Divinations of the Deep [Paperback]

Matt Cardin (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 84 pages
• Publisher: Ash Tree Pr (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155310045X
• ISBN-13: 978-1553100454
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,812,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Matt Cardin is a writer, college teacher, and musician living in Central Texas. He has a master's degree in religious studies and writes frequently about the mutual implications of religion, spirituality, and horror.

In 2009 he released an album of original soundtrack-style music, "Curse of the Daimon." He blogs about horror, religion, and cultural apocalypse at The Teeming Brain, and about the muse/daemon/genius model of creativity at Demon Muse.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An original voice, June 10, 2004

By 

J from NY (New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Divinations of the Deep (Paperback)

Having read many of Matt Cardin's essays on the stories of Thomas Ligotti, I was not quite sure what to expect when I purchased this book. Despite the sometimes condescending comparisons made between LIgotti's work and Cardin's, I would say that Cardin is more in the vein of William Peter Blatty or Georg Heym than Ligotti himself. Cardin clearly has more than a working knowledge of theology and all forms of spirituality, and his terror of the void shines through even in the biblical passages which he precedes his tales with. In "Notes of a Mad Coypist: The Monk's Answer" Cardin's art reaches it's height. A devout monk suddenly has what might be called a "vastation" of the most extreme sort which his contemporary monks mistake at first for a spiritual enlightment of sorts, and then recognize for what it is. Cardin carries St. John's "dark night of the soul" to a new level. Any of us who have at one time gone mad with ideas or had deep, intuitive doubts about the reality (or 'goodness') of human existence will immediately recognize Cardin as a fortunate survivor of this indescribably painful and hopeless experience. He has come out the other side to deliver dark juicies in the tradition of Grabinski, Andreyev, etc. It would be interesting to know what Cardin's actual beliefs are, since the tales suggest a titanic struggle between Christian faith and absolute meaninglessness. This is real horror.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exploring the Dark Side, May 12, 2003

By 

Stuart Young (Essex, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Divinations of the Deep (Paperback)

Matt Cardin's stories delve deep into the mysteries of the soul and the cosmos. He is a fearless explorer refusing to flinch before the horrors he uncovers. For Cardin is a seeker of truth, his keen intellect focused on probing the uncertainties of existence.

Spirituality and philosophy commingle in Cardin's dark tales. Enlightenment and damnation battle with each other and the reader can only sit, transfixed; fearfully awaiting the final outcome.

The tension builds through tales such as `An Abhorrence to All Flesh' and `Notes of a Mad Copyist' before culminating in the cataclysmic crescendo of `Judas of the Infinite'.

If you enjoy the dark ruminations of Lovecraft, Leiber, or Ligotti then this volume will make a fine addition to your library.