Inspired by the legendary works of Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson, Detroit writer Ryan Bartek traveled the USA to create his own heavy metal / punk rock road saga of extreme journalism. 1 year, 35 States, 600+ hours on Greyhounds & 1000 cities later, "The Big Shiny Prison" was released - a unique travel book featuring hundreds of face-to-face interviews with legends in the metal/punk undergrounds, as well as other alternative & fringe cultures in America.

"FORTRESS EUROPE" (The Big Shiny Prison Vol. II)' chronicles Ryan Bartek traveling Europe and exploring its fringe and alternative culture. This genre-defying work features interviews with legends in extreme metal, punk rock, industrial, experimental, rock, electronic, and many other alternative cultures in Europe today.

Less a music book and more a tribute to the Beat Generation, "Fortress Europe" combines the classic autobiographical road novel with the current reality of European Counterculture. The result is an odyssey of monumental scope that has amassed a cult following since its release as a Free PDF in February 2012.

"Fortress Europe (The Big Shiny Prison Vol. II)" features appearances/interviews with members of Brutal Truth, Rotting Christ, LAIBACH, Wolfbrigade, Agathocles, Killing Joke, Master, Funeral Winds, NAHEMAH, Enochian Crescent, Moonsorrow, Defeated Sanity, First Blood, Hello Bastards, Abortion, Panthiest, Arkangel, HATE, Repulsione, Dehuman, General Surgery, Corpus Christii, Fides Inversa, Excavated, Primordial, Splitter, Pyramido, Black Breath, Ingurgitating Oblivion, El Schlong, Spacemen 3 & legendary Detroit writer Mr. John Sinclair + more.