About the Author

Origins, Music & Myth

From the very beginning, storytelling was woven into the fabric of Jens Engel's existence. What started as short tales tapped out on an old typewriter for pure joy soon evolved into something far more profound. His formative years were spent crafting immersive worlds through pen-and-paper roleplaying games like DSA, AD&D, and Rolemaster, where he frequently took on the mantle of Dungeon Master alongside friends from the legendary Leonberg Massive (shout out to DM Timo), enjoying cool classical Forgotten Realms and Rolemaster games. That journey to the Underdark with the Spider Queen remains a vivid memory—a nightmare that still resonates to this day.

As a teenager, Engel immersed himself in the cosmic horrors of Lovecraft's "Call of Cthulhu" and "At the Mountains of Madness," alongside Tolkien's epic fantasies and classic science fiction. This literary foundation was complemented by a parallel passion: electronic music production and DJing. His musical journey began in the early 80s with the breakdance and electro hype, evolving through Hip Hop from '88/'89 onwards, then embracing Acid House, New Beat, Techno, Breakbeats, and House. His eclectic taste also encompassed Jazz classics from Blue Note Records, easy listening, and cinematic soundtracks—a diverse palette that would later influence his atmospheric storytelling approach.

Starting with music production on a Commodore 64 using the Commodore Music Maker, he progressed through the classic evolution of bedroom producers—Amiga 500 with tracker software, then Cubasis on a PC 386/486 with an Akai S2800 sampler, eventually moving to FL Studio supplemented by hardware synthesizers. For three decades, Jens brought his distinctive voice to the airwaves as a radio DJ for Freies-Radio für Stuttgart, creating the Code-Red and StereoIn3D radio shows, where his love of music across genres—from Blue Note Jazz to underground Breakbeats—found expression.

His musical journey spans the complete evolution of electronic music production—from 8-bit beginnings to modern digital workflows—while DJing across multiple genres and decades. Production credits include the B-side of Santorin Limited 001 and digital releases like "Juno" (with DJ Tease) and "Rotation" in 2023, plus an instrumental Hip Hop track on a Pavlek Records compilation around 2000. This broad musical foundation, spanning from early electro and breakdance culture to sophisticated Jazz and cinematic compositions, carries over a rhythmic and atmospheric sensibility to his emerging literary works.

In the mid-90s, Jens—better known behind the decks as DJ Yen-Cee—was part of the Da Feeva Cru, alongside Mo'Unique, Da Weedspirit, and Tease, who helped bring Jungle and Drum & Bass to Stuttgart. Through legendary nights at venues like the Röhre and the Rude Club, the crew laid the foundation for a scene that still thrives today. Their weekly show on Freies Radio für Stuttgart became one of Germany's longest-running Drum & Bass broadcasts, keeping the spirit alive even as life pulled members in different directions. Known for anthems, heavy-hitting bangers, plenty of amen breaks, obscure oldskool gems, and the occasional piano-driven surprise, Yen-Cee's sets have always balanced energy with a touch of the unexpected.

Today, Jens stands at the threshold of a new chapter, ready to channel decades of creative experience—from underground raves to radio waves, from digital soundscapes to fantastical RPG campaigns—into his debut literary works. As an emerging architect of cosmic horror and dark fantasy, he crafts narratives that pulse with the same intensity that drives his Darkside Jungle Techno sets, aiming to unsettle and draw readers deeper into other worlds.

Jens also worked on a Module for Neverwinter Nights started in 2014. Whenever you are into playing or need some exchange for modding with Aurora Script, get in contact — although it will prevent working on the unfinished stories. But the author would love to play some oldskool Neverwinter Nights (EE + CEP) again.