My idea for a fantasy series came about years ago, after reading several fantasy books that had some well-crafted real-world historical inspirations.
Initially envisioned as a trilogy I sat on the idea for a long time until I eventually published a book at the start of 2013 and decided to take writing more seriously. Once I started to write the story grew wider and grander than I ever could have anticipated. Now I have a planned five books with a massive cast.
A description of the world can be found below
‘The world of Somal, or Smal’Gin’Ghough in the ancient language meaning Land Which Provides, is full of diverse nations and peoples.
Four continents make up Somal, Maceon the most diverse in the north-humans, goblinoids, elves, drakons, kitsune, agorid beast-men and skylords all live in both conflict and peace here.
Xenish in the southwest-Weicarus-ancient nation of drakons and Minakaya, home to the kitsune folk, both static and slow-changing societies.
Kordate in the east, much of which is still a new frontier is dominated by the religiously devout Kordate Union.
Vinacia in the southeast, of which only the fringes have been explored, and it is dominated by the hive-mind insectoid race known as the Arc.
The world of Somal is undergoing rapid change, while magic is and always has been an important aspect to people’s lives, it is in competition with the recent increase in technology- steam engines, electric lights, gas-powered machinery and gunpowder. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Alkos City, capital of the human-dominated Alkon Empire and pinnacle of the world in trade, industry, science and culture. An industrial age revolution and economic prosperity have transformed it into a bustling metropolis. The growth of this is fueled by the ever-expanding railroad infrastructure and new sources of resources mined at the empire’s periphery. But there are forces and players in action that may destabilize this booming city and its empire. Alkos City is awash in politics, ambition, intrigue and agendas, and a vast array of people from all walks will find their lives intertwined and transformed.’
And here is a small excerpt from the book
“In the long ago days of our world the colossi were the dominant life forms. In their heyday they walked the earth like gods, massive creatures. When one of them passed by, the ground itself must have shaken like an earthquake. We have only fragments from those days, samples we have found in the fossil record, but what we have found is impressive,” said Professor Ling Xerin to her Zoology 110 class.
The first week of classes was always interesting, the new students fresh from high school, who were eager to learn with the excitement that seemed to flow through the Alkos University campus during that week. Then of course there were the looks she got from the less cosmopolitan students. Drakons weren’t exactly rare in the Alkon Empire, but they tended not to venture further than the capital or the other major cities of Daltilloch and Arketh. Any drakons that did business or immigrated here found that a bustling metropolis was well-suited to them.
The manuscript is finished but still needs a little polishing. Check my website and twitter for release news, coming soon.
Ryan McCall is based in New Zealand. His first two books, The Nanking War and Not By A Mine are available on Amazon in both print and ebook, they are alternate history novels covering different parts of Asian history.
He also has a short story coming up in Dark Eclipse, an ehorror monthly and Altered America, an alternate history anthology.
You can find him online at -http://writermccall.weebly.com/
Or on twitter @Writer_McCall
Initially envisioned as a trilogy I sat on the idea for a long time until I eventually published a book at the start of 2013 and decided to take writing more seriously. Once I started to write the story grew wider and grander than I ever could have anticipated. Now I have a planned five books with a massive cast.
A description of the world can be found below
‘The world of Somal, or Smal’Gin’Ghough in the ancient language meaning Land Which Provides, is full of diverse nations and peoples.
Four continents make up Somal, Maceon the most diverse in the north-humans, goblinoids, elves, drakons, kitsune, agorid beast-men and skylords all live in both conflict and peace here.
Xenish in the southwest-Weicarus-ancient nation of drakons and Minakaya, home to the kitsune folk, both static and slow-changing societies.
Kordate in the east, much of which is still a new frontier is dominated by the religiously devout Kordate Union.
Vinacia in the southeast, of which only the fringes have been explored, and it is dominated by the hive-mind insectoid race known as the Arc.
The world of Somal is undergoing rapid change, while magic is and always has been an important aspect to people’s lives, it is in competition with the recent increase in technology- steam engines, electric lights, gas-powered machinery and gunpowder. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Alkos City, capital of the human-dominated Alkon Empire and pinnacle of the world in trade, industry, science and culture. An industrial age revolution and economic prosperity have transformed it into a bustling metropolis. The growth of this is fueled by the ever-expanding railroad infrastructure and new sources of resources mined at the empire’s periphery. But there are forces and players in action that may destabilize this booming city and its empire. Alkos City is awash in politics, ambition, intrigue and agendas, and a vast array of people from all walks will find their lives intertwined and transformed.’
And here is a small excerpt from the book
“In the long ago days of our world the colossi were the dominant life forms. In their heyday they walked the earth like gods, massive creatures. When one of them passed by, the ground itself must have shaken like an earthquake. We have only fragments from those days, samples we have found in the fossil record, but what we have found is impressive,” said Professor Ling Xerin to her Zoology 110 class.
The first week of classes was always interesting, the new students fresh from high school, who were eager to learn with the excitement that seemed to flow through the Alkos University campus during that week. Then of course there were the looks she got from the less cosmopolitan students. Drakons weren’t exactly rare in the Alkon Empire, but they tended not to venture further than the capital or the other major cities of Daltilloch and Arketh. Any drakons that did business or immigrated here found that a bustling metropolis was well-suited to them.
The manuscript is finished but still needs a little polishing. Check my website and twitter for release news, coming soon.
Ryan McCall is based in New Zealand. His first two books, The Nanking War and Not By A Mine are available on Amazon in both print and ebook, they are alternate history novels covering different parts of Asian history.
He also has a short story coming up in Dark Eclipse, an ehorror monthly and Altered America, an alternate history anthology.
You can find him online at -http://writermccall.weebly.com/
Or on twitter @Writer_McCall
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