Blog Tour

The Resurrectionist Reveal & Giveaway (Part 1)

Hello everyone and Happy Friday! Over the next three weeks, we’re doing something a little different to celebrate the release of hybrid fictional biography/codex of the strange book, The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E.B. Hudspeth.

The Resurrectionist E.B. Hudspeth

Each Friday, we’ll reveal an exclusive set of images from Doctor Black’s magnum opus, The Codex Extinct Animalia – a Gray’s Anatomy for mythological beasts (including dragons, centaurs and the like). Our mythological beast of focus is the Mermaid (Siren Oceanus) – we’ll unveil 3 series’ of 3 images each week, leading up to our review of the book on May 17. Each week, we’ll also be giving away a poster and final copy of The Resurrectionist.

Without further ado, we are very pleased to give you…

Siren Oceanus

Siren Oceanus

Mermaid 1

Mermaid 2

Mermaid 3

About The Mermaid:

From author E.B. Hudspeth:

Some interesting aspects of the mermaid developed as I was trying to figure out how it might work. It was important for me to stay tuned into the traditional depictions of the mythological animals, as though the folklore was steeped in truth and all I was doing was dissecting it. The obvious hurdle was the fact that these creatures aren’t real. Some of the greater challenges with the mermaid, aside from physical, was the physiological anatomy. Do they breathe air like a dolphin or are they more like a fish? Knowing I was not too limited with reality I explored the options. In the book, Dr. Black concludes that there are many variations of waterborne humans, however, I only illustrate the fish variety.

The first real challenge was the lungs. In other depictions of mermaids the gills are placed in the back of the neck, this never really made sense to me. If the mermaid has primate mixed into it, then the existence of the ribcage should be justified. My mermaid posses a hybrid respiratory system that allows water to pass through lungs then out through the gills were oxygen is absorbed. When above water the lungs would operate normally with the use of the diaphragm. This system allows the mermaid to surface, speak, and of course sing its fabled song of seduction.

About the Book:

The Resurrectionist

Philadelphia. The late 1870s.

A city of cobblestone sidewalks and horse-drawn carriages. Home to the famous anatomist and surgeon Dr. Spencer Black. The son of a “resurrectionist” (aka grave robber), Dr. Black studied at Philadelphia’s esteemed Academy of Medicine, where he develops an unconventional hypothesis: What if the world’s most celebrated mythological beasts—mermaids, minotaurs, and satyrs— were in fact the evolutionary ancestors of humankind?

The Resurrectionist offers two extraordinary books in one. The first is a fictional biography of Dr. Spencer Black, from his humble beginnings to the mysterious disappearance at the end of his life. The second book is Black’s magnum opus: The Codex Extinct Animalia, a Gray’s Anatomy for mythological beasts—dragons, centaurs, Pegasus, Cerberus—all rendered in meticulously detailed black-and-white anatomical illustrations. You need only look at these images to realize they are the work of a madman. The Resurrectionist tells his story.

Check out the book trailer below for more about the book:

If you’re still not satisfied, you can read more about the book on the official page HERE. And you can read more about E.B. Hudspeth on his website, too.

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The Giveaway:

We have ONE POSTER and ONE FINAL COPY of The Resurrectionist up for grabs! The contest is open to addresses in the US and will run until Thursday, May 9 at 12:01am EST. To enter, use the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

54 Comments

  • Trina Burton (The Bookinista)
    May 3, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    This looks like such a great book! So excited…..

    My favorite mythical creature has to be the unicorn (I know boring!) I just love the thought of beautiful gentle white creature.

  • Sarac
    May 3, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    For some reason, I like selkies.

  • laurenbusybeth
    May 3, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    This looks so cool! I can’t wait to read it!

  • Alice
    May 3, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    My favorite was the chinese mythological shapeshifters like the vixens/foxes, or the white snake.

  • Michelle @ In Libris Veritas
    May 3, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    I don’t really have a favorite to be honest unless you count vampires, but they don’t look all that different. I love dragons and N?ga as well.

  • Chris
    May 3, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    This looks very interesting… love the logic built into fantasy.

    Have to go with stanard, boring dragon. Hope that this book touches more on the anatomy of dragons than “A Brief History of Dragons” ended up doing.

  • Kate K.F.
    May 3, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    I love books like this. It reminds me of The Thackeray T. Lampshead Cabinet of Curiosities, a beautiful anthology with illustrations and stories full of great stories. I love books that do this blend of fiction with a strong historical tinge to it and when it works, they’re some of my favorites.

  • Kate K.F.
    May 3, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    Ack and I commented without answering the question. I think pooka and kitsune are my favorites. I love shapeshifters. Sorry for the second comment but I can’t edit.

  • Vanessa
    May 3, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    The pegasus, especially as depicted in Robin McKinley’s pegasus.

  • Lisa Schensted
    May 3, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    My favorite mythological creature is most certainly the DRAGON. Holla!

  • rachelh
    May 3, 2013 at 4:34 pm

    I was pretty taken with Anderson’s Mermaid, so I suppose I’d go with Mer. This book looks amazing!

  • E.Maree
    May 3, 2013 at 4:49 pm

    Dragons are my favourite mythological creature, though I also have soft-spots for various more unusual ones. Right now I’m on a Wendigo and Leviathan kick.

    Love the look of this book! I think I’ll definitely be picking it up. 🙂

  • Catherine
    May 3, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    “a “resurrectionist” (aka grave robber)” hehe
    This book sounds really interesting; hopefully it works out!
    I’m not in the US, but another Robin McKinley fan over here, and I really loved her interpretation of the Kraken in Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits.

  • Allison
    May 3, 2013 at 6:48 pm

    Kelpies! I love Kelpies. They are the most fascinating of the mythological creatures I have come across in my readings(:

  • Jordan R.
    May 3, 2013 at 7:09 pm

    My favorites have always been water related. Mermaids. Selkies. The Kraken!

  • Brendan
    May 3, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    This looks like a pretty amazing and interesting book.

  • DebraG
    May 3, 2013 at 8:46 pm

    I have always like the phoenix. Fascinating pictures.

  • Hannah H
    May 3, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    I’ve always loved trickster characters. I also love shapeshifters, and the two often go hand in hand. At the moment, my favorite is a kitsune.

  • Kayla
    May 3, 2013 at 9:47 pm

    Sounds interesting! My favorite mythological animals would be the sphinx and the Phoenix!

  • Heidi
    May 3, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Ah!! I am SO excited for this book, the art looks spectacular, I must have it. I feel like Quirk Books puts out some really unique books, and I love them for it. My favorite mythological creature is probably selkies, though that’s unlikely in this book. 😛

  • JS Daly
    May 3, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    Sounds exactly like what the Monstrumologist’s notebooks would look like! Love the Victoriana!

  • Lashawn
    May 3, 2013 at 11:11 pm

    Big dragon fan here!

  • Kate & Zena
    May 3, 2013 at 11:14 pm

    I love phoenixes.

  • erinf1
    May 4, 2013 at 12:04 am

    Dragons!!! 🙂 Thanks for the fun post and congrats to EB on the new release!

  • Lise
    May 4, 2013 at 3:16 am

    Faeries, because of their ambivalent nature, sometimes described as tto bad foor Heaven, too good for Hell.

  • Ashley @ The Bibliophile's Corner
    May 4, 2013 at 11:58 am

    This book looks absolutely wonderful. My favorite mythological creature is probably a dragon. 😀

  • Ariana A.
    May 4, 2013 at 12:38 pm

    This looks completely awesome. Can’t wait to read it. My favorite mythological creature is the manticore. Monstrously beautiful with composite features of animal and man and voice to lure victims in…

  • SueCCCP
    May 4, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    It has to be dragons: especially if they are big and can be tamed to allowing riding! 🙂

  • MarieC
    May 4, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    The book looks awesome! My fave mythical creature is the griffin.

  • Tim R
    May 4, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Let’s go with Polyphemus.

  • Victoria Zumbrum
    May 4, 2013 at 6:56 pm

    I love unicorns, pegasus and mermaids. Thanks for the giveaway. Tore923@aol.com

  • Lexi
    May 4, 2013 at 7:15 pm

    Dragons are my favorite, all sizes and all cultures, and I want one.

  • scribe kira
    May 4, 2013 at 7:34 pm

    zombies (also unicorns)

  • Matthew
    May 4, 2013 at 8:16 pm

    Hmm.. Favorite creature is so hard. Perhaps selkies? I’ve always loved stories of beings that straddle two worlds.

  • Tonya C
    May 4, 2013 at 10:24 pm

    My favorite mythological creature is the Centaur!

  • Rebecca @ Crunchings and Munchings
    May 5, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    I live in Philadelphia and love to go the the Mütter Museum and look at all the creepy medical samples, so I’m really excited about this book! My fave mythological creature? Team Kraken, all the way.

  • Pabkins
    May 5, 2013 at 2:41 pm

    Definitely dragons…they will always be my first and favorite.

  • Devon
    May 5, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    I’ve always been rather fond of chimeras, though I did have a few obsession with dragons when I was about ten.

  • Lauren
    May 5, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    I’ve always been slightly obsessed with Ancient Egypt, so I’m going to have to say the sphinx, although I don’t think I would be able to answer the riddles very well…

  • Elizabeth Bevins
    May 5, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    Thanks for the entry. I’m fond of the mermaid!

  • Lauren Sila
    May 5, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    Looks like a really fantastic book! I’m excited to see what other creatures will be in it, aside from my favorite (sirens) which has already been shown!

  • pamela
    May 5, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    lately, my fave are probably succubi

  • Justine
    May 5, 2013 at 7:37 pm

    I like the symbolism of the phoenix.

  • Maya S.
    May 5, 2013 at 9:42 pm

    Gotta go with dragons. Dealing with Dragons WAS my childhood!

  • hapax
    May 5, 2013 at 10:31 pm

    I’m an absolute sucker for tengu, or any sort of mythological or magical crow.

  • superbwg
    May 6, 2013 at 11:31 am

    I love all watery creatures, mermaids, selkies, kelpies, anything to do with water and I am on board. This book sounds amazing and right up my ally, so very very excited to get my hands on it.

  • Emma
    May 6, 2013 at 12:47 pm

    I have to go with dragons, any shape or size!

  • Anna
    May 6, 2013 at 3:39 pm

    I’ve always loved sphinxes!

  • Stephanie T.
    May 6, 2013 at 11:27 pm

    Dragons. Its always been dragons!!!

  • Kate
    May 6, 2013 at 11:49 pm

    You know, I honestly can’t choose between the sphinx and the Stymphalian Birds…

  • Michelle
    May 7, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    Oh my gosh the mermaid. TOO PERFECT! I tend to have a thing for pretty and gorgeous creatures that can turn to monsters at any second, or could be twisted into something monstrous. The skeleton just makes that easier but ahhh…
    ANATOMICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF MERMAIDS HOW DO YOU GET MORE PERFECT THAN THAT?
    Mermaids, mermaids.. so pretty and yet so deadly. Beautiful.

  • Kate
    May 8, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    These images are remarkable. They remind me of the kinds of things one finds at the Mutter Museum…

  • Anonymous
    May 8, 2013 at 5:12 pm

    My favorite mythological beasts are easily werewolves!

  • Rhapsody
    May 8, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    I guess it has to be the chimera right now – due to my love of Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

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