Call of the Void (Paperback or Softback)

"I'm falling out of bed languid and embalmed, scowling at post-modernism," writes Brian R. Strauss. Call of the Void is the debut collection of poetry from Southern Californian author Brian R. Strauss. In this new and revised edition, Strauss crafts poignant scenes and challenging narratives centered on motifs of unrequited love, addiction, and toxic codependence. Strauss skillfully circumvents traditional poetic tropes and with a discerning eye for experimentation manages to incite intimations of rage, loneliness, and self-hatred. He utilizes compelling stretches of dialogue juxtaposed against rich sensory passages highlighting both the immense beauty of living against the stark realities of trying to survive. Much in the way life flashes before one's eyes near potentially fatal moments, Strauss' masterful use of language and duality in poetic meaning illustrates a young writer emerging as a fatalistic burst of energy and hints at the greater mastery to come.