The Spinal Cord Perception
Encyclopedia
The Spinal Cord Perception is the first novel from Josh Porter
who is known mostly for his role as Josh Dies
, the singer/songwriter for the band Showbread
. In late 2006, Porter announced that he had written the novel and would be releasing it independently to be sold via his website before it received mainstream publication. An active internet following gathered, consisting largely of Showbread fans who participated in message boards and an ever expanding myspace account in support of the book. Pre-order for the novel was accepted for two days in early December in which the entire first printing of the book sold out quickly. The book was reprinted in 2009 and sold via Porter's website. A Book reading tour followed. The book currently fluctuates in availability and is sold only through Porter's Myspace page and at Showbread concerts. The story chronicles the bi-polar rants of David Rivers, a mentally unstable substitute teacher. Rivers is most likely an unreliable narrator in most instances and is thought to be a cipher of various hypocrisies in human nature. He ruthlessly condemns other characters for personality traits he claims to find unbearable and usually exemplifies the same traits moments later. The way in which Rivers sees the world is most likely a metaphor for the way the world actually is. For instance, Rivers witnesses Charles, one of Rivers co-workers who lives a loose, decadent life-style, transforms slowly into a gigantic gila monster
and then bites himself with deadly venomous fangs. Later Rivers overhears other characters mention that Charles killed himself.
. At the time of this discovery a police investigation into the killing of David's Californian girlfriend finds David in Georgia where a detective issues a warrant for his arrest, believing him to be responsible for the killing. David flees police as Samantha is taken to the hospital for treatment after collapsing. Returning to the elementary school that was the home of the incident that forced David to move to California, David attempts to prove the Llapasllaly's existence by revealing it to a classroom full of special education
students. The plan backfires when the Llapasllaly kills a child with downs syndrome. As David leaves the school, a taxi carrying Samantha arrives and the couple run to reunite before the police car arriving at the scene crashes into Samantha and kills her. David manages to escape the police temporarily and returns to the trailer he was living in. He has a final vision in which the Llapasllaly invites him to commit suicide
with sleeping pills. In the final moments before the police arrive to arrest him, David realizes the Llapasllaly exists only in his mind and that the option to live or die is up to him and not the creature.
, a tarsier
, a reptile and a goat. It is unclear whether or not this being actually exists or is a figment of David’s imagination. It does seem to steer his perception as well his actions. Several theories exist explaining the truth about the Llapasllaly. Many believe it to be metaphor for sin or evil, and that it is simply a physical manifestation of David’s instinctual human evils. It is also possible that certain things the Llapasllaly does, like killing David’s girlfriend, aborting a child and choking a small boy with a belt, are actually things that the people are doing themselves because of the evil within and that the Llapasllaly is just a visual reference to that evil. Indications to support this theory other than the fact that most characters cannot see the Llapasllaly are the creatures methods, for instance, the scene in which the Llapasllaly aborts a characters unborn child, it does so using a method almost identical to actual surgical abortion.
A second printing released in 2009 edited by Paul Bowers corrected these mistakes.
Josh Dies
Joshua S. Porter, better known by his stage name Josh Dies is an American singer, songwriter, musician and author. He is widely known as the vocalist and songwriter for the band Showbread...
who is known mostly for his role as Josh Dies
Josh Dies
Joshua S. Porter, better known by his stage name Josh Dies is an American singer, songwriter, musician and author. He is widely known as the vocalist and songwriter for the band Showbread...
, the singer/songwriter for the band Showbread
Showbread (band)
Showbread is an American Christian rock band originating in Guyton, Georgia. More specifically, the band lives in a small community within Guyton called Marlow. They formed in 1997. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since its formation but maintains its two founding members, Josh...
. In late 2006, Porter announced that he had written the novel and would be releasing it independently to be sold via his website before it received mainstream publication. An active internet following gathered, consisting largely of Showbread fans who participated in message boards and an ever expanding myspace account in support of the book. Pre-order for the novel was accepted for two days in early December in which the entire first printing of the book sold out quickly. The book was reprinted in 2009 and sold via Porter's website. A Book reading tour followed. The book currently fluctuates in availability and is sold only through Porter's Myspace page and at Showbread concerts. The story chronicles the bi-polar rants of David Rivers, a mentally unstable substitute teacher. Rivers is most likely an unreliable narrator in most instances and is thought to be a cipher of various hypocrisies in human nature. He ruthlessly condemns other characters for personality traits he claims to find unbearable and usually exemplifies the same traits moments later. The way in which Rivers sees the world is most likely a metaphor for the way the world actually is. For instance, Rivers witnesses Charles, one of Rivers co-workers who lives a loose, decadent life-style, transforms slowly into a gigantic gila monster
Gila monster
The Gila monster is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora...
and then bites himself with deadly venomous fangs. Later Rivers overhears other characters mention that Charles killed himself.
Plot summary
David Rivers, a 24-year-old substitute teacher (most likely with anti-social personality disorder) begins the story by moving back to Georgia after spending several months in California fleeing from an undisclosed incident involving a classroom full of children. As the story progresses, we learn that David suffers from visions of a treacherous black creature he calls the Llapasllaly. During these visions terrible things occur, namely the death of his childhood friend, girlfriend and parents among other things. As David becomes increasingly disenchanted with his life in California, his depression culminates with the discovery of his girlfriend's unfaithfulness. After witnessing the Llapasllaly kill her, David returns to his hometown in Georgia and takes another substitute teaching job. He soon meets a woman named Samantha, whom he falls in love with and proposes to. His dark visions seem to subside. Things take a turn for the worse however when David realizes Samantha has a Llapasllaly of her own (who she calls Amelia) and who takes the form of an eating disorderEating disorder
Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common specific...
. At the time of this discovery a police investigation into the killing of David's Californian girlfriend finds David in Georgia where a detective issues a warrant for his arrest, believing him to be responsible for the killing. David flees police as Samantha is taken to the hospital for treatment after collapsing. Returning to the elementary school that was the home of the incident that forced David to move to California, David attempts to prove the Llapasllaly's existence by revealing it to a classroom full of special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
students. The plan backfires when the Llapasllaly kills a child with downs syndrome. As David leaves the school, a taxi carrying Samantha arrives and the couple run to reunite before the police car arriving at the scene crashes into Samantha and kills her. David manages to escape the police temporarily and returns to the trailer he was living in. He has a final vision in which the Llapasllaly invites him to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
with sleeping pills. In the final moments before the police arrive to arrest him, David realizes the Llapasllaly exists only in his mind and that the option to live or die is up to him and not the creature.
Unreliable Narrator
Several elements throughout the story along with contradictions in David's behavior suggest that he may be the victim of a psychological disorder. Late in the book, we learn that David has been excessively abused by his mother and has largely lied about it. Most likely, David has anti-social personality disorder. David hallucinates a creature called the Llapasllaly doing heinous acts, when in reality he is either responsible for the act himself or the act is simply not what it seems. David is probably a serial killer, beginning with the killing of his childhood friend and leading to the killings of his abusive parents, unfaithful girlfriend and a special education student. By keeping these details hidden from the reader it is easier to sympathize with David, as we see what he sees as a narrator and not necessarily what actually takes place.The Llapasllaly
The Llapasllaly is a small black creature who stalks David Rivers and has some kind of ghostly ability to speak with no audible voice. Several detailed descriptions are offered to explain the actual appearance of the Llapasllaly, most of which amount to some kind of horrific, gangly monster. It is also compared to an aye-ayeAye-aye
The aye-aye is a lemur, a strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth and a special thin middle finger to fill the same ecological niche as a woodpecker...
, a tarsier
Tarsier
Tarsiers are haplorrhine primates of the genus Tarsius, a genus in the family Tarsiidae, which is itself the lone extant family within the infraorder Tarsiiformes...
, a reptile and a goat. It is unclear whether or not this being actually exists or is a figment of David’s imagination. It does seem to steer his perception as well his actions. Several theories exist explaining the truth about the Llapasllaly. Many believe it to be metaphor for sin or evil, and that it is simply a physical manifestation of David’s instinctual human evils. It is also possible that certain things the Llapasllaly does, like killing David’s girlfriend, aborting a child and choking a small boy with a belt, are actually things that the people are doing themselves because of the evil within and that the Llapasllaly is just a visual reference to that evil. Indications to support this theory other than the fact that most characters cannot see the Llapasllaly are the creatures methods, for instance, the scene in which the Llapasllaly aborts a characters unborn child, it does so using a method almost identical to actual surgical abortion.
Objectionable Content
Porter posted a blog on his website warning readers that The Spinal Cord Perception contained some graphic content that may upset certain fans. He explained briefly his spiritual convictions as an author and contended that everything in the book was included for a specific purpose, and not added for arbitrary shock value. Among these passages are instances in which the Llapasllaly kills certain characters in gruesome ways, David Rivers vaguely details an unfulfilling sexual frustration with a girlfriend he despises, and some graphic scenes dealing with a child who is the victim of molestation.First Printing Typos
The original self-publishing of the book contained several typos. Porter joked about this in a 2008 interview when asked if he'd read a book called "The Spinal Cord Perception" saying "I have read it. Very underwhelming. It was a big letdown. You know, all guts and no glory... and lots of misspelled words. Just don't waste your time."A second printing released in 2009 edited by Paul Bowers corrected these mistakes.