The Bane of Yoto

The Bane of Yoto
First edition
AuthorJosh Viola and Nicholas Karpuk
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Bane of Yoto
GenreScience fiction/Fantasy
PublisherFiXT Music
Publication date
June 2012
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint(Paperback), eBook and Audiobook
Pages507 pp (Paperback)
ISBN978-0985559007 (Paperback)
Followed byThe Bane of Yoto - Bloodmoon: Birth of the Beast 

The Bane of Yoto is a science-fantasy novel[1] by Josh Viola[2] (creator) and Nicholas Karpuk, first published in June 2012 by music label FiXT Music[3] owned by electronic rocker Klayton of Celldweller.[4]

The transmedia project also includes an audiobook[5] read by film/TV actors JD Hart and Deb Thomas with music by Celldweller, a 3D Comic Book App developed by Leviathan Games[6] and featuring music by Celldweller as well as merchandise that includes sculptures, PlayStation 3 Dynamic Themes, T-shirts, posters and more.

The novel has won thirteen awards, including wins from the IPPY's, the International Book Festival, USA Best Book Awards, the 2012 New York Book Festival, 2012 Hollywood Book Festival, 2012 Halloween Book Festival (two awards) and the 2012 London Book Festival.[citation needed]

Book Plot

A gentle race known as the Numah have been enslaved by the fierce Olokun to mine the moon, Neos, in order to build a protective shield, called the Aegis, to protect both races from the disembodied Arbitrators - ancient gods who evolved beyond the physical realm.

Deep in the mines of Neos, a mythical dagger is unearthed. Yoto, a Numah miner, is accidentally stabbed in the chest with the dagger by an assassin who hoped to use it on Yoto's brother Eon, a rebel leading an uprising against the Olokun. But rather than perish beneath the blade, Yoto is transformed into a giant creature who the Arbitrators hope to possess and reclaim a connection to the physical world once again.[7]

Prequel

The novel spawned the following prequel by NY Times bestseller Keith Ferrell and Viola (editor):

3D Comic App

The Bane of Yoto app is an episodic 3D comic series led by Josh Viola and developed by Leviathan Games for mobile devices such as iPad, iPhone and Android tablets/devices. Based on the award-winning novel of the same name, the app features artwork by various professional comic book artists such as Tyler Kirkham of DC Comics, Nick Runge of IDW and Steve Scott of DC Comics with music by Celldweller.

Two episodes are currently available:

  • Episode I: Monster (free)[9]
  • Episode II: Brothers[10]

The app makes use of hand-drawn artwork which is later converted to 3D objects inside of Leviathan Games' Dreamotion engine. When viewing the comic on a compatible tablet or phone, the app responds to the user's movement and rotates the scene in 3D space to give the illusion of a living, breathing world.[11][12][13][14][15]

References

  1. ^ "Book Review: 'The Bane of Yoto' by Joshua Viola", Burkart, Gregory, for FEARnet, 15 August 2012, retrieved 6 March 2013
  2. ^ "The Bane of Yoto: Cross-media Sci-fi Hits Tegra - Exclusive: The creator of the gritty fantasy epic discusses bringing his 3D comic book app to Android", Shaw, Patrick, for Nvision, 19 October 2012, retrieved 6 March 2013
  3. ^ FiXT Store
  4. ^ Celldweller
  5. ^ Yoto Audiobook
  6. ^ Leviathan Games
  7. ^ "The Bane of Yoto Official Website", Viola, Josh, for The Bane of Yoto, June 2012, retrieved 6 March 2013
  8. ^ Bloodmoon
  9. ^ EpI Monster on GooglePlay
  10. ^ EpII Brothers on GooglePlay
  11. ^ "Take a Closer Look at the 'Bane of Yoto' Comic App", Burkart, Gregory, for FEARnet, 7 November 2012, retrieved 6 March 2013
  12. ^ "Could The Bane Of Yoto Herold A New Look For Digital Comics?", Johnston, Rich, for Bleeding Cool, 5 March 2012, retrieved 6 March 2013
  13. ^ "Fantasy Horror Novel Bane Of Yoto Becomes 3D Motion Comic - Parts 1 & 2 Available Now For Tegra Devices", Rice, Jeremiah, for Android Police, 12 December 2012, retrieved 6 March 2013
  14. ^ "The Bane of Yoto Pushes "Digital Comics" Farther Down the Rabbit Hole", Triverse, for Gamingonbatteries.com, 16 December 2012, retrieved 6 March 2013
  15. ^ "The iPad Is Helping Make 'Motion' Comics A Graphic, Gratifying Reality", Faust III, A.T., for App Advice, 25 June 2012, retrieved 6 March 2013