In the wings some special things…

Here at Black Scat we never sleep. As everyone heads off on vacation, you’ll find us huddled around our Macs, bringing  sublime art and literature to print.  There’s plenty of excitement ahead and we’re thrilled to announce these forthcoming releases.

Watch for a collection of works by the great Stefan Themerson who, with his wife, the artist Franciszka, founded the legendary Gaberbocchus Press  (London, 1948-1979).

A poet, publisher, novelist, filmmaker, composer and philosopher, Stefan Themerson was a giant force in the avant-garde of the 20th century. A magus, a magician, his books are filled with wisdom, absurd humor, and dazzling ideas. His  unique vision is more relevant today than ever, and thanks to Paul Rosheim, Black Scat will be bringing you Critics and My Talking Dog: Selected Stories, Essays, Lectures & a Play.   

As the force behind Obscure Publications, Rosheim (with the guidance of British art critic, and founder of the Themerson Archive Jasia Reichardt) published a number of  limited edition chapbooks by Themerson. He is busy  compiling this seminal introduction to Stefan’s texts. The book will also  feature an introduction by noted art historian and artist Nick Wadley.

This is destined to be a Scat classic.

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drawing by Doug Skinner

Doug Skinner‘s delightfully absurd musical instruments appeared each month in the pages of our journal, Le Scat Noir. The artist has now rounded up all these drawings (along with previously unpublished specimens) for his forthcoming collection Instrumentarium. Even if you’re  tone deaf,  this book will have you humming along, clicking your fingers, tapping your feet and laughing out loud.

While you’re waiting, check out Skinner’s hilarious collection of comics, The Unknown Adjective and Other Stories. Originally published in 2014, it continues to be one of our most popular titles. But don’t take our word for it,  look at these raves:

”Witty and ingenious comics from the exceptionally-talented writer, musician, performer, ventriloquist, and cartoonist Doug Skinner. It’s exciting to finally have these little-seen strips available in one beautiful book. You may be reminded of Voltaire or Ernie Bushmiller while reading these meticulously drawn stories featuring utterly hapless characters, but Mr. Skinner has a style all his own.”R. Sikoryak

“Mr. Skinner knows many terrible, terrible secrets about us. We are once again fortunate that he chooses to share them so deftly and so altruistically.”Mark Newgarden

You can grab a copy on Amazon at this LINK.

Stay tuned for more details on these sublime Scat titles. We also have a few surprises in store, so be sure to subscribe to this blog in the right-hand column here and you won’t miss a gem.

drawing by Doug Skinner

Happy Summer!

Brave New World Ahead…


Featuring …

ADRIENNE AUVRAY, PAULO BRITO, Gelett Burgess, norman conquest, Iacyr Anderson Freitas, Pippa Anais Gaubert, ECKHARD GERDES, Russell Helms, Eugene Ivanov, Desirée Jung, Andy Koopmans, Jim Meirose, Angela Pankosky, Peter Payack,  Jason E. Rolfe, Paul Rosheim, Mercie Pedro e Silva, Doug Skinner, Brett Stout, Uwe Taubert.

$5. CLICK HERE to PayPal us and receive a download link. Be sure to include your e-mail address.

Happy New Year!

Just in Time for Xmas!

ALL HUMAN KNOWLEDGE IN A SINGLE VOLUME!®

Le Scat Noir Encyclopædia contains entries from Acrostic to Zwine, and features forty-three contributors from around the globe—some of whom are distinguished professors at prestigious universities. Others are Nobel Prize winners, while a few have been arrested on felony charges. Discover rare factoids, flash fiction, nubile moon spew, mythological arcana, cabalistic pathogens, pataphysical detritus, scatological schemata, crypto-heuristic scripture, and radical homomorphism. Over 100 pages of profusely illustrated weirdness.

Only $12.95 — Available Worldwide on Amazon. CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Contributors include Mark Axelrod, Jeff Bagato, Jacques Bekaert, Doktor Bey, Paulo Brito, Adam Levon Brown, Theodore Carter, Brendan Connell, Norman Conquest, Sean Coolican, Catherine D’Avis, Farewell Debut, Edith Doove, Paul Forristal, Ryan A. Forsythe, Peter Gambaccini, Eckhard Gerdes, Amelia Gorman, Thomas Gresham, Charles Holdefer, James R. Hugunin, Harold Jaffe,  Richard Kostelanetz, Rachel Kushner, Terri Lloyd, Harry McCullagh, David Macpherson, Opal Louis Nations, Andy O’Clancy, Peter Payack, Caleb Puckett, Jason E. Rolfe, Paul Rosheim, Stephen Silke, Mercie Pedro e Silva,  Doug Skinner, Seth D. Slater, Yuriy Tarnawsky, Robert Wexelblatt, Tom Whalen, Gregg Williard, Carla M. Wilson, and D. Harlan Wilson.

 

 

LE SCAT NOIR #228 HAS ARRIVED!

As you might imagine, putting out a monthly journal such as LSN requires many man-hours (that may sound sexist but the alternative sounds like crap), i.e., hours of intense labor, stress, irritation, befuddlement, blood, sweat, and farts. September’s “Cryptlipo” issue marked our eleventh month as “the only free journal of its kind in America.” Now, with number 228 heralding a year of digital thrills, LSN becomes “the only journal of its kind in America.” That still says a lot.

Alas, in order to continue publishing we were forced to stamp a small price on our cover, but  we believe you’ll find this issue more than worth the cost of admission. Why, just take a look at all the whiz-bang you get for your buck: stories by Alphonse Allais, Paulo Brito, Eckhard Gerdes, Boris Glikman, Jason E. Rolfe, David Macpherson; poetry by Jeff Begato and Paul Rosheim; sublime translations by Mercie Pedro e Silva and Doug Skinner; incomparable art and photography by Farewell Debut, Jim McMenamin, Quixote, and Gail Schneider; original sheet music by Doug Skinner; a mini-feature film by Terri Lloyd; and a special supplement by Norman Conquest. Plus the features you’ve come to rely on: News in a Nutshell, Musical Instruments, Simple Acts of Sabotage, Madame’s Wicked Pack of Cards, and Trump’s Tweetstorm.

Dig in: http://blackscatbooks.net/le-scat-noir.html

 

Chat on a Hot Tin Roof

Things are really heating up and the  August issue of LE SCAT NOIR has arrived just in the nick of time. #226 has an all-star international cast of cool characters, hot fiction, art, poetry, and news you won’t find anywhere else.  Featuring Alphonse Allais, Mark Axelrod, Suzanne Burns,  Michael Cina, John Diamond-Nigh, Ian DooleyRose Knapp, Terri Lloyd, Amit NayakFrank Pulaski, Doug Rice, Paul Rosheim, Jason E. Rolfe, Gail Schneider, Doug SkinnerDominic Viti, Tom Whalen, and Carla M. Wilson.

As always the new issue is free and you can download  a copy at this LINK.

If  you enjoy LSN, please considering making a small donation and help keep your monthly dose of sublime art & lit free for all.

Cheers!

 

STAND AND SALUTE!

What happens when you combine patriotism and ‘pataphysics (the science of imaginary solutions)? That’s right, you get a big BANG and fireworks — all packed inside the new
LE SCAT NOIR.  

The July issue features incendiary works by Alain Arias-Misson, Paulo Brito, Norman Conquest, Mitchell Eva, Eckhard Gerdes, Harold JaffeAlfred Jarry, Richard Kostelanetz, Terri Lloyd, Frank PulaskiJason E. Rolfe, Paul RosheimMercie Pedro e Silva, and Doug Skinner

#225 marks the first interactive edition with “live” links and an EXCLUSIVE screen-video of Alfred Jarry’s resurrection!  

As always, it’s free to read online or download to your device, so stand and salute! Then  CLICK HERE.

CHEER UP — IT’S FREE!

The June Gloom issue of LE SCAT NOIR is now available for download. We won’t bother mentioning that  it’s free because  you  already know that. #224 features an international roster of artists and writers, including Alphonse Allais, Adrienne Auvray, Mark Axelrod, Paulo Brito, Norman Conquest, Farewell Debut, Félix Fénéon, Pippa Anais Gaubert, Eckhard Gerdes, Thomas Gresham, Adao Iturrusgarai, Jim Johnson, Rick Krieger, Terri Lloyd, Jim McMenamin, Andy O’Clancy, Frank Pulaski, Jason E. Rolfe, Paul Rosheim, Marina Rubin, Doug Skinner, and Rebecka Skog.

EROS IS EROS IS EROS…

The Special “Eros” Issue of LE SCAT NOIR is now availablefeaturing titillating texts & images by Adrienne Auvray, Paulo Brito, Tom Bussmann, Norman Conquest, Esbey, Stephanie Gatos, Eckhard Gerdes, Georges Hugnut, Jim Johnson, Steve Katz, Michael Leigh, Terri Lloyd, Mantis Man, Derek Pell, Frank Pulaski, Paul Rosheim, Mercie Pedro e Silva, Doug Skinner, Nile Southern, Carol White. and Mihaly Zichy.  

***includes an excerpt from the novel POSH by Stephanie Gatos.

To preview and download this naughty noir,  CLICK HERE

Just in the click of time….

We’ve done our spring cleaning. LE SCAT NOIR is sporting a new logo and masthead design. (Yes, the journal’s mascot “Scatman” has finally made the front cover.) In addition to our regular features (Adrienne Auvray’s “News in a Nutshell,” Terri Lloyd’s “Dear P.B. advice column,” Doug Skinner’s absurd musical instruments, and Frank Pulaski’s no holds barred horoscopes) this special April Fools  issue includes outstanding fiction by Alphonse Allais, Eckhard Gerdes, Jan Vander Laenen, Jason E. Rolfe, and D. Harlan Wilson; humor by Peter Gambaccini; poetry by Paul Rosheim; and sublime art by Darlene Altschul, Paulo Brito, and Carla M. Wilson.

To celebrate spring and the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, we offer readers a free ticket to the festivities. Finally, our short-lived national nightmare is over. Now we can all breathe a sigh of relief.

CLICK HERE to preview and download the issue.

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OK, that’s your freebie for today…now plunk down your coins for Alphonse Allais‘s new collection, I AM SARCEY.  This is the book Black Scat was born to publish.

Now Available Worldwide on Amazon. CLICK HERE to order.

Theatre of the Absurd—Opening Night!

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“Witkiewicz takes up and continues the vein of dream and grotesque fantasy exemplified by the late Strindberg or by Wedekind; his ideas are closely paralleled by those of the surrealists and Antonin Artaud which culminated in the masterpieces of the dramatists of the absurd—Beckett, Ionesco, Genet, Arrabal—of the late nineteen forties and the nineteen fifties.” -Martin Esslin

Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz  (pen name: Witkacy) was desperate to get out of revolutionary St. Petersburg after the Bolsheviks seized power. Back in Poland, eager to make money and a name for himself, Witkacy began to write plays in a style that he called “Pure Form,” which foreshadowed the Theatre of the Absurd. By the time that he wrote VAHAZAR (1921), Witkacy had achieved a dreamlike dramaturgy:  centered on the paranoid and crazed despot, Vahazar, and spiraling outwards through an anthill society of automatons, religious cults, and quack scientific and social theories, this play is about being trapped in nothingness.

This translation of the play by Celina Wieniewska was commissioned by Stefan Themerson in 1967, and later announced as a forthcoming title by the legendary Gaberbocchus Press. Somehow the project was sidetracked and has never appeared until this Black Scat Books publication. Paul Rosheim, publisher of Obscure Publications and scholar of Themersonia, provides a sublime introduction with biographical information about Witkacy and the story of this translation. The book also includes an appendix featuring Franciszka Themerson’s “Vahazar: A Few Suggestions for Design.”

“…Witkiewicz, Bruno Schulz and myself, the three musketeers of the Polish avant-garde.” —Witold Gombrowicz

Available now on Amazon in the U.S. and Europe.

Click here to order this masterpiece of the absurd.