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Soon Come!

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-08-01T00:05:22-07:00

"Up south, there are deserts covered in purple lichen and green petrified moss. It is a hostile place. There are fewer Outbreaks these days, but mighty Nahsu...the world, will never be the same. We hide in our machines. Gone are the days when children play in the sun. Even now, there are times when we dare not look up. We are afraid of what we might see. Hu'man dominion is over."

NETERS issue 1

Coming Soon!!!

Saint...or sinner?

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-07-13T02:41:01-07:00

htp (peace)

Kek Sol'm. Creator of the neo-carbon audio booster inoculant. The inventor of most of the technology that permeates the lives of the people of Aru'mala. Many view him as a savior. And yet there are those who see him as a devil...a worshiper of the Great Nothingness.
He is a complex man. No one knows his motives; his incarnation objective, save him. How evil can he be? His is after all the father of the NETERS... read more

The Nommos...a cold blooded lot

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-07-04T00:27:37-07:00

htp (peace)

Back to work on NETERS...taking a short break from the novel stuff. The Nommos are featured in the NETERS story arc. They are a cold blooded immortal race from the Star system Sirius. The world that revolves around Sirius is rumored to be mostly water. So say the Dogon, and they have yet to be wrong about the Nommos or Sirius. The above pic was modeled and rendered in Lightwave. The texture was 'colored' in photoshop, then applied to the Nommos object file.

I tend to envision the watery world of the Nommos as something resembling Neptune. Neptune is a gas giant; what, about 60 times larger than earth, but the color etc., works for me when thinking about an immense water planet. If you have issue zero of NETERS, then you know all about the trouble the Ma'atan Code have had in their dealings with the Nommos. read more.

The Darker Mask

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-06-13T17:02:35-07:00

Isn't that a cool cover? There's just something about the way it looks, that makes me want to read the book. Well, this is what happens when a group of African American speculative fiction writers get together, and drop stories of the 'super hero' kind. I'm looking forward to it's release... read more.

Live Action Anime.

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-06-04T21:08:16-07:00

...keeping in the tradition of listing sites that help keep me in that creative mood. Here are a few images from Live Action Anime.

Not sure I'm thrilled about the actor(s) they picked for the DBZ characters, but still, it's good to 'see' so many movies based on comics and cartoons (anime), make it to the big screen.

Leafworthy.

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-05-17T21:08:02-07:00

htp (peace)

When I initially created this blog, I mentioned that I would be listing cool sites that help to inspire my own work. One such site is Leafworthy. It's definitely what I would call, a cool place. The main character is a boy; if that's what I may call him; the people are more plant than human, named Khale. So far there are two episodes or animations, and the art itself, is some of the most beautiful I've seen. Do yourself a favor, and visit Khale's world.

Pages...

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-05-07T19:00:18-07:00

htp (peace)

Enter, Sut'Dia. Just a page test. Making sure the layout program that I am using will work the way I image it will. It's funny. Things never look the way they do in person, as they do on the computer. Real Life is always more intense than make believe.

coming sooner than later...

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-04-29T12:04:07-07:00

htp (peace)

Several coals in the fire. One of which is issue one of NETERS. This will actually be the second NETERS piece published, and I'm looking to have this issue available to you by the end of May. The following is a picture of the covers to books zero through two. You should recognize the cover to issue zero. If not, and you're into hard science fiction, then you are cheating yourself. Issue zero is available Now. Checkout the current titles tab to your right...

They either love it, or hate it...

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-04-15T12:57:12-07:00

htp (peace)

... yup. That's the feedback I'm getting. NETERS issue zero is finally starting to make some waves. Interesting ones at that. And the verdict is, either you'll love it, or you'll hate. Well, maybe hate is too strong a word.

For those who dig it, they enjoy the complexity of the story. They comment on the cutting edge 'science' found in the story, and appreciate how everything ties together.

Now watch this. For those who don't like it, they comment on how complex the story is. They say I'm coming too hard with the science; a lot of it made-up, and they say people wont get it.

Keeping it simple

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-04-15T12:43:05-07:00

I originally posted this on the main site. Daathrekh.com. The above picture represents what I plan to do; in terms of re-building the characters that is. I'm going for a simpler more uniformed approach to the Ma'atan Code fatigues. You'll see the above type of dress in future issues of NETERS. Gone are the numbers/designs (on the chest), featured in the online series. I've found that be keeping things less complicated, I tend to get more work done.

The re-build...

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-04-13T09:49:37-07:00

Okay, so I would be lying to you if I told you I didn't consider the wildly popular Animated Style, for the re-building of the NETERS universe. It seems this style lends itself to 3D modeling ... at least for me. The following represent what some of the characters will look like if depicted in the style made famous by Bruce Timm. The first image is that of the Tamahu; artificial hue'mans created with the dead bodies of the Retu-Guardsmen.

I also commissioned to have the members of Team Heru sculpted in the same manner.

Inspiration 101

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-04-13T08:32:17-07:00

htp (peace)

Found two great new forums. They are: The Black Science Fiction Society, and the Black Authors Showcase. I love these sites. In fact, I haven't been this excited about an online forum in quite some time. The people are creative and on point!

If you want to partake in the creative and supportive conversations detailing the in-and-outs of speculative fiction and/or writing and publishing from an African American perspective; and not have to apologize for it, then check out these links:

Black Science Fiction Society

and

Black Authors Showcase

The above sites are where I spend most of my internet time nowadays - (when I'm not doing research) - because The folks who matriculate it's electronic halls are doing what I enjoy doing. They care about the things I care about, and they don't mind exploring new ideas and possibilities; they don't trip out at the notion that perhaps African American creators face peculiar challenges as writers etc.

The Tamahu

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-04-08T21:30:42-07:00

In 1988, I wrote a short story about a world turned upside down by a mysterious Back-Ground noise. Ten years later, I published a web site, and started an online comic loosely based on said story entitled The Infra-Project. Four years into the web comic, I changed the name to Code-Infra. I have since settled on NETERS™.

In this universe of mine, there are an artificial race of humanoids known as The Tamahu. Those familiar with the story; as well as ancient Kamatic (Egyptian) history, should be familiar with the term. I made the Tamahu to resemble powerfully built zombies. They wear jump-suits in various colors; depending on their station, and have transparent craniums. They are highly intelligent, and are totally obedient to their creator, Dr. Kek Sol'm.

When I originally published what was then, The Infra-Project, I used two fantastic and effective programs called Poser and Bryce. Poser is a program that comes chalk full of pre-fabricated human 3D models. I simply had to morph and modify the figures in Poser, paint their textures in photoshop, and that was it. Bryce was even easier. It took little time to compose all manner of landscapes in which to tell my story.

During the process, I've needed to use various 3D applications such as Lightwave 3D; to make all of the buildings, vehicles, and props for the online series. I've played around with Maya, Cinema 4D, and I'm currently re-visiting Lightwave 9.3.1, as well as XSI Foundation 6.0. The goal is to build all characters from scratch. I still haven't completely given myself over to any 'one' application - mistake - but I find myself using Lightwave more and more ... but XSI is nice. Problem is, I own a Mac. And I have to use Parallels (emulation software), to run Softimage XSI.

Anyway, starting with the Tamahu, I am going to build all characters featured in NETERS™ from the ground up. I'll probably go with Lightwave, because I am familiar with it's interface, and it will allow me to do the things I want to do, without going broke in the process. I will also be using it's built-in 'toon' rendering capabilities. This will give NETERS that kewl toon/cel shade look found in 2D animation and some comics.

NETERS

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-04-08T21:21:20-07:00

Currently, I have two major projects in the works. NETERS, and Retro-KM. Retro-KM is a novel that is currently being edited. Its a revolutionary speculative fiction piece, and until it's ready to go to print, I'm keeping it under wraps. I have secured Daath.tv as the staging ground for Retro-KM, and when the time comes, Daath.tv will serve as the focal point for the Retro-KM novel.

Neters.tv is the place were you'll find everything you need to now about NETERS. I will continue to use the 'News & Updates' page at daathrekh.com to announce upcoming projects, while Neters.tv will serve as the 'behind-the-scenes' look into the process and status of NETERS.

So ... what is NETERS?

NETERS - is an epic speculative fiction event, that chronicles the lives of the men and women of the Ma'atan Code. Born in the wake and destruction following a mysterious Back-Ground noise, they live out their lives, burdened with the awesome responsibility for redeeming the names, and traditions of those who came before the end of the Dream Time.

NETERS started out as an online comic almost 10 years ago. Issue zero; The Official Guide to the NETERS universe, is now available in print.

neters.tv goes live!!!

- daathrekh publishing - — 2008-04-03T10:01:49-07:00

Welcome to neters.tv - The companion blog to daathrekh.com

neters.tv will basically serve as the Project-Focus website for all things NETERS. A cifer-RA (High-Science-Entertainment) event.

I plan to keep neters.tv as simple as possible. It will feature three categories: news, wips (works in progress), and cool places. Each category should be self explanatory, but hey, you never know.

1. news - Mostly words, detailing where I am on any given NETERS project; when and where to purchase: comics, graphic novels, and trade paperback(s) featuring the NETERS story arc.

2. wips (works in progress) - A combination of words and pictures. It's where you'll find the raw wips (works-in-progress), and concept art for NETERS. And yes, you'll be the first to see final renders too.

3. cool places - The entries where I'll place links to other blogs/forums/sites done by artists who inspire me. Some of these URLs will eventually be moved to the permanent LINKS section on the home page.