutch were messing places up 400 years ago, too. And oblvion is still sweet, to some.

I was still on msg going into the whirlpool and I enjoyed the fencing with the bored shrink.

Was that someone else who got thrown to the wolves Lindy English?

I had a wobble over the dude with the black bowler hat and a pair of sunglasses. I though 'this guy is really taking the piss now'! But I also sort of admired you for doing it! And... Just as before when I wobbed over the trailer park. You served an ace. I cld see that dust rising from the surreal dudes pants.

But then as I read on, I thought, 'nah, it's entirely plausible that someone is so fucked up they cld have such nightmares'. So why not? I read on. If I'd thought you'd lost it I'd have through the book at the wall, but I didn't I read on.

'Budget cutbacks' was arch! I liked it. This little dab of wit made it easy to keep going. C himself knows he is scattered, but the govt just wants shot of him.

But then I came across a serious road bump, the graph beginning 'It was hard not to like the old coot...' which then becomes a sort of resume of C's character. But I am an intelligent reader, i definitely don't need that. Hmm, and if I think too much about Virgil I might just get cross about linking it too overtly with Dante, too. But I am still with you.

More good refs to British beastliness to cheer. Hurrah! RULE BRITANNIA! Stuff the natives.

Like, 'I still heard voices in my head. And none of them were mine.'

I am OK now. I'm into the ride. I like it that C is emerging into the world and has had a cabin-sized stroke of luck.

There is great promise for our seriously fucked up Cane. 'Tings 'appen here.'

But what I am unsure of at this point is whether your story will become a Taxi Driver-esque nightmare. Or whether I have to read through satire-tinted lenses.

For some reason I cld hear, 'Alright, Ahmed, I'm going to give you one last chance.'

I got into the philosophical stuff and like, 'a collective delerium'. That's just how my commute in-n-out of Lunnon is. Time-space-AFU = collective delerium.

So I'm bringing stuff to your writing and relating to it in odd ways. Ain't that what it's about?

I thought the end of the chapter was stong. I like that sort of prose poetry. And I happen to like speculating about nothing cubed.

Yes, it is not a one dimensional linear read. But that is exactly why it is also a rivetting read for those able to go with its intellectual nimbleness.

Orlando Furioso
WATCHING SWIFTS

"Voodoo Inferno" - Doug Thurston. I read the 1st chapter and scanned several comments. There is a complex story to tell here - philosophical, spiritually and physically. Some thoughts: whom is your target audience?; perhaps you try to bring too much to the average reader's table - as written the first chapter requires the reader to keep a cheat sheet of who's speaking/thinking - which makes it difficult to hook the reader to keep reading or buy the book. You write well, but this book isn't for the average reader.

Gideon ("Thrill Writer's Remorse")

I guess I'm looking for an above average reader.

Doug, backed with pleasure and sorry that I'm so slow. Started at 21 and Wow! My Mom is from Convent in St. James! I wish you great success in your writing and again, thanks for remembering, stumbling... 1 Love~

Voodoo Inferno is quite a tale. It’s filled with some of the most colorful characters that I think I’ve ever encountered, all beautifully created with a myriad of perks and flaws that make them memorable, if not likable. There is also a very dark undertone to Voodoo Inferno which I really enjoyed, and I think most readers will appreciate this walk through the shadows.

Author Doug Thurston certainly understands New Orleans, where the tale is set. We learn about the history of the city, kind of, and get to smell, taste, hear and feel its vivacious culture.

I’ve read a few attempts at taking Dante’s Inferno and applying it to modern times, but I can’t say I’ve found anything quite so successful at doing so. I found myself going back and reading the original text and comparing it to the time-traveling main character’s adventures here, and they match up quite well. I would almost suggest stripping the section heads from the chapters to avoid hitting the reader over the head with the theme. Perhaps I’m being too hopeful as to the intelligence of the typical reader, but it would be a pretty cool moment when they realize for themselves that this is just like Dante’s Inferno.

Not as a criticism, but more of a comment: Voodoo Inferno takes more concentration from a reader than most stories. But it’s like a blue chip stock. You have to put a lot into it and if you do, it’s a safe bet that you will get a lot back out. I invested a lot of time here and feel it was very well spent, but Voodoo Inferno is no summer read on the beach. What this might mean for its commercial prospects I don’t know, but it will certainly be the darling of critics and book club circuits when published, which might help it get into the hands of the mainstream. Backed with pleasure.

John Breeden II
Old Number Seven
(A novel also set within that “evil” city of New Orleans)

A challenging read on many levels. The technical approach is unique in that I haven't come across it before and the reader needs permanent concentration to follow the multiple threads emerging ti tne story line. I'm not sure how mainstream this will be, because of the unorthodox approach, but that doesn't mean it is not a worthy read.

I read this 1st chapter and I kept going and going, round and round, a carousel, only it doesn't stop until the discharge from the hospital, so you think. - NO ONE BEATS THE DEVIL - then you realise that really its only just beginning and though you're exhilarated with the thoughts of what's gone before, the blood dripping from the wrists, felt the violence, the broken teeth. - travelled the world and thought about space and time, the whirlpool - I mean the writing is a whirlpool - a kind of Jack Kerouac on acid buzz - well I've just got to say this book sure stirs my brain, and is absorbing, and I certainly feel that I've read something this morning that's brought me back and made me feel hungry again - "An' nuthin' ever really ends." (I don't mind eternity, but it does go on a bit.) - Fab and backed - Wilfred (He Was a Most Peculiar Man)

Hello Doug,

I confess that I am not acquainted with Dante's works, though I once planned to read his masterpieces after having read Matthew Pearl's 'the Dante Club' (which was not excellent but a good read).

I've read up to the first chapter and I feel that a very powerful story will ensue. The multiple stories all told at the same time are very realistic and appear to me as pieces of a grand puzzle that will come gradually together. You have used dialogue very effectively and I like the use of accents.

I am looking forward to reading further into your story and hope you will have the time to sample mine.

Backed

Ed
The Imperialists

Well to start, not my sort of book. I have a hard time trying to like a hero who tortures people. But that aside, the work is very well written. Lots of dialogue which moves the plot very fast and pulls the reader in. Great hook ending as well. If anything I'd put in some narrative at least to give the reader a sense of where these guys are, otherwise all we get is floating heads talking. But very well written over all.
Frank

You employ powerful, evocative imagery to great effect. The language is engaging and I really like the occult theme running through the text. In terms of criticism, I found some conversations a little hard to follow - I think it is the repeated use of short, one line sentences, which can be difficult to keep track of when bouncing between speakers. This is especially prevalent at the start, when it is most important to grab and ensnare your readers.

Overall though I am loving what I've read so far. Addresses some contemporary issues, too, which adds to its depth.

TJB

Dear Doug,

Not my sort of story but well written. The plot confusing in places, a decent read all the same 5*****. On my book shelf when I have room.Good luck.

Eddie
Check out 'Magic Wood'

I thought your schema of present action and intervening current thoughts which comprise back story, worked very well. It is a clever and immediately effective device for letting us know exactly whose head we are in in all senses. there,s an early sentence which you need to change. there'd is an aura so it can,t be like an aura.

the mc convinces fornhe has strengths and terrible weaknesses. You reveal the ease with which decency gives way to bestiality under stress and circumstance but is in itself almost totally destructive.

I would read on, but this kind of boom needs more commitment of time than most and I don't want to feel I haven't done it justice . Better to say I have only read two chapters but these are very good.
Lara
GOOD FOR HIM

I thought your schema of present action and intervening current thoughts which comprise back story, worked very well. It is a clever and immediately effective device for letting us know exactly whose head we are in in all senses. there,s an early sentence which you need to change. there'd is an aura so it can,t be like an aura.

the mc convinces fornhe has strengths and terrible weaknesses. You reveal the ease with which decency gives way to bestiality under stress and circumstance but is in itself almost totally destructive.

I would read on, but this kind of boom needs more commitment of time than most and I don't want to feel I haven't done it justice . Better to say I have only read two chapters but these rare veery good.
Lara
GOOD FOR HIM

Hi I backed this and wish you luck with a publisher. I would suspect mainstream commercial is out of the question but a literary publisher might bite. I liked the literary heads ups, Faust for example and the first chapter put me in mind of a documentary I saw where an Iranian ex-interrogator met one of his Iraqi prisoners. He did so after he had regained a little of what makes people human but he still had a long path of redemption to walk down before you'd like the guy.
Good luck. TM

I've just read the first chapters of Voodoo Inferno and found it fascinating and impressive with deep and scary portrayals of human degradation , congratulations!
My Advice?.. Being pretty sleepy I lost the thread and had to re-read.. you could fix this easily, assuming you wish to.. For example when you're playing 2 conversations at once or flashing back and forwards.. I would make more use of putting one in italics, one in bold, for eg.,to keep it clear for the reader, and sometimes resort to plain 'said I in my dream'. Especially at the start you can't afford to lose your fickle reader, later it's all clearer anyway.
Best of luck with this important and insightful writing.
mikegilli The Free

I understand now what you meant by it takes an above average reader to read this. The words come spilling out at you, consciously, and in just a blur. It is up to me the reader to make of them what I will. To keep on reading trying to figure out what is going on right from the get go. It was a little hard seeing as I did not write it. But I have wrote like this before. I understand how you are intensely trying to tell a story. It is so submerse, and I can see the images that you give us right there inside my head. It is superb. I am already on chapter two. I will keep on reading, and am wiling to get lost, and find my way back again. I am very glad I backed this book.

-Eloravelle

Hi Doug -wow what a ride - it's brilliant. Just finished the first chapter and feel like I've seen a beautifully complex stage play (Is this something you've thought about with this book? It could be amazing)
The changes in font/character continuing to be clear but the bold and in italics part got me a bit confused as I hadn't come across it before.
Below are a few parts which you might want to tinker with:

"Forget that. Close your eyes and it was the same man." onward. I think you don't need this as it seems a bit repetitive from earlier simile.

Satin's monologue "For what good is Heaven without....." onward. Is this necessary? I kind of lose Satin's voice at this point -it sounds a bit stagey.

"Not that I'm led to believe you expect it to be that much." (the dr explaining about the grandfather's will) A bit convoluted here.

Starting to lose me a little:

"looking back the only thing I remembered about the dr was......" Wait so, let me get this straight -we have now fast forwarded to a future present when he is looking back on his memories and comparing to a past present when he remembered a lot more? Whew-think I need a 2nd cup of coffee!

Hope this helps.

Best,
Kaal

I LOVE THIS BOOK! Is that clear enough? This and Zero Line (J. Kinkade) are my favourite reads on Authonomy so far....
Absolutely engrossing, the font/scene leaps are so clever and for me, clear. The changes in voice, locale, atmosphere all done with ease. The description or torture or interrogation of the prisoner was the only area so far where some of the descriptions could be tidied up a little -and the dialogue there seems a tad cliched. The scene meeting his mother was so vivid -ok I'm going to keep reading so more comments to come but I'm thinking it's shelf clearing time...
Best,
Kaal

"Voodoo Inferno" - Doug Thurston. I read the 1st chapter and scanned several comments. There is a complex story to tell here - philosophical, spiritually and physically. Some thoughts: whom is your target audience?; perhaps you try to bring too much to the average reader's table - as written the first chapter requires the reader to keep a cheat sheet of who's speaking/thinking - which makes it difficult to hook the reader to keep reading or buy the book. You write well, but this book isn't for the average reader.

Gideon ("Thrill Writer's Remorse")

I guess I'm looking for an above average reader.

"Voodoo Inferno" - Doug Thurston. I read the 1st chapter and scanned several comments. There is a complex story to tell here - philosophical, spiritually and physically. Some thoughts: whom is your target audience?; perhaps you try to bring too much to the average reader's table - as written the first chapter requires the reader to keep a cheat sheet of who's speaking/thinking - which makes it difficult to hook the reader to keep reading or buy the book. You write well, but this book isn't for the average reader.

Gideon ("Thrill Writer's Remorse")

Ch 5 VANITY

The heat is very un-European ... the dry heat of the deserts ... and the sticky heat of the swamplands ... but Cane feels like one of us, European. Yes, 200 years of history and a new nation, but America as it now is is the consequence of Eurpean adventurism, desperation and hope.

This line seems to be addressed to all of Europe in America 'Are you lost, blanc, disoriented?' And this! 'You should not have come this way.' (crossed the Atlantic and then forced others to?)

And this, 'You be at the edge (of cultural and racial worlds). 'You be at the crossroads.'

But la! The dude in the hoodie? Cld the pit bull symbolise the hatred of history? a slavering thirst for revenge on all those cruel men who chained people to the decks of shall ships and shipped them to the new world to build their Grecian dream? Ach, the teardrop.

Love the theatricality of it all, this, 'backlit by a flash of lightning'.

The Victorian gig sounded like a cracking night. And yes, the vanity of fine clothes still charms us and makes us feel superior to all ... those little folks down there. Bah!

I smile now when Steady pops up. 'Steady's voice brought me back to reality.' What a marvellous thought as Mr.S is himself from a very strange reality.

This line cracked me up, 'That's whatcha get fo' eatin' ribs at foah in da mornin'

This S'ism is bootiful, 'Some maxs ... are worn on da inside.' Brilliant.

Like this also, 'Any particular kind o'whisky, cap'n?'

Then everything turns from satiric to sinister. '...underlying sadness...' and this brilliant vision '...nothing but blank and forgotten phantoms swirling around and round the ballroom like so many fading memories...' O life! life! That is ouf fate!

The strange fruit is wonderful in a dark way of course. And the end of this chapter is intensely moving. Ach, the dreamlike frustration of the very last line. Again, such is life, all missed chances. But what a love! What sublime tragedy.

VOODOO INFERNO

Ch 5

I'm like a pig in clover reading your story! OINK! I love it. I feel out of my mind literally, but in a safe sort of way. You are showing me the madness of an entire nation...and in a beautiful way. I said OINK!

The contrast between the two extreme American experiences is wonderful. There is Jonathan Faust esquire, absolutely and entirely reconginsable to this WASPY Englishman. I love the notion of his Greecian retreat with its finely propprtioned architecture. O sir i do! A certain type of Englishman still hankers after all that. it is what took many of us off to the colonies all those years ago. We are still in that mind set, even now. And yet...

Those drums.

They have nothing to do with the Greecian dream. But there they are, there is Africa, there is the worm in the dream, slavery. And it is not just slavery of humans in cotton fields but slavery of the mind -- says this WASP -- to dark notions of devilry, sir! This line says it all, 'Thing were peaceful and calm for Jonathan Faust in his antebellum southern world.' Just so. And then this line gives us the other side of said impossibly exquisite dream, 'There was fire.' Yes, fire, always fire. And, OMG, dancers, naked to the midrift.'

It is an absolutely heady mix of confusion. On the one hand the perfectly sugared dream -- yawn -- and on the other those naked dancers -- excitement. And fire. Blazing guns. Muskets, battleships, F16s, and endless helicopters blazing away. O what fun!

Ach, but the sacrifices make things a little more sinister. Killing folk from a distance does not seem to taint. But sacrificing little animals seems gruesome in the extreme. It also feeds straight into Miller's THE CRUCIBLE and all that. America in some ways is a perfect mirror of our individual beings. Highly rational, civilised and powerful on one hand, while on the other... Ach, there be dangers and delights there!

When I read thsee lines 'No, no, no! I will not allow this ... this ... devil worship on my lands! (stolen from the indians). When I read those lines I cld see some proto-Frasier type of WASPY esquire, possibly a distant relative, very English. 'Are you in charge here?' Absolute proto-Frasier! Marvellous.

(more)

Wow, this was an ambition undertaking.

Your bio intrigued me - so many life experiences I hoped you would bring some of that diversity and description to your work. And for the most part, I think it really shows through in the diversity of your characters.

I'm through two chapters and intrigued for more. The opening scene of the schizophrenic must have been a challenge to write. I can imagine you tinkering with the lines 100 times. I read it 4 times to get the correct pattern of scenes though. I think it's really close to flowing well if you really anchor the scene in the Dr's office first - not for patient Clay but for the sane and patient reader. I welcome a challenge on a website where someone asks for my review. In a bookstore, I fear I would read a page and hunt for easier prey.

The writing at times was outstanding. You paint a wonderful picture of the characters in Carnival. I like the ominous dark (bold) voice interspersed - but I cringed at the misquote of Shakespeare (Double, double) not (Boil, boil) and the use of "yes massa, no massa". Shady just doesn't feel like he'd go there. And they're having a conversation on a motorcycle surrounded by blaring trumpets and a parade. Minor points, really.

On the positives, I love the parallel of the trip through Dante's Hell and the vividness of New Orleans. Orlando has pointed out some of the memorable phrasing. No need to repeat his thorough review.

I hope you take my review constructively. It's like nitpicking an Olympic dive with a high degree of difficulty - Oh, I think he splashed a little after spinning four times in the air in a half-pike position. That will cost a few tenths. Your level of ambition far outweighs the perfect phrasing in a much easier prose.

Good luck!

VOODOO INFERNO

Ch 4

I can see those '... cemeteries of white carrera marble vaults and granite mausoeums ...' They took the architecture of death a damn site more seriously than we in our cheap-skate times know how to. There is a lot to be said for a well-appointed cemetery ... inspiring places, great places to meditate.

The graph on mixed breeds made me raise an eyebrow. Is it OK to even use such terms now? even in period romp? It doesn't offened me, but I imagine it will some.

I smiled at 'Da Fatted Calf,' Steady explained. Here we go! Like, 'Ah's was big'n mah day, boy.' Also, 'Dat's kid stuff.'

Can also see 'She put a hand on one of her enormous breasts and smiled coyly.' (p.s. you have 'one one')

But this is the best line in the chapter for me, 'Da's da muse, da siren an' da fury all roll'd inta one,' Brill!

This line is also eyecatching, 'A muffled trumpet wailed like an elephant in a hurricane.' Actually, maybe it is even more vivid. Yes, it has to be!

Thinking about the south made me think of the Niel Young vs Lynyrd Skynyrd debate.

That image of the patrons '...their faces blunt with piggisn snouts bristol (sp?) hairs, and glowing green eyes.' is also very tasty.

All very entertaining. I end the cyhptyr a-wantyng more.

Orlando
WATCHYNG SWIFTS

Sorry, I'm too much of a wuss to read this genre. Just couldn't hang with it or stomach it. I also had a hard time with the long, random strings of dialogue. Kept getting lost. Obviously you're looking for more intelligent readers. Good luck on the desk!

VOODOO INFERNO

Ch 3

Canto Twwo:Lust

I'd not read for a week or so and had lost the vibe. And so the first part of this chapter was like a warm up, a bit of intellectual stretching. I very much like the intrusion of history into the front of our minds, if for no other reason that all that happens now is in some way a consequence of what happened then. I also love history. And you make 1807 seem like ydy. I like the win or die feeling of the cabal.

But it was the second section that won my heart. I am growing to like that rascal Steady as he is clearly anything but. Also the notion of a little light R&R in Big Daddy's has a certain appeal. Tones of The Animals, House of the Rising Sun, with a drunken Jimbo Morrision staggering on through.

This line cracks me up, I love it, 'Steady tilted his sunglasses at me and grinned. 'Dey ccin make ah blin' man see.'

My eyes were nailed to the page from 'The place was state-smelling and dimly lit ...' to ... 'She left a snail trail down my thigh...' and ...'something uncoiled in my lap...'

Ach, and did i feel that hand slipping under MY shirt. And, yes, she was talking to me when she said, 'But I get bored real easy ... wanna get out of here?'

And then it all goes voodoo crazy and she's talking in tongues. Like, 'And I opened my eyes to a whole new world.' Also like, 'faggy lapdogs' and thank you, THANK YOU for that glimpse of 'the white silk and blue lace o fher panties...' Shall I howl? Best not. But ya know what ah mean.

And another shot of Steady to round it off, sans cane n geeeetar case. And o the madness of that bible man laying it on thick. Ach, the mask. Everyone scattering, on to their next little slice of madness. Great stuff, very very entertaining.

Orlando
WATCHING SWIFTS

Doug,
An unusual style of writing, the spoken word and the thought process mixing in text taking the reader to many places at the same time. Impressive. Only read a short piece, but will read in its entirety. Rated and backed. Good Luck with this.
Gretchen

Yr July 4th review from the mother country that was! Rule Britannia!

Ch 2
I enjoyed this. I felt comfortable after the wildness of Ch1. I was curious about how C wld get on in N.O. and what sort of shack he wld find himself in.

The humidity of the swamplands I cld feel like a hot breath. And I blinked at 'grassy knoll', two words which are so loaded in American history.

The graph about the galley slaves and fur trappers was cracking, It sounds like a fun town, full of vigorous life.

The bit about the blind man made me think of NAKED LUNCH and FEAR AND LOATHING... You just scatter little bits of crazy stuff for us to feed on. It's like being a carp in a carp pond at feeding time with you throwing the dead flies in...something for everyone.

Psychopomp is a cracking word, love that.

The notion of the carnival being 'a pagin debauch' is just a wonderful turn on. Who wld not want to be in such an orgy at least once in their lives?

Love 'real Gothik sensibility'.

'...shaking her ass like a weapon...' yeeeeeeee ha! love it!

Also cld see, 'A woman in a feathery, black silk butterfly mask smiling at me suggestively.' O for that to come my way!

'Malphas' sounds like a name out of one of my fave books LES CHANTS DES MALDAROR. Sod Harry Potter, that's for wimps.

And o to be in the midst of this 'A woman laughed and showered me with glitter.'

Yes, ol' Cane deifinitely needs a shot of mardi gras after what he has been through. Love the Old Absinthe House. Even the damn drink name has SIN in it! Marvellous stuff!

The last line is a great hook to keep this readers eyes gagging for more, that's for sure. I am sure I cld not keep up with Cane on the lash in real life, but I wld enjoy following him through your story.

Will be back for another shot anon.

Hey up mate. Looks like some of the other reviewers got freaked by all the busyness, visual as well as story and voice wise. Ignore 'em. Sometimes we have to read like we got a pitbull in our eyes. James Joyce kicked it all off some time ago. But so what if it's a good read, why not? Your style put me in mind of Naked Lunch also.

It doesn't matter that we don't always know where we are and who is what and who said what. We can read the whole as an impression. And if we really have no idea what is going on we can just enjoy the glinty bits here and there.

But this will not be everyone's cup of tea as they want nice orderly sentences and graphs and A doing X to B who is related to C. With a nice bow around it.

Your story puts me in mind of all sorts of things Easy Rider, Heart of Darkness, American Rust, Taxi Driver, Cloud Atlas, Catch 22, One Flew Over... Midnight In The Garden Of... and even Matterhorn. I also think of Marylin Manson '...babble-babble-bitch-bitch...don't forget the sex-n-violence...' Ach, and of course Clockwork Orange.

I was sold into the Cane is a serious mess view and felt sorry for him. The system makes the Cane. I thought the 'celebrating Earth Day' deliciously arch. The land of have a nice day n Citizen Cane.

It all sounds like a serious straight situation -- even the 17ch century aspects -- and I kept writing hurrah! whenever I saw a reference to British assertiveness. The melding of stories was all very Cloud Atlasish.

I began to think 'this guy is a bit of a cliche' when I got to Corpus Christi trailer park. He ticks every box for bumdom.

But, sir, there then came some great dabs which I loved. I cld see and hear the flies buzzing. But it was the portrayal of C's mum that I think is really cracking. All thoughts of cliche were swept aside with the razor sharp pic of her. 'her eyes were made of milk glass. You're no son of mine.' She is just a broken human and, while herself powerless, she has a potent negative influence on C.

The concludion on religion is hard to refute

Meanwhile, Cane spreads his pain around the world

I thought the notion of C's dislocation was cleverly done. As was the way you segued into the recalled opium high. Some things have not changed. Also the Brits and the Dutch were messing places up 400 years ago, too. And oblvion is still sweet, to some.

I was still on msg going into the whirlpool and I enjoyed the fencing with the bored shrink.

Was that someone else who got thrown to the wolves Lindy English?

I had a wobble over the dude with the black bowler hat and a pair of sunglasses. I though 'this guy is really taking the piss now'! But I also sort of admired you for doing it! And... Just as before when I wobbed over the trailer park. You served an ace. I cld see that dust rising from the surreal dudes pants.

But then as I read on, I thought, 'nah, it's entirely plausible that someone is so fucked up they cld have such nightmares'. So why not? I read on. If I'd thought you'd lost it I'd have through the book at the wall, but I didn't I read on.

'Budget cutbacks' was arch! I liked it. This little dab of wit made it easy to keep going. C himself knows he is scattered, but the govt just wants shot of him.

But then I came across a serious road bump, the graph beginning 'It was hard not to like the old coot...' which then becomes a sort of resume of C's character. But I am an intelligent reader, i definitely don't need that. Hmm, and if I think too much about Virgil I might just get cross about linking it too overtly with Dante, too. But I am still with you.

More good refs to British beastliness to cheer. Hurrah! RULE BRITANNIA! Stuff the natives.

Like, 'I still heard voices in my head. And none of them were mine.'

I am OK now. I'm into the ride. I like it that C is emerging into the world and has had a cabin-sized stroke of luck.

There is great promise for our seriously fucked up Cane. 'Tings 'appen here.'

But what I am unsure of at this point is whether your story will become a Taxi Driver-esque nightmare. Or whether I have to read through satire-tinted lenses.

For some reason I cld hear, 'Alright, Ahmed, I'm going to give you one last chance.'

I got into the philosophical stuff and like, 'a collective delerium'. That's just how my commute in-n-out of Lunnon is. Time-space-AFU = collective delerium.

So I'm bringing stuff to your writing and relating to it in odd ways. Ain't that what it's about?

I thought the end of the chapter was stong. I like that sort of prose poetry. And I happen to like speculating about nothing cubed.

Yes, it is not a one dimensional linear read. But that is exactly why it is also a rivetting read for those able to go with its intellectual nimbleness.

Orlando Furioso
WATCHING SWIFTS

Doug I will say at the outset I had major problems becoming involved in your story.

This is a highly ambitious outing for any novelist. The switches between place and time aided only by a change in font occur so rapidly it is difficult to become involved with the narrative or characters. By the end of chapter one I know nothing about Cane, merely the events that trouble him. Sure I know he indulged in appalling acts of brutality, searched for his mother, etc but I am not connecting with Cane yet. No empathy. Obviously Cain himself is unclear and perhaps that is where we are going. I know the pills are making his brain fuzzy and perhaps this is reflected in your narrative approach. Fuzzy logic and fuzzy time :)


But I find myself wondering about the pleasure he would have received from his sadism, let us not be dishonest about the human condition, people enjoy inflicting pain and discomfort. Even a passive receptionist who normally wouldn’t say boo to a goose might say something unkind about a colleague’s dress. Nor do I feel the excitement, the buzz of his adrenalin pumping activities in Iraq.

Normally if I feel so negative about a book I don’t offer any thoughts however you are clearly a seriously good writer bursting with high concepts and ambition. I find myself seeking to hang onto your coat tails to learn more. You are full of ability and ideas looking to create a shell in which to articulate them. There is wonderful dialogue, sharp prose, strong narrative with a good sense of place.

Your references to Virgil in Chapter two (I don’t think we learn his Christian name in chapter one) and the context of your writing evoke Dante’s Inferno, something you mentioned in your message to me. So we have a superb layering of ideas here. Perhaps Virgil is our “human” commentator in hell. Our guide. And enter stage left Faust. Lots of potential here.

I appreciate your character’s observation “... time and space are whatever we decide they are. Hence they are naught but a mental construct.” Perhaps this informs the style and structure you have chosen. However for me is too confusing and distracting.

I loved the initial bounces between time and place in Cane’s life. The italics were a necessary and perfectly adequate aid to tell me where I was, but then you moved into a third place and time. Yet each time the section was too short to allow the reader to get a grip on what was happening.

It was like playing squash with three balls hammering around the court simultaneously. I fear you will lose many readers quite early on. Would it be better to have a shorter chapter one dealing just with the two events occurring together?

Your work is so unique the only novel I feel approaches it is Louis de Bernières’ The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman. This is a novel whereby we cut back and fore between many different people, events, times and place. This includes spending time INSIDE the body of one of the characters watching his body grow tumours and hearing/feeling the tumours view of life. It is as mad as a box of balloons but works (I think) because he stays with an event for longer than yourself. We get to know the tumour and the generals and the lovers.

I am not convinced that an MTV video approach to a novel works. The hard cutting after a few frames of prose jolts me too much. What’s fine for Beyonce and her lovely backside may not be so good for a narrative.

However prove me wrong! Please. Have another crack at it and see if you can make it glide a little better.

There are good reasons why this novel is so high up the charts in Authonomy: the writing, the magical brilliance, originality and damn good prose but I fear the structure is too challenging for many. For me we are talking of tweaks not major surgery. Perhaps chapter one should be just about two events. Chap two to fly in a couple more. Something more to help me hook up to Cain. I appreciate I may have missed the point. Our Virgil might just be a cipher, a viewer of events but this leaves the reader disengaged a dangerous path in my view.

As Colombo might put it, “Oh, one other, small matter before I go." “Why are all hospitals cold” jarred with me because in Europe they are always too hot and stuffy.

Good luck with this Doug it is fantastic to see such talent grasp ambitious conceits and seek to make them work. I am going to rate your novel highly because of those aspects, many of your thoughts are hewn from the worlds contemporary problems and to encourage others to read it and leave notes. I may be in a lonely minority of a one with my views and others may love this helter skelter of a ride just as it is.

S L Stockford Fresco

Lots of fantastic writing here.

Reading the first chapter, I have to say that the high-concept beginnings of the pitch don't even start to capture how high concept this feels. The amount of formatting of the text and the number of different perspectives whizzing around is both difficult and disorientating, but as I got through the initial upset, I understood this to be indicative of the MC's mindset- the dissociation of trauma. The dialogue is as stylised as the text, and to good effect. I get a strong sense of a cocktail of noir and tarantino vibes. I still think I'd appreciate more clarity on what character is associated with what formatting at what time, as right now it's a very active read that requires a lot of scanning up and down to try and piece things together and I'd rather relax into the narrative, but there is definitely strong, compelling stuff in here. I just want easier access to it.

Hi Doug,

As you asked, I've taken the time to look at Voodoo Inferno. I should state at the outset that this isn't the sort of thing I ordinarily read, but I'll do my best. At the end of the day, good writing is good writing. First off, Virgil Cane???? What a great reference - love it!
I think there's a bit too much jumping around in time and space in the first chapter. You might introduce the third element a bit later, or in shorter bursts. I was just starting to get engaged with the doctor/patient encounter, when you plopped me down elsewhere, which by the way was well done. But then somewhere else, and ricocheting back and forth. It was a bit much for my brain to handle. But maybe that's just me (I'm old). I think you have an extremely interesting premise, and the writing ability to do it justice. I just think it needs a bit of tightening up.

Best,
Andi

Hi Doug, thanks for inviting me to read Voodoo Inferno.
I have a few comments. Hope you don't mind....
The first 4 lines of the prologue seem to have no connection to the next part.. where you're in a doctor's office. The next section (in the office) is done well, however, the differentiation between thoughts/memories, and what is going on between doctor and patient is not always clear. Even some of the dialog. for example, who says "all life be a circle, blanc." ? I wasn't clear who said this. And did the doctor smell of cigar smoke? This isn't the picture we see of a normal doctor.
Later, you say, The prisoner was breaking. However, the surrounding para's you call yourself "I" in this memory. The same with "He started to cry."
I think that also, the switching between memory and what's going on in the room is sometimes perhaps a little overdone for my personal liking.
I'm not sure why you don't just have the scene that he remembers (in the war) - like, I would suggest starting with that scene playing on it's own - not as a memory, but as an actual 'action happening now'. Then, in the next part, you can have him at the doctors years and years later, trying to get over that scene and others like it. But that's just my opinion and suggestion after reading the first chapter.
There's a lot of italics and bold in sections further down the first chapter, and sometimes I'm not sure why you have made these bold and italics changes?
Interesting story though! Well done. Thanks, best wishes for your success, and high rated.
Monicque
The Multiple Choice.

Ok got through the first two chapters. I am no expert by any means so feel free to do as you please with my comments. Private Cane is obviously going back to his prior lives which is written superbly. My only qualm there, you give no description of who Cane is in real life so i don't know if he's tall,short, black white or otherwise.
Chapter two the first sentence starts with he only i don't know who 'he' is? Perhaps a break with astrics to end the 1722 as i assume Cane is now back in real time. Further on Cane arrives in New Orleans with we but again i'm not sure who he came with, Steady? I enjoyed the dialogue throughout, very well written. This in itself makes me want to read more......
On to more chapters shortly.....
Regards, Red

Thanks for the comments, Red.
Reveiling details about the main character when writing in the first person always presents a problem. But I've peppered small details throughout if you look carefully. He has red hair and muttonchops and belongs to the Hell's Angels, which should give you some indication as to his ethnicity. He also refers to himself as white trash in the prologue.
Beyond that, I wanted to leave as much as possible to the reader's imagination as he is intended as a metaphor for a certain large segment of American society.
The prologue and the following five chapters are intended as part 1, titled "Winter" but, unfortunately, the Authonomy structure doesn't allow for this type of breakdown.
Some of your confusion should clear by then. This is intended as to give some sort of reference into Virgil Cane's confused state of mind.
Hope this clears some things up and hope you keep reading.
All the best,
Doug Thurston
VOODOO INFERNO

Ok got through the first two chapters. I am no expert by any means so feel free to do as you please with my comments. Private Cane is obviously going back to his prior lives which is written superbly. My only qualm there, you give no description of who Cane is in real life so i don't know if he's tall,short, black white or otherwise.
Chapter two the first sentence starts with he only i don't know who 'he' is? Perhaps a break with astrics to end the 1722 as i assume Cane is now back in real time. Further on Cane arrives in New Orleans with we but again i'm not sure who he came with, Steady? I enjoyed the dialogue throughout, very well written. This in itself makes me want to read more......
On to more chapters shortly.....
Regards, Red

What a thriller have gladly rated and WL. Plan on coming back to read more. Well done

Illusions of Comfort
Red

Hi Doug

You pitched me, so I took a quick look. Couple of interesting things: Your book is a good length and it is complete so I don't have to worry about being left high and dry should I want to read it all.

From the prologue you start with lots of snappy dialog, not weighted down with unnecessary tags. Pacing looks good and there's intrigue from the get-go.

On my watchlist. Will return.

Les

VOODOO INFERNO
Doug Thurston

A mysterious 400 year curse? Count me in as one of those curious and intrigued from reading as little as as your short pitch. Seriously - stories about curses are hard to resist! The mix of elements coming out of your long pitch is enough to tell me this work will take the reader on an exciting, gripping ride. I like the richness of your setting, and your themes. Stories of redemption are always fascinating because there will inevitably be identifiable elements as it's natural to be interested in seeing and understanding what drives the human spirit. Also intrigued by your references to a post-Haitian earthquake world, reference to Katrina and the culture of a city fighting its way back from disasters both natural and unnatural – of course I want to know what are the unnatural ones! So, that's a good hook to start me reading. You have a very thrilling, steamy, stimulating plot here dripping with culture, history, recent world events, interesting characters and settings. Intelligent, entertaining writing Doug. Your start in the prologue is interesting – “All life be a circle, blanc.” This gentle line flows a few lines later into some other lines which take the reader out of his philosophical mindframe into the harsh reality of an alleged terrorist scumbag in an interrogation room. With the image of a hospital room also appearing – amongst other things! Lively, unpredictable, surprises, a kaleidoscope of visions, dialogues, meanings, interpretations as one continues reading. Private Cane suffering from post traumatic amnesia from the stress of war makes for, or should make for a hugely interesting character as the story develops so he is immediately interesting to the reader as one wants to know what it was about the war which caused this amnesia, what is that deep psychological rationale for it, to use the writer’s words, and of course, naturally, whether he will recover from it by the end of the novel. I already sense a very complex, skillfully drawn plot and a memorable character to follow.

“Rain falls on saint and sinner alike, does it not?” . . . “Dere be no coincidences in dis world.” . . . Who is the man in the shadows speaking? There is a lot of depth to the writing by the injections of sentences such as these, even if ascribed to the man in the shadows. Oh perhaps the man in the shadows is in the mind of the MC – pills being mentioned, trauma and so on – so I guess there must be different worlds existing, in and our of his mind. Pretty effective start, dramatic, mysterious.

I like the good/evil theme entering the picture. “You think you can beat the devil?” “No one beats the devil.” I bet many religionists will disagree! There is so much in this piece of writing to entertain and stimulate. I am really very impressed and wish I had the time to read it all in one go. I think you have a really good original multi-level plot here, a fascinating MC, and writng which flows naturally making this piece compulsively readable! Keeping my eyes on this one Doug. Hope you’ll find a publisher soon for what is an excellent work. (Sorry but I don't look for typos et cetera when I read as I like to enjoy the story - so no editorial advice to give.)
Best with it,
Zan

Thanks for the kind words, Zan. High praise indeed from someone whose work on this site I respect very much.
Doug Thurston

VOODOO INFERNO
Doug Thurston

A mysterious 400 year curse? Count me in as one of those curious and intrigued from reading as little as as your short pitch. Seriously - stories about curses are hard to resist! The mix of elements coming out of your long pitch is enough to tell me this work will take the reader on an exciting, gripping ride. I like the richness of your setting, and your themes. Stories of redemption are always fascinating because there will inevitably be identifiable elements as it's natural to be interested in seeing and understanding what drives the human spirit. Also intrigued by your references to a post-Haitian earthquake world, reference to Katrina and the culture of a city fighting its way back from disasters both natural and unnatural – of course I want to know what are the unnatural ones! So, that's a good hook to start me reading. You have a very thrilling, steamy, stimulating plot here dripping with culture, history, recent world events, interesting characters and settings. Intelligent, entertaining writing Doug. Your start in the prologue is interesting – “All life be a circle, blanc.” This gentle line flows a few lines later into some other lines which take the reader out of his philosophical mindframe into the harsh reality of an alleged terrorist scumbag in an interrogation room. With the image of a hospital room also appearing – amongst other things! Lively, unpredictable, surprises, a kaleidoscope of visions, dialogues, meanings, interpretations as one continues reading. Private Cane suffering from post traumatic amnesia from the stress of war makes for, or should make for a hugely interesting character as the story develops so he is immediately interesting to the reader as one wants to know what it was about the war which caused this amnesia, what is that deep psychological rationale for it, to use the writer’s words, and of course, naturally, whether he will recover from it by the end of the novel. I already sense a very complex, skillfully drawn plot and a memorable character to follow.

“Rain falls on saint and sinner alike, does it not?” . . . “Dere be no coincidences in dis world.” . . . Who is the man in the shadows speaking? There is a lot of depth to the writing by the injections of sentences such as these, even if ascribed to the man in the shadows. Oh perhaps the man in the shadows is in the mind of the MC – pills being mentioned, trauma and so on – so I guess there must be different worlds existing, in and our of his mind. Pretty effective start, dramatic, mysterious.

I like the good/evil theme entering the picture. “You think you can beat the devil?” “No one beats the devil.” I bet many religionists will disagree! There is so much in this piece of writing to entertain and stimulate. I am really very impressed and wish I had the time to read it all in one go. I think you have a really good original multi-level plot here, a fascinating MC, and writng which flows naturally making this piece compulsively readable! Keeping my eyes on this one Doug. Hope you’ll find a publisher soon for what is an excellent work. (Sorry but I don't look for typos et cetera when I read as I like to enjoy the story - so no editorial advice to give.)
Best with it,
Zan

Hi Doug.
Started reading because of your pitch. You’ve done a great job. The paces is what a thriller calls for. Especially enjoyed your crisp dialogue. I honestly think that you’ve got a winner here. Good luck with it. Backed.
Dan

this book is packed full of skill, originality, narrative, prose, dialogue and a contagious story...this is on my watchlist for now...and l will back!!! 6 stars******
read SEASONS...

Backed purely on the strength of the name. Oh and the small matter of some incredible in your face writing.


richard

You are one helluva a writer! This is a powerful fucking book. Right away, it's a punch in the gut. I love the fusion of noir and horror, and the fact the book is a political commentary on the crumbling of a once great nation: America. This is such vivid writing. Definitely backed!

Doug,

I know it's been way too long since I said I'd check your work out and now. I do apologize.

But now I'm going to either please you or piss you off. Why? Because after that first chapter, I feel punch drunk...in a remarkably good way. The switching of speakers, the accents, the whirling perspectives, the history, the references, the voices...I am just reeling from the experience and completely entranced by this outstanding work. Why might this piss you off? Because I don't have it in me at the moment to get specific about anything. I don't want to insult you by just telling you "golly Doug, it's great" considering what you put into this, but really, I just loved it. You and I clearly share an appreciation for different cultures and that way they treat good, evil, God, and the Devil. So I'll admit that I have a bias towards a work like this that I wouldn't for another. But beyond that (and I could gush for a while on that alone), I am extremely impressed with this. I am giving it five starts (I've done that once before) and pulling something off my shelf to back this.

This is excellent, excellent work and I plan on reading more as soon as I can. Thanks for reaching out to me. cheers -cc

Hi Doug,
This is powerful stuff.
The dialogue is tight and the whole thing flows along at a fast pace. The violence in the prologue took me by surprise, but it was very well handled.
I have only read the first four chapters, but it is enough for me to know that this is a very well written piece that deserves to go far. I will continue to read and comment more then.

Good luck with this.

Backed.

Simon,
Yuko Zen is Somewhere Else.

Thanks, Simon.
In a world where we under a constant media barrage of death and violence, I think we as a whole are experiencing a kind of cultural desensitizing. The shock and horror of war and the shock and horror of natural disasters- omnipresent as they are these days- don't carry the same emotional weight they used to, in my opinion. That's why I wanted with this book to use the conventions of the horror medium to convey what no number of documentaries can.
VOODOO INFERNO is based on "Dante's Inferno", which is, in essence, a decent into Hell. Here, I feel that the crime noir genre captures this best- certainly on a psychological level. All my favorite film noirs all describe a character who keeps digging him or herself deeper and deeper into a hole- much like Dante working his way through decending levels of Hell to reach the bottom- with no apparent way out. But, by combining the two genres, horror and noir, my protagonist is experiencing both a psychological as well as a literal downward spiral into Hell. He operates as both fictional character and metaphor for America at large- a nation that, with every senseless war, with an ever-widening gap between rich and poor, with every law that favors the profits of a few over the health, liberty and safety of the many, is in danger of losing its own collective soul. The violence at the beginning was meant as a reflection of the world we live in and a compelling reason for Virgil's being condemned to the proverbial lake of fire, making his quest for redemption that much more compelling.
Doug Thurston

Hi Doug-Exciting beginning, but I started to get confused. Do the different fonts represent different time eras and characters? Your hook is awesome but I started to have to back track to keep up with who was who.

The beginning was meant as a look into the delusional and disjointed mind of my paranoid-schnophrenic, highly medicated protagonist. As the book is told in the first person, I decided to skip on a lot of expository narrative and let the reader delve directly into my character's psyche. Don't worry about trying to keep everything straight, the rest of the book is laid out in a much more straight-forward and linear fashion and all your questions should become clear in time.
Doug Thurston
P.S. Thanks for reading and, as a fan of the "Illuminati Trilogy", I'll be checking your book out shortly!

Hi Doug-Exciting beginning, but I started to get confused. Do the different fonts represent different time eras and characters? Your hook is awesome but I started to have to back track to keep up with who was who.

Hi Doug,
This is powerful stuff.
The dialogue is tight and the whole thing flows along at a fast pace. The violence in the prologue took me by surprise, but it was very well handled.
I have only read the first four chapters, but it is enough for me to know that this is a very well written piece that deserves to go far. I will continue to read and comment more then.

Good luck with this.

Backed.

Simon,
Yuko Zen is Somewhere Else.

A very exciting, different, and informative book. I'm sure I will use a lot of things I learned here, towards bettering my own book. I recommend this book to be read by everybody, so I am going add it to my favourite books. Backed with pleasure.
Shah

Thanks for the support, Shah.
Even though I wrote the book alomost two years ago- what, with the events now surrounding President Laurent Gbago in West Africa parrelleling the history of the region Baron Samedi gives to a dreaming Virgil Cane in Chapter 16- VOODOO INFERNO still continues to be timely today. With much of Queensland, Australia flooding under massive amounts of water, I wonder what lesson we have learned from Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans.
Doug Thurston
P.S. I'm very much looking forward to reading about Afghanistan from a perspective we in the West do not get to hear very much from- namely, the people that live there.

A very exciting, different, and informative book. I'm sure I will use a lot of things I learned here, towards bettering my own book. I recommend this book to be read by everybody, so I am going add it to my favourite books. Backed with pleasure.
Shah

Contemporary lives and international events are your favorite subjects in this novel. Actually you are inviting others to these two things. How man responds to natural calamities is a good topic for students, who wish to carry out research.

Joy J. Kaimaparamban
The Wildfire

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Joy. I appreciate the interest. My puropse in writing this book was threefold, all stemming from my interest in and fascination with the Crescent City. One was to explore New Orleans' rich cultural landscape and hopefully expose others to it in a positive, literary way. My second reason was to show why this town IS so vital and why restoring it and its people to pre-Katrina conditions is SO necessary to the health and spirit of this country. In doing so, we can also understand how vulnerable we all are to increased climate instablitily and why it is so imperative for everyone to take pre-emptive, corrective action. The oil spill in the gulf only further highlights the dangerous and self-destructive road we are on as a society.
And lastly, I wanted to explore with this book the rich mythology associated with Voodoo, an oft-misunderstood and underappreciated religion. But when you look at it in an objective light, one comes to understand it is actually an enduring and resilient culture that has been passed down to us from ancient times and touches us all in the most primal area of our collective conscious.

Doug Thurston

Contemporary lives and international events are your favorite subjects in this novel. Actually you are inviting others to these two things. How man responds to natural calamities is a good topic for students, who wish to carry out research.

Joy J. Kaimaparamban
The Wildfire