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Dean AnderssonAmerican writer, artist and musician, master of the horror and fantasy genre.
Date of Birth: 20.03.1946
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Dean Andersson
Dean Andersson is an American writer, artist, and musician, known for his mastery of the horror and fantasy genres. He prefers to remain in the shadows and does not like to talk about himself or his life, but his works are widely known beyond his homeland. Despite his fame, he remains humble and down-to-earth, often encountering great celebrities such as Ray Bradbury and Barbara Steele. He is equally friendly with art and science, literature and physics. His creations are filled with darkness, evil, horror, and hatred, but they always celebrate Light, Goodness, Beauty, and Friendship. His works make the blood freeze with terror, but at the same time, they captivate and attract, just like the enigmatic and bright personality of the creator himself.
Early Life and Influences
Dean Andersson was born on March 20, 1946, in the city of Little River, Kansas. His parents played a significant role in his spiritual development. His mother, Mildred L. Andersson, was a teacher who nurtured his talents and encouraged his creative abilities. His father, Albert Andersson, an immigrant from Sweden, introduced him to ancient Scandinavian mythology, which had a profound influence on his work. However, it was Dean's unique rich inner world and immense literary talent that played the most significant role in shaping his future as a writer. His childhood experiences, such as his fear of witches, later turned into an interest in all things magical and mysterious, leaving a lasting mark on the thematic elements of his works. Dean's encounter with Dracula in a movie theater sparked a serious fascination with the character and led to the creation of brilliant novels such as "I am Dracula" and "Crimson Kisses." His interest in Scandinavian mythology provided fertile ground for the creation of a series of magnificent works centered around the mysterious goddess Hel, the powerful queen of the realm of the dead—a half-beautiful girl, half-decaying corpse.
Career
While many children and teenagers have hobbies, only a few can turn them into true masterpieces of art, as Dean Andersson has done. However, his dedication to literature did not come immediately. In 1968, after successfully completing college in Texas, he became a bachelor of arts. From 1968 to 1972, he served in the U.S. Air Force, where he also became a musician in a band. After his military career, Dean worked as a graphic artist in Hollywood television.
After leaving Hollywood, he decided to dedicate himself to science fiction literature. In 1978, Andersson brilliantly completed his studies at Northern Arizona University, becoming a bachelor of astrophysics. Unfortunately, Dean Andersson, being a remarkably multifaceted and creative individual—a talented writer, artist, and musician—has primarily been known as a creator of horror and dark fantasy. However, it is in this field that he is a true master without equal. In 1981, his debut novel "Crimson Kisses" (published under the pseudonym "Asa Drake") was released, providing an original explanation of how Dracula became a vampire.
Currently, Dean Andersson is the creator of over 10 novels and numerous short stories, some of which have been translated into Spanish. However, his greatest work is considered to be the "Warrior" Saga, which tells the extraordinary adventures of a brave warrior woman named Blood Song and her complex and conflicting relationship with the goddess Hel. The saga has achieved tremendous success not only in the United States, where it has been reprinted multiple times, but also in Russia, where it has captured the hearts of readers.
Style and Legacy
Dean Andersson's works are characterized by a pure and expressive language and unforgettable plots. According to his contemporary, writer K.G. Masterton, "Dean Andersson's words cut like barbed wire, and each punctuation mark is a drop of real blood." However, the most important and valuable aspect of his works is the constant celebration and exaltation of eternal values such as true friendship, invincible courage, deep self-sacrifice, and unwavering love, which always triumph over cruelty, violence, hatred, and treachery. The horrors, tortures, and dark forces that appear in Andersson's works are concentrated evil—a backdrop for the manifestation of the best qualities of the human spirit and the ultimate triumph of Good.
Dean Andersson is an unmatched master of horror and a living classic who not only creates himself but also inspires others. The Swedish band "Bathory" dedicated a song titled "One Rode to Asa Bay" to him. Despite his achievements, Dean continues to actively write. In 2012-2013, he meticulously reworked three previously written parts of the "Warrior" Saga ("Blood Song," "Thirst for Revenge," and "Beast's Power") and embarked on its continuation, known as "Valkyries of Hel."
