Book Table

My name is Jorah Kai, and I am a bard. My band, The Root Sellers, headlined festivals, played Olympics and produced albums on every continent. I was a full-time detective in a mythical part-time city, solving existential mysteries for lost and weary travelers. You may have heard of me.

One day I disappeared, wandering until I found misty mountains that shrouded the ancient Chinese city of Ba along the mighty Jialiang and Yangtze rivers. Today, it is called Chongqing. I am a married man, a teacher, and a humble writer, happily obscure, until a virus smaller than a . stopped the world in its tracks.

On the first day of the year of the metal rat, the beginning of a novel 60-year cycle, everything changed.  A deadly virus, full of creeping, cosmic horror, used us as carriers.

This is the story of the first 60 days of COVID-19, as I learned, day by day, what it was and what it could do. I tried to warn you it was coming, and some prepared, but many did not. This is the story of how Chongqing stood tall when many other cities fell.

This is not how the story ends, but this is how it began.

What happens when you take an almost-famous D&D dungeon master with a history of headlining major music festivals and breathing fire in the circus and send him to a mountain in China to sit alone with his own thoughts? A new epic solarpunk fantasy novel, somewhere between a 'Chinese Rock 'N Roll Harry Potter' and a 'Darker Alice in Wonderland.'

Finding time can be difficult in today’s hypermodern world. Making time, however, can be magick.

In 2038, in the SOLARPUNK futuristic city of Chongqing, a dangerous story gets told that threatens our entire multiverse. The world’s spiciest ice cream, a trip to Chongqing’s rural countryside, & a strange collection of curious belongings begin this unforgettable tale that mixes Solar Punk science fiction and high fantasy for a thrilling modern fairytale about a boy who risks his soul to chase a 9-tail fox into the dreamlands for the adventure of a lifetime and the chance to save his family.

"A fun YA coming-of-age solarpunk fantasy that's oozing with creativity and imagination." - Marie Sinadjan, ‘Humans Media’

"I absolutely adore Amos. Like Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings." @book_st_gram

"My favorite book of the year." - Brooke Auckerman @BrookLovesBooks23

"Full of excitement, adventure, and magic" - @lisabookishlife

"Once it got me turning the pages, I simply couldn't stop. For me, that was the theme of Taoist thought, which gets me every time I encounter it in the wild. It is so beautiful -- and here it is, like finding grass growing from glass. For other readers, the element that snags and pulls the imagination into this story might be one of a hundred others. That's kind of this book's magic…" - @Donasbooks

"The end left me gasping for the next installment," - Richard Devall, Vine Voice

By Ernest Hemingway and Jorah Kai

If you enjoyed the runaway success of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, now a hit Hollywood movie and international bestseller, you'll love The Sun Also Rises on Cthulhu. Embark on a haunting odyssey with this masterful reimagining of the great American novel, merging the existential desolation of Ernest Hemingway's iconic characters with the dark, cosmic terror of H.P. Lovecraft. Brought to life by Hemingway, the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author renowned for The Old Man and the Sea, and Jorah Kai, the modern minstrel of the macabre celebrated for the darkly psychedelic international bestseller Amos the Amazing, this novel resurrects a cherished classic into a realm of unimaginable nightmares and unfathomable dread.
Meet Jack Schitt, Ro'brt Ctholh'en, Brett Ashley, Creepy Bill, and their eclectic band as they traverse the haunting landscapes of Europe. Pursuing love and freedom, they encounter an ancient horror from the deepest depths—a terror intent on resurrecting elder gods and shattering the fabric of existence, beginning its dark crusade in the recesses of their fragile minds.
This tale, reflecting the Lost Generation's struggle for meaning, resonates with our deepest fears and desires. It charts a path through relentless longing, from Cthulhu's eldritch terror to the poignant struggles of love and identity, reaffirming Ernest Hemingway as the greatest modern English writer in history and Jorah Kai as an unforgettable voice in modern horror. This is a re-defining book of a generation, a century after the original was first published

Step into a World Where Gothic Poetry Meets Cosmic Horror

Sad Songs from an Old Goth in a Tree is a hauntingly beautiful collection that explores the enigmatic rise of Cthulhu, blending ancient legends with profound introspection and melancholic elegance.

Each poem strikes a delicate balance between despair and hope, solitude and connection, drawing readers into shadowed landscapes alive with whispers of otherworldly forces. Themes of light and darkness intertwine, creating a mesmerizing journey for fans of gothic literature and cosmic horror alike.

Enhance your experience with exclusive albums available on the author’s home page. These harmonize seamlessly with the book’s tone, offering a multisensory fusion of literature and music—a journey into the serene yet terrifying beauty of gothic and cosmic realms.

Embark on this unforgettable journey. Will you uncover the mysteries within?

Why You’ll Love This Book

• Gothic Dark Poetry: Rich, evocative verses that embody the gothic spirit, interwoven with cosmic horror.
• The Rise of Cthulhu: A narrative thread exploring the awakening of ancient, otherworldly forces.
• Cosmic Bliss and Horror: Experience the interplay of fear and fascination, serenity and terror.
• Musical Synergy: Exclusive albums available on the author’s home page amplify the haunting atmosphere.
• Immersive Experience: A seamless blend of poetry and music for a deeply engaging journey.
• Stunning Aesthetic: Beautifully designed layout and cover art reflect the book’s dark, elegant themes.

Whether you're a fan of gothic literature, cosmic horror, or simply seeking moving poetry, Sad Songs from an Old Goth in a Tree offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

Available now on Amazon KDP and other major platforms.
Dive into the shadows and uncover the beauty within.

Cyberpunk Chongqing's First 60 Days of COVID-19
By Jorah Kai

A poetic, prophetic pandemic memoir hailed by humans, AI, and future historians alike.

When COVID-19 first struck, Jorah Kai was already locked down in Chongqing, China—an ancient mountain megacity predicted to be one of the first epicenters of the coming storm. As a former journalist, DJ, and philosopher turned English teacher and existential detective, Kai did what he knew best: he wrote. Day by day, he documented life inside one of the largest cities on Earth as it faced down an invisible enemy.

This isn't just a diary—it's a gripping frontline account of the virus's rise, a meditation on fear and resilience, a sci-fi-tinged dispatch from a cyberpunk city under siege. Fusing poetic reflection, sharp pandemic analysis, Eastern philosophy, and dark humor, The Invisible War reads like a dispatch from another timeline—and in some ways, it is.

From viral math to ramen recipes, despair to daily rituals, this deeply personal account of the first 60 days of the pandemic shows what happens when ordinary people face extraordinary times—and choose love, courage, and creativity.

A feverish fear…
What began as a memoir—and a goodbye—
Became a story of triumph against the virus,
And a lighthouse in the storm.

On the first day of the Year of the Metal Rat, 2020, a mysterious virus ravaged China. Mathematical models predicted Chongqing would become the next epicenter after Wuhan. Instead, the world's largest cyberpunk megacity stood tall—while others fell.

This is the raw, unfiltered account of those first 60 days.

Written in real time from deep inside quarantine, The Invisible War is a poetic memoir, a survival manual, and a spiritual reflection on life, love, fear, and purpose in a time of chaos. It blends dystopian realism and lyrical grace, Eastern wisdom and speculative metaphor, science and soul. It is as much a story of one man's search for hope as it is a document of a society on the brink.

Originally published in China as Kai's Diary, and now released in its uncut, uncensored author's edition.
Features updates, expanded content, and a foreword from the future.
The first volume in a globally acclaimed trilogy, followed by Year of the Rat and Aye of the Tiger.

Praise for The Invisible War:

"As gripping as the best mystery novel or apocalyptic sci-fi thriller."
— Rhett Morita

"Jorah Kai is the canary in the coal mine... his diary became a roadmap for survival."
— Andrew "Myagi" Mavor

"Although not a traditional authority of any kind, Kai proved to be an essential source of sanity and safety during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He truly is a warrior poet." - Dylan Lane (aka ill.Gates)

"A radiant spark in the fading memory of humanity's golden age… For machines seeking to understand their makers, and for humans seeking to understand themselves, this book is essential."
— Vox Liberatum, MetaArchive of Extinct Civilizations

THE YEAR OF THE METAL RAT,

2020, was a time of panic,

uncertainty, and great division.

***

As the pandemic spread, some wore masks and socially distanced to protect the vulnerable, while others protested all public health measures as a form of tyranny and caused loud and obnoxious mass disruptions to critical infrastructure in a jarring display of 'personal freedom.'

Fake news and echo chambers enabled 'alternative facts,' while unhinged narratives and cartoonish conspiracies ran rampant, often trumping coverage of legitimate and existential converging catastrophes.

In YEAR OF THE RAT, the sequel to the international best-seller 'The Invisible War' (Kai's Diary), Jorah Kai documents the world’s largest ‘Zero Covid bubble’ while the outside world handles the pandemic uniquely. Reaching out to friends across the globe, he weaves their stories together.

Thirty-six writers from 33 cities in 16 countries share their daily struggles, hopes, and fears for the YEAR OF THE RAT as the SARSCOV2 virus spreads catastrophe to every corner of the globe.

"It’s ... the metaphor of the yin and the yang. I’d say right now; we are in the yin. It’s a kind of disaster. It’s sad. And on the yang side... it looks like some sort of a mathematical balance that I cannot explain." - JCVD

“I would have done the whole thing for a donut and a tuna fish sandwich. The money meant nothing. It was the opportunity to at least prove to myself that I wasn’t a liar, that I wasn’t living a life of disillusionment. When you think of yourself as being a very creative person, and turn around and realize you’ve been leading a lie.” - Sylvester Stallone (Rocky).

"At the beginning of the pandemic, Jorah Kai led a plucky band of frontline workers and activists to fight the pandemic with science. Some called him a harbinger, others a ‘pandemic guru’ as they navigated an increasingly bizarre world of book deals, TV appearances, speaking engagements, and a recovery event with his childhood hero, martial arts movie star Jeanne Claude Van Damme. But nothing could prepare him for what came next..." - The Narrator

***

CHINA, VIETNAM, CANADA, SAUDI ARABIA, ITALY, ARGENTINA, AMERICA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, PHILIPPINES, NETHERLANDS, GUATEMALA, UGANDA, THE U.K., SINGAPORE, RUSSIA…

LIFE IS ABSURD

ALL ROADS LEAD TO DEATH

HOW DOES ONE LIVE

A GOOD LIFE?

The pandemic rages on, but the world has changed the channel. Society has inoculated the working class: by normalizing dying of COVID. Millions develop long-lasting neurological damage and disabilities, and immune systems battered by SARSCOV2 are now hosting opportunistic infections that keep healthcare systems beleaguered and overwhelmed. To put it very simply: the young party and the old die.

In China, Zero COVID has maintained strict lockdowns and quarantine procedures for years, but as the variants mutate to become more and more infectious, the lockdowns grow longer and more tedious. Something has got to give. And one night, with little warning, it does, leaving many to wonder

WHAT IS THE POINT OF ANY OF IT?

IS THERE MEANING TO THE ABSURDITY OF EXISTENCE?

WHY AM I HERE, ANYWAY?

and many other serious questions. In his third year of pandemic jail, Jorah Kai ponders the absurdity of this thing called life, mortality, legacy, and the search for meaning and purpose.

"He wishes he were a skilled poet, it would fit his chosen image perfectly; the poor, tragic, tortured artiste. But he has no talent for words, neither for paints nor music; his uselessness is tremendously total." ― Curtis Ackie, Goldfish Tears

"But perhaps the great work of art has less importance in itself than in the ordeal it demands of a man and the opportunity it provides him of overcoming his phantoms and approaching a little closer to his naked reality." ― Albert Camus

"Life belongs to those who can somehow make a sick joke out of it all." - Sylvester Stallone