Injustice Book Review: The Cunning Blood by Jeff Duntemann

Cower not, fierce reader! Today we have a tale of adventure, secret societies, paranoia, and deception. Thankfully, our author is NOT Dan Brown, but rather, the able writer Jeff Duntemann, in his first novel(he has a sizable non-fiction catalog and several short stories). Unfortunately, due to many of the crimes being tightly bound to the plot, be forewarned, there will be spoilers in this review. Onward to the charges of Darkness in this world of SocJus and it's  light!

Our first charge today is against the world and governance thereof. The Governor General is a megalomaniac. There's a judge early on that believes all men to be mad. Most criminals end up removed from Earth, in the name of elimination of violence genetically.

Which brings us to the next charge. This place of exile is a planet known colloquially as Hell. Yes, it does have another name, but that is what everyone outside the government calls it. Hell has no electricity by design. That does not mean no technology; there are other ways, and electricity is but one. Thus, this charge is two sided: First, the invocation of religion, and second, the questioning of the established methods of technology.

Hell is of course, bent on revenge. There are plans, and a religious aspect to the avocation for revenge. Mr. Duntemann went so far as to include a new set of lyrics to an old tune(see below my usual stop for details), in the fine Western music tradition of plundering earlier sources. The charge is advancing the awareness of a Western culture.

The next charge involves one of the characters. This character has taken vows against killing and the carnal knowledge of women. The first is mostly against his society, but truly, the second would be properly seen against any society of man and his fallen nature. The charge is presenting man as more than an animal.

There are more charges perhaps that could be laid before this tome, but I believe this sufficient to our purposes. This story is very well done, and I congratulate Mr. Duntemann the craftsmanship of his adventure. I find this merits 8 of 10 Fell Deeds.

When you play Social Justice, the world loses.



Now, onto the musical aspect.

Mr. Duntemann wrote some lyrics which shall be below for the tune "The Parting Glass". You will find my  recording of this version here. I will apologize, for I made it with minimal preparation, and thus there are mistakes in my playing, a missed word, and of course, it is unmastered, and was recorded from one microphone alone. Lyrics follow:

We are not of Earth; We were born in deepest Hell

And how long we must abide here only time will tell

We are outcasts all, folded off and cast aside

By the world that had forgotten why the billions died

                        Raise your fist, unsheathe your sword,

                        Shout defiance at the shackles of the sky,(Hai!)

We are not of Earth, we were born in deepest Hell

And how long we must abide here only time will tell.

Here our anger grows; for it thrives in deepest Hell

And just when we may release it only time will tell.

So we shape our plans, we are one in blood and mind

Ever striving, ever loyal to our hearts' own kind.

                        Raise your fist, unsheathe your sword,

                        Shout defiance at the shackles of the sky,(Hai!)

Here our anger grows; for it thrives in deepest Hell

And just when we may release it only time will tell.

Now the reck'ning comes, we will rise from deepest Hell

And how fully we will triumph only time will tell.

When we fall on Earth, and our fury is unchained

They will know the fire of justice cannot be contained.

                        Raise your fist, unsheathe your sword,

                        Shout defiance at the shackles of the sky(Hai!)

Now the reck'ning comes, we will rise from deepest Hell

And how fully we will triumph only time will tell.

Here our vengance burns; it was wrought in deepest Hell

And how soon we may ignite it only time will tell.

Then the Earth will weep, under skies with fire starred

When they see their cities molten and their forests charred.

                        Raise your fist, unsheathe your sword,

                        Shout defiance at the shackles of the sky(Hai!)

There our vengeance burns;   it was wrought in deepest Hell

And what power can extinguish it - nay, none can tell!

And what power can extinguish it -  nay, none can tell...(Hai!)