As the creator & head writer of 'THE CAN SOCIETY FILES’ UNIVERSE, I'm happy to provide you with some insights on one of this world's main characters: CODIE 'PAPERBOY' BASKET, who was already featured and established as a key-figure in our first instalment, 'The Secret Box Trilogy'. (CHECK IT OUT IN OUR SHOP) - At the end of this very first ‘Into the Universe’ blog entry and to move forward in the discovery of this twisted world, I’m about to hand over the writing-pen to this fictional ‘Paperboy’ character, who will further introduce you to the characters, entities, places and encounters this Universe has to offer.
In following Basket's life and story across four centuries, we pretty much get to explore a big chunk of 'Can Society' lore. As not only the boy himself, but also Basket's origins and heritage are of vital importance when it comes to protecting the human world from the evil paranormal horrors that slumber inside the far away dimension called 'The Crawling Chaos.' (When it comes to the horrors found inside this supernatural place detached from our space & time, the Can Society Universe pays homage to the public domain work of HP. Lovecraft.)
Born in 1878, this imaginative, innocent, but also witty and obsessive boy grew up at ‘The Holy Cross Orphan’s Asylum’, without ever knowing who his real parents might be. A private mystery hunt which to solve will keep the boy occupied for his entire life and that for Basket, kicks off by the age of seven when escaping said orphanage in 1885.
Living off the streets and roaming the New England docklands for scraps, he not only gains some crafty survival skills like picking locks and solving puzzles, but as well develops an interest in painting, for releasing his extraordinary imagination. - Eventually becoming the very first 'graffiti-vandal' even before that was a thing, by painting over - and thereby improving - the glamorous posters that advertised the local Vaudeville-Shows. A harmless offence, which earned him the nickname 'Paperboy'.
One day, latter artistry drives Basket into the hands of some dodgy dockworkers at an abandoned smugglers hole, who were hands on pulling a rotten cargo box from the sea. And for reasons we cannot yet comprehend at this point in time, the Paperboy seems to be the only one capable amongst this shady bunch, of unlocking this mysterious box and thereby excavating a precious book hidden inside: THE FABULA MANUAL. A bulky folio bound in strong leather, lost for an entire century, and containing all paranormal knowledge about the Crawling Chaos that is known to man. Eventually, this amazing found earns young Codie Basket a place in midst the ranks of the Fabula Manual's authors: The honourable 'CAN SOCIETY', a secret and noble organisation that protects mankind against the paranormal evil which slumbers inside the 'Crawling Chaos'.
With Codie 'Paperboy' Basket suddenly becoming the youngest paranormal investigator this Can Society has ever seen, he departs on an adventure of hunting down monstrosities and solving ancient mysteries in 1886. Which doesn't stop, but rather encourages him in his ongoing search for his real parents. Being accompanied by a tight nit bunch of no good investigators, who care for each other like family, Codie 'Paperboy' Basket quickly rises above the ranks of the Can Society, without any real intention. For reasons he doesn't yet understand, there's also something paranormal about himself. Another mystery which continues to mark him as both an outsider and a leader on his encounters.
Basket's secretive look and appearance, which pretty much remains unaltered throughout the course of two centuries is well documented by a 'Wanted Poster' that ended up in the transcripts of Anna Shaw, a Switchboard Girl of the Can Society. (Mentioned in 'The Secret Box' Part II Novel 'A Weapon of Adventurous Entertainment'.) Which, for the unknowing public, raises the question as to why C.P. Basket's appearance won’t change over time and why this cute boy doesn’t grow older?
A result of the paranormal certainty, that organic material and therefore all beings, which surround themselves with 'matter' from the 'Crawling Chaos' stop to age at some point. Similar to radiation, such drastic suspension of the aging process proceeds quicker increasingly drastic, the more one gets in contact with said ‘Chaos-Matter’. As certain disorder basically applies to every paranormal Can Society Investigator, it explains how this secret organisation could exist for so long.
Gradually growing into an icon and rising to fame in midst the Can Society within mere months, Codie Basket unwillingly becomes an increasing threat to the Society's grandmaster, who begins to undermine the Paperboy’s success. Which brings enemies, sabotage and failure to Basket’s doorstep. Eventually this innocent young looking, but wise in years acting boy, will turn into a cynical and bitter investigator.
'Imagine a 9 year old cute orphan-boy, with the attitude and behaviour of an old hard boiled film noir private eye, who smokes, drinks and gambles. Balancing these two opposite characters within his mind and behaviour, is both curse and advantage for C.P. Basket. Which gives our main character a lot of potential.' (Creator G.S. Leitgeb on Basket's character arc.)
Following Codie 'Paperboy' Basket and his Unit across the centuries, we investigate paranormal mysteries and discover ancient places while taming the sinister monstrosities originating from the Crawling Chaos. Spanning from the 1600s to the 1980s and beyond, into an apocalyptic dystopian future, we explore a Universe that reminds of a wild Indiana Jones Treasure Hunt, an HP. Lovecraft Horror-Encounter and a Period Fantasy Adventure, garnished with a hard boiled Film-Noir Tone and some black comedy as the cherry on top.
Now, the moment has come where I put down my pen to hand it over to this fictional character, so C.P. Basket himself can lead you into the darkest of corners this fictional Genre-Universe has to offer. May sanity be forever on your side, so you may never loose yourself while travelling the twisted paths of this world, so you may yet survive what’s coming.
Respectfully,
G.S. Leitgeb - Head Writer & Creator of ‘The Can Society Files’.
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? - Our first instalment 'The Secret Box Trilogy' reveals more about Basket's fate and the secret files of the Can Society: BUY IT HERE or WATCH OUR SHOWCASE CLIP
