2018

About the author: The Dark Lords are an order of sorcerers who explore various black magickal currents and ideologies in pursuit of unlimited power. They are establishing a lineage and an empire that will stand for the ages as a testament to the powers of Darkness. In their many books, they have promoted currents such as Sithism, Black Sunnism, Diabolism, Chaoism, Cosmicism and Dark Taoism, and will continue to explore these and other visions going forward. The Dark Lords have also established a Black Temple, Black Lodge, Black Library and Black Tongue, which form the nexus of their sorcerous society. They are seeking select Acolytes and Apprentices to carry their lineage forward, maintain what they have built and expand upon it. Those who find their vision compelling, who have skills and resources worthy of their attention, may contact them at their site or via their publications. More information about the Dark Lords' projects is available at thedarklords.com. We await the arrival of powerful beings. Râk âm chod! (Power to you!) ~The Dark Lords~ Product Description This book is a training manual for the shadow warriors of our Empire. It is written for Acolytes of our Black Brotherhood who choose to specialize in the dark arts of espionage, sabotage, assassination, stealth, scouting and covert operations of every kind.Make no mistake: this is a dangerous book. The skills and ideas described herein are based on the hard-won knowledge of real shadow warriors who operated for centuries in harsh conditions, where the price of failure was often terrible death. Their very name—Ninja—meant those who lived with their hearts under a blade; those who walked a path of danger and faced death as a way of life.Such dangerous knowledge is not meant for “armchair ninjas” who enjoy stories about “Leagues of Shadows” but have no intention of putting any of it into practice. No! This book is for those with the courage and will to act, to train and to transform themselves into lethal shadow-beings. Our Empire will need an army of such men of action to take our visions from the realm of imagination into the realm of material reality.With the publication of this book, we are putting out a call and a challenge to those who wish to become the most feared operatives of our new Imperial order: the dark knights we call Black Ninjas. So read on, and discover if this is to be your destiny. In the words of a haiku I wrote the other day:Ninja clans unknownIn shadows training, creeping. Are you one of us?DRED NIGHTSTALKER (Master of Black Ninjutsu) The Black Temple Complex, Imperial Year 6, Month 6 (February, 2017) Review This is an informative and creative attempt to develop a Ninjutsu philosophy and practice for the modern world. I like how the authors emphasize the sinister, dangerous nature of the ninja (the "Black Ninja", as they call them), instead of trying to pass them off as a tame group of gi-wearing martial arts enthusiasts down at the local dojo. The reality is that the historical ninja were spies, commandos and terrorists, not black belt dojo warriors, and the authors make this point well. Another thing I enjoyed is their discussion of the mysticism and black magic of the historical ninja. Ninpo incorporates a fascinating mix of Eastern systems, including esoteric Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto and Japanese folk magic, and this book gives a brief but informative overview of these elements. I also like how the authors discuss excerpts from the classical Ninjutsu scrolls (Bansenshukai, Shoninki, Ninpiden) to give the book an air of authenticity and timelessness. However, this is not an "orthodox Ninjutsu" book. The Dark Lords have their own agenda and some innovative ideas that aren't part of the Japanese tradition. Those who are looking for a strictly historical book or a "Bujinkan" style manual will find some things objectionable. All in all, "Black Ninja Handbook" is an intriguing synthesis of the historical ninja path with a creative new take on a "Black Ninja" cult for the darkening modern world. Five stars. Discreet Shipping. Black and white interior, 179 pages. Signed upon request.