Third Man Books has officially released Sampson Starkweather’s title PAIN: The Board Game!
The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said "Life is Pain." Poet Sampson Starkweather says PAIN: The Board Game. Third Man Books’ fourth title has, evidently, caused pain in a few lives already: four printing presses in Nashville, Tennessee, refused the book due to "objectionable content” (in 2015?!?). PAIN: The Board Game is 160 pages of poetry, 15 full color illustrations by Jon-Michael Frank, and the first book of poetry that is both page-turning-analog and online interactive. Find out why The Huffington Post describes Starkweather as, "Not only thrillingly accessible, not only deeply thought-provoking, but also, and without exaggeration, historically important,” and Bianca Stone, author of Someone Else’s Wedding Vows, says, "I find with each poem I’m laughing out loud. But also putting my hand over my heart, in a futile effort to keep the damn thing still.” For a sample of Sampson Starkweather’s poems go here.
And... A challenge, too!! You asked for it. We’ve done it. Finally, a kick-ass video game based on a poetry book rather than FIFA, alien invasion, or Seal Team 6. Now all you gamers out there can experience what pixilated, dark haired poet Sampson Starkweather experiences: PAIN. No more can society argue that video game culture has usurped activities such as reading. Play the game here and taste the PAIN... then take a screenshot of your high score and Instagram it using the hashtag #PainTheVideoGame. The top three scores to post will receive the all three limited edition packages Third Man Books has published (a $110 value).
This game is the ultimate in isnt it?? Best rememberances to Starkweather beyond his suffering and into the dreams of what he would wish for a would defined!
This thread is funny… I just ran across this book for kids with claymation figures called What Is Punk? I wish TMR would have snapped up that release … What a great Christmas present for all ages but yall all likely have the holidays nailed out with the kids turntable etc. So… Check it out! http://dangerousminds.net/comments/what_is_punk_childrens_book#QpOC5wzrEOMcYKck.01
Did they cancel the NYC date =[?
“Icarus: Isn’t every wave a new wave? What would an old wave even be? It too loses life to find freedom, not failure but another form, infinitely bidding adieu adieu, it dies, yes, but what a view . . /(Icarus falls . .)/(Simon [Cowell] and Judas LOL”. I love this guy.
Mine was waiting for me when I got home last night and I got about halfway through it before turning out the lights. I fell asleep and woke up thinking about my own life in relation to what I’d read (“Admin as fuck” struck a particularly close chord) and am just now beginning to think about the poems in their own right, their structure and such. One thing I will say I like about them right off the bat is how you have to play with the rhythm of the words, toy with grouping them in different ways to decide what meaning you want to take from them. The video game, the board game, and the website are all great fun and add much dimension, but I think that part, having to apply your own punctuation, is the interactive element I enjoy the most. So far, at least. Need to finish the book before I decide for sure.
Went to City Lights last night for Lit Quake… started with an Absinthe at Vesuvio, the great Beat Bar next door, Then was treated to some great readings from Paige Taggart and Janaka Stucky. Had to skip out early to catch a ride home so I missed out talking with the Poets, but it was a fantasic night and I hope you guys do more like this in the future. LA, Check it out! Cheers!
I received mine today. It’s beautifully produced as always. Love the art work. Impossible to do an instant critique of poetry as you have to live with it a while, but so far words that come to mind are accessible, fiery, entertaining, provocative. I’m still waiting for objectionable, though—hopefully I’ll be outraged soon.
I know many posted higher scores and before me but I don’t give up. Though somtimes I trip on a fire hydrant get poked by a cactus or land in a pile of shit. What a “PAIN” I mean umm. Fun I so need some thought provoking black listed poetry in my life right now. Fingers crossed.
Just received it in the mail. Very nice. Tell Chet, thank you for the horse.
Dammit, I’m as impatient for this as I’ve ever been for a Vault package.