TRADITIONAL FANTASY: The Return?

Ok, so lately, MATHION has been getting some pretty good reviews, especially on Goodreads. One recurring comment I see is the positivity of MATHION's "traditional" storytelling. Let me say this, I never intended the MAVONDURI TRILOGY to shake the foundations of the fantasy genre in its first installment, so I'm glad that people have taken notice of my attempt to hearken back to Tolkien, Howard, and even Conan Doyle in terms of prose style. These authors have been very influential to me in that they created a sense of realism and depth to their fantasy histories. Be aware, though, that THE LAST ASCENSION and especially BOOK THREE will not follow this same formula; MATHION was meant to ease readers into the world through a mode they were already familiar with, and now that they are familiar with the world of the Lands of Émae I have more freedom to experiment with bringing more influences into the mythology as Mathion's story draws closer to its completion.

In terms of the writing itself, the only way (in my mind) to present this is by "translating" the stories from their source. What I mean by that is to tell the story as if it isn't a "story" at all, but rather a recounting of actual historical events that for one reason or another were lost to mankind over the centuries.

Many fantasy authors today try too hard to shake up the fantasy genre in order to meet the demands of a youth culture that, tragically, has lost an appreciation for the subcreative processes that make fantasy what it is. In a world of Twitter and Facebook many young readers are consistently looking for the "next hot thing" or something of that like. And in my personal perception this thought is a flawed one. I for one can't get enough of old stories that present the idea that "history is not what it seems to be" and takes ancient ideas of valor and honor and breathes new life into those morals. Many "fantasies" today are simply that, fantasies. True fantasy, traditional fantasy, is that mode of storytelling that impresses real world lessons on the minds of readers in a fantastical context.

Fantasy is meant, to an extent, to be "escapist" but not "evasive", especially given the times we live in. In a world that has ingratiated itself with the superficial and materialistic, I firmly believe that traditional motifs of fantasy storytelling will steer the world, in particular the youth of this world, into a more selfless and deeper mindset of setting others before themselves, and in that regard will help them "escape" the constraints of a world which demands they put themselves first.

That is not to say that there is no hope for fantasy! I think that the genre is poised for a return to mainstream prominence, and in order to do that we as fantasy authors will have to keep the minds of our readers in our minds as we continue to write. What are they expecting? How can we meet and exceed those expectations? And how can we keep this genre, which has been around since man first conceived of stories, grand and epic and heroic in a world where heroes are fewer and further between?

MAVONDURI 2012

As 2011 comes to an end, it's been a crazy year in retrospect. On January 3rd, MATHION made its world debut on the Barnes & Noble Nook, followed shortly thereafter with releases on Amazon's Kindle and Smashwords.com. Hundreds of people across three continents have read the first installment of the Mavonduri Trilogy, and despite the few that every novel has, received some notable acclaim. Australian fantasy novelist Shane Porteous wrote an alternative werewolf fantasy epic, HOW GODS BLEED, and I was astounded to read the introduction and find that MATHION had been his main inspiration. Averaging 4 out of 5 stars across all the major ebook sites? Better than I ever thought possible. But it brings a lot of pressure to the next year, and the next chapter in Mathion's journey from warrior to mythic hero.

Next year begins with a bang, as I'm encouraging everyone who reads this to retweet #Mathion on Twitter January 3rd, 2012 to celebrate Mathion's first year, and hopefully make it a trending topic on Twitter so it reaches more people. Shortly after, MAKING MATHION PART 2 will premiere on YouTube at TheMavoduriTrilogy. Check out MAKING MATHION PART 1 as well as Mathion's teaser trailer which, as far as I know, has the distinction of being the ONLY book trailer to be entirely made, edited and published all from an iPhone. So I've already got one bragging right...right?

But the big thing is Book Two of the MAVONDURI TRILOGY, THE LAST ASCENSION. I am currently in the thick of it, and finding it a larger, stranger, darker, and more challenging novel that MATHION ever was. Many of you have read excerpts, and I find myself having many questions to answer: Who is Akórahi? What is the real power behind the Uprisers? And I know it sounds cheesy but I'm continually asking myself, "Who will survive?"

Thank you everybody for making this 2011 very special, and a great first year for Mathion!

Wolfstones and the Concept of "Power" in THE MAVONDURI TRILOGY

One of the central themes of THE MAVONDURI TRILOGY is power. Whether it is political, personal, or supernatural, the concept of power plays an important role in Hâr-Mathion Mavonduri's evolution from warrior-prince to savior-king. With the writing of THE LAST ASCENSION: BOOK TWO OF THE MAVONDURI TRILOGY now in full swing, I have been forced to address this central theme in a way that I would have never thought I would have to: how does one handle the simultaneous gift and burden of power while at the same time maintaining oneself? Mathion struggles with the burden of knowledge that one day, when his father is gone, the people will look to him to lead and exert his political and authoritative power as King. And indeed it is a heavy burden: Mathion himself says to Kedaer that if he had a choice he would not even ascend the High Throne and would deliver the Wolf-crown back to the descendants of Erios. But he doesn't. For him, Mathion, it is one's sense of responsibility that determines the control of power over oneself, and the fear of that power is what will cause it to become unchecked and furthermore abused. This comes to a head within the pages of THE LAST ASCENSION, in which a political faction emerges that threatens to upend the balance of power. And while Mathion still maintains his loyalty to his father as his King, he knows that something must be done in order to remind the people that power that is contested is power that will destroy.

On the other hand, Azgharáth has ingratiated himself with both authoritative and demonic power. As told in HRÉOKAI, Azgharáth was consumed by hatred and misguided desire for vengeance. This, combined with the influence of the malevolent deity Ak'horos, drove Azgharáth into a frenzied bloodlust and in turn power. And though he was blessed with great power, he abused it and in doing so destroyed what he once had. Azgharáth, in his quest for vengeance, has completely alienated himself from any positive emotional connection, and while he is feared by his people they bear no love for him. There are only a few who are loyal, but within the packs of the Kânín loyalty only goes so far.


Within the mythology of THE MAVONDURI TRILOGY, as shown in MATHION, there are the Wolfstones: ancient crystals from the creation of the World that hold immense power. In fact, it is stated that these Stones hold within them the actual, tangible power of life itself. This idea was initially hard to grasp even for me, because even though the mythology of the Lands of Émae was of my design, through mysterious sub-creative processes there emerged abstract concepts that I did not foresee. But because they were so integrated with the world, I had no choice but to discover their true significance. Many people have encountered difficulty when Mathion's Wolfstone plays a role in the plot, but it is often easy to forget that life has a will of its own, and it will act in such a way that serves a greater purpose that we cannot see. It is hard, even for me, to define the Wolfstones' ultimate roles in this trilogy, but their fullest potential has yet to be revealed to me.

The Wolfstones and THE MAVONDURI TRILOGY's themes of power are deeply interconnected, as the Wolfstones are the physical embodiment of power on earth. They (the Wolfstones) are simultaneously sacred religious objects and instruments of power, that can be used to heal or hurt, to clarify or coerce, and they can allow those who possess them to do great, and terrible, things. This brings to light a powerful philosophical question that mankind has asked itself since the dawn of self-awareness: Do we control life, or does life control us?

Special Treat for #SampleSunday

Ok so I've been away for a while and a lot has been going on; I've gotten a healthy dose of both positive AND negative reviews for MATHION. Nonetheless as an early Halloween "treat", I present to you a sneak peek excerpt from THE LAST ASCENSION, book two in the MAVONDURI TRILOGY.

Enjoy!

The Empty Scabbard had a low-lying ceiling supported by thick wooden beams, and these beams continued down the walls, and braced into these vertical beams were brass oil lamps that illuminated the pub with a pleasant flickering yellow light. Yet it was very wide and very long, and so had room for well over fifty soldiers to sit and drink and eat comfortably. There was a rich medley of scents, from the fermented ale to aged mead and meaty stew and potatoes to imported Kôvudénean pastries and Kiharian cream-cakes. There was a large floor-to-ceiling fireplace at one end of the pub, with a small makeshift stage for the minstrels to play their instruments and stomp their feet as they sang old songs that had been passed down for generations upon generations.

On Mathion’s left side was a structure that many had come to acknowledge as the greatest feat of carpentry ever accomplished in Hádakaš: what many had affectionately come to nickname the Long Oak Bastard. This was, as its name implied, a two hundred-foot long bar of solid oak that was as long as the entire length of the Empty Scabbard. Behind it was a shelf stacked to tipping with bottles of the finest fermented drinks this side of the Greatwater. Looking through the sea of ruddy faces, Mathion spotted Narios, Kéle’il and Oharion at the far end of the Long Oak Bastard, a mug to each man. He walked up, and Kéle’il, obviously drunk, spun around in his stool.

“What is it now? I’m tired,” complained Kéle’il. “Can’t this wait until morning?

HARBINGER OF DOOM: THE FALLEN ANGLE Review Coming Soon!

I'm currently reading the second installment of Glenn Thater's HARBINGER OF DOOM series, and will be posting a review soon after I finish. So far it is a very exciting read, and this book is shaping up to be Lord Theta's show, for which I'm very excited! Stay tuned!

Synopsis:

In The Fallen Angle, Glenn G. Thater transports you to a time of legendary heroes, armored knights, spectacular duels, courtly intrigue, otherworldly evils, and ancient, forbidden magics. Though it can be read as a stand alone tale, The Fallen Angle is the second story in Thater's Harbinger of Doom series and picks up shortly after the events chronicled in The Gateway.

Claradon, the young Lord of House Eotrus, stands accused of murder and treason by his family's political rivals while on the trail of the chaos lord that slew those dearest to him. Claradon has recruited the mysterious knight of mystical power called Angle Theta to aid him is his quest. But Claradon has bought far more than he's bargained for, when his comrade Ob discovers the terrifying secret of Angle Theta. A secret so horrifying as to shatter a man's mind and call into question the very nature of good and evil.

THE HARBINGER OF DOOM SAGA
The Harbinger of Doom saga centers around one Lord Angle Theta, an enigmatic warrior of unknown origins and mystical power. No mortal man is his match in battle. No sorcery can contain or confound him. No scholar or sage can outwit him. But for all his skills, he is but one of us; a man, a human, who shares our faults, our dreams, and our ambitions. He boldly strides across the land, fearless, peerless, and cloaked in mystery; all his will bent on righting such wrongs as he deems fit.
Until the day the Gateway opened and turned the world on its head. On that fateful day, Korrgonn came and washed away our dreams. And his outre’ realms of chaos set their unholy mark upon our world and claimed it for their own.
Only Theta and his companions see the enemies aligning against us. Only they foresee our end coming -- the end of civilization, the end of the world of man. Only they can hope to turn the tide of madness and preserve all that we hold dear.
But no man, not even our greatest hero, can stand against the Lords of Chaos and the dark armies of Nifleheim at their command. Fiends that infiltrate unseen within our ranks, that tear down our temples and our traditions; that devour us from within, unseen, unknown, unheralded, and unopposed until the hour grows far too late.
Through the murk and mist that hangs before our eyes, one man only sees true. One man pierces the veil of magic that blinds us all and marks the world as it truly is, revealing secrets, secrets of Angle Theta, so horrifying as to shatter a man’s mind and call into question the very nature of good and evil.
Join us now on our journey back to the days of high adventure.

The Harbinger of Doom Saga
Book 1: The Gateway
Book 2: The Fallen Angle
Book 3: Knight Eternal
Books 1 & 2 combined: Harbinger of Doom
Book 4+ (forthcoming)
About the Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR For more than twenty-five years, Glenn G. Thater has written works of fiction and historical fiction focusing on the genres of heroic fantasy and sword and sorcery. His published works of fiction include the first three volumes of the Harbinger of Doom saga -- The Gateway, The Fallen Angle, and Knight Eternal, and the short story The Hero and the Fiend, which appears in the anthology Shameless Shorts. Mr. Thater holds a bachelor's degree in Physics with concentrations in Astronomy and Religious Studies, and a master's degree in Civil Engineering, specializing in Structural Engineering. He has undertaken advanced graduate study in Classical Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, and Astrophysics, and is a practicing, licensed, professional engineer specializing in multi-disciplinary alteration and remediation of buildings, and the forensic investigation of building failures and other disasters. Mr. Thater has investigated failures and collapses of numerous structures around the United States and internationally. Since 1998, he has served on the American Society of Civil Engineers' Technical Council on Forensic Engineering, and is the Chairman of that Council's Committee on Practices to Reduce Failures. Mr. Thater is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional and has testified as an expert witness in the field of structural engineering before the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Mr. Thater is an author of numerous scientific papers, magazine articles, engineering textbook chapters, and countless engineering reports. He has lectured across the United States and internationally on such topics as the World Trade Center collapses, bridge collapses, and on the construction and analysis of the dome of the United States Capital in Washington D.C. Many of Mr. Thater's stories and story excerpts are posted on his official website http://www.glenngthater.com, where fans may leave comments and questions.

You can find THE FALLEN ANGLE and the rest of the HARBINGER OF DOOM SAGA on Amazon.com by clicking here!

World Premiere- HRÉOKAI: THE RISE OF AZGHARÁTH

In the interim between MATHION and THE LAST ASCENSION (mainly due to computer issues which I unfortunately have no control over), I am very proud to present the latest OFFICIAL installment in the Mavonduri Legendarium. Going back over ten thousand years before the emergence of the Wolven, I decided to shed some light on the antagonist of the entire trilogy, the High Lord of the Werewolves himself, Azgharáth the Betrayer.

The joy of writing this little novella was exploring what made Azgharáth who he is. Where in MATHION Azgharáth's history was only touched upon, here I was able to really dig deep into his psyche and his simultaneous fall and rise. I won't give away all the spoilers here, but I am very pleased to say that you can witness the rise of the Betrayer for FREE at
Smashwords by clicking here.

And if you notice the image I used for the cover of the book (which is partially due to its lack of expense), you may notice a familiar face. Let it be known here and now that this IS the face of the High Lord himself. No substitutes accepted!! Happy reading all, let me know how you like it!

#SampleSunday World Premiere! From the Appendices of MATHION

This SampleSunday, I'm giving you all a real treat: a never-before-seen excerpt from the Appendices of Mathion: Book One of the Mavonduri Trilogy! The text I'll be presenting to you today is part of Appendix II, which covers the geography of the Lands of Émae, where the Mavonduri Trilogy is set. It, along with the rest of the Appendices (which will appear in each book of the Trilogy, along with notes from Prof. Cillian R. Khandjian, who discovered the Mavonduri documents--more on that later!) was written by a Wolven sage named Paliro, who survived the Cataclysm that sunk these vast landmasses over 10,000 years ago. Read carefully, and you may find some major clues to The Last Ascension: Book Two of the Mavonduri Trilogy. Enjoy!

APPENDIX II – THE LANDS OF ÉMAE

Mathion’s homeland of Ánovén is but the southern continent of a vast landmass, comprised of two large continents connected by a narrow land-bridge. Collectively, these are known as the Lands of Émae. This Appendix will primarily concern itself with the geography of the lands themselves, but will also touch upon the different geopolitical regions and spheres of influence of the Cénáre, the Kânín, and the Akáre.

(i)

Geography of the Three Kingdoms

Kânavad

Geographically speaking, the lands of Kânavad and Ánovén were vastly different from each other. Kânavad was comprised of a diverse landscape of mountains, desert, and a large forest in the north of the land. The environment that covered the most area was known as the Karváde or Deadlands, a vast desert that had taken in the harsh rays of the sun every day for many thousands of years. However, the Karváde is not a vast sea of brown sand. Rather, it is a vast grey plain of dry, cracked rock, littered with black stone and only faint thimbles of weed and brush. The heat of that land, or at least the southern portion of it, is so intense that the heat actually reverberates off of the rocks in shimmering waves.
To the north of the Karváde is a great, dark forest. No name is found for this forest in either the Kæna’ar or Old Cénárol languages, but in the Akáric tongue of Kôvudén it is called Ordos Âhānuv (Forest of the Werewolves). Cold, biting winds sweep through that forest, and the trees trap this cold air in; how they do not freeze into ice it is not said in the histories. Further north of this forest, near the base of the Great Mountains, rumor has told of vast fields of blue flowers that are ever in bloom.
Perhaps the most notable geographical feature of the Kânavadian continent is the Várhade or Great Mountains. These towers of sheer grey stone rose well over fifteen thousand feet above the sea, crowned with white snow from ever-present clouds that hovered above their summits. The Várhade stretched in a continuous range from just south of the city of Bazôkaš on the northernmost peninsula of Kânavad, down into East Ánovén, just east of the port-city of Ohakaš (these are known as the "Southern Highpeaks" among my people), making it undoubtedly the longest mountain range in the Lands of Émae.
West of the city of Padakis was the only inland sea in the Lands of Émae. It was a freshwater body of water, and some accounts from the Men of Kôvudén claim that the Padakisian werewolves, the only breed capable of swimming, use this sea as a training area.

Kôvudén

The “Dominion of Kôvu” is (geographically speaking) a part of the Kânavadian continent, but is autonomous and under the protection of the South-realm. The most westerly region of “Elôvad” (the proper name of the entire Northern Continent) was unusually more fertile and lush than the rest of the northern lands: vast fields of green cover the landscape, dotted by ridges of dark stone here and there. There is only one notable mountain in Kôvudén—Had Kôvu, where Padilar Kôvu was crowned the first King of Kôvudén and where the Realm of Men was established. From that mountain, a river of crystal-clear water flowed north into the Sea of Kânavad.
Kôvudén’s capital city of Kalendu is bordered on the east by the Forest of Kalendu, which the hidden Watchers occupy, protecting their king from enemies that might wish to kill him. The city itself is built at the summit of tall seaside cliffs, against which the waves of the Kânavadian Sea continuously crash against.
One of the recognized borders of Kôvudén is the beginning of the Gulf Mountains or Ecirháde. These begin as large, round knolls of dark stone, and slowly became tall mountains, though not as tall as the Várhade or the Southern Highpeaks.

Degos Enath

Degos Enath, the Dark Valley, is the name of that narrow land-bridge that separates Kânavad and Ánovén. The land-bridge was bordered on either side by mountains: the Várhade on the east and the Gulf Mountains on the west. The ranges sloped down and eventually leveled out at the bottom, forming a valley where a tangled forest grew out of the fertile soil. This forest, commonly called the Degoštel by the Cénáre loremasters, was a thick forest, warm and muggy, and hard for one to breathe in. The branches of the trees were as gnarled as old hands, yet they were thick and brown, as if they were still in the vigor of youth.
A legendary feature of this area of land was not natural, but man-made: the Guardian Towers. One built on the slopes of the Great Mountains, the other on an outcrop of the Gulf Mountains, these towers maintained a staunch vigil over the Karváde to the north. Their construction was commissioned by Hâr-Erios in the early years of the South-realm, and they endured to the time of Mathion.

Ánovén

I know more of my own land than the others so described above, so it is here where I will say the most.
The geography of the South-realm is vastly different from that of the Northern Empire. Ánovén is a land of green meadows and rolling hills, of lush forests and high mountains. Its territory comprises the area from that unseen border drawn by the Guardian Towers in Degos Enath, and extends down to the uttermost of the Southern Isles. From Mekelir to Néktas, Avakaš to Ohakaš; all of it is Ánovén.
The land along the Great Gulf bears a mountain chain of great renown: the Red Mountains or Keženháde. They are so named for their crimson stone, of which legend tells that Ka’én, the Creator, shed his own blood in a sign of blessing upon the three Wolven houses of Etheôn, Géledor, and Padilos. These mountains are our most prominent, and the Mountain-city of Hádakaš was built along that range.
The river Váracar or Greatwater is a long, winding ribbon of sapphire blue water that flows from its sources in the Mountain-walls of Degos Enath to the delta in the deep south, ultimately emptying into the Southern Bay, making the Váracar the longest river in all the Lands of Émae.
The length of the Great River divided Ánovén into two distinct regions: East Ánovén and West Ánovén (this natural boundary also contributed to the distinct dialects of the South-realm). To the west were the cities of Mekelir, Avakaš (the chief city of the whole of the South-realm), Štélue (home to the Regent of Ánovén), and Hádakaš. On the east were Kihar (the chief city of East Ánovén), Ohakaš, and Néktas, along with various other smaller towns and cities united under their banner. The city of Fordótas is unique among the great cities of the South-realm: while situated on the western bank of the Greatwater, is largely held by both its people and the rest of Ánovén, to be part of the Eastern regions, and so falls under the authority of the High Steward of Kihar. The West and the East were connected by two bridges: the Bridge of Váracar in the north, at the confluence of Greater and Lesser Váracar, and the Bridge of Štélue, just shy of twenty-eight leagues to the south of Fordótas.
In the eastern region of Ánovén was the Várhade Ánôho, the southern reach of the Great Mountains, commonly known as the Southern Highpeaks. It was here that the grey stone aladar was discovered and used as the primary stone with which the Cénáre used to construct their fortresses and walled cities. Aladar was sturdy and held up to strong winds that periodically came from the sea during the summer months.
The whole of the Ánovénean continent was shaped like that of a waxing crescent moon. The waters within the great Ohar Ánovéno were very warm, particularly during that period of the year from the Hléodai Iktir’vânol through the end of the month of Oharel. These caused great storms wielding strong winds and dark clouds to form and travel along a path that curved north and east along the coasts of both Ánovén and Kôvudén, often impacting the capital city of Kalendu and the Port-city of Taqár, and (though less frequently) the city of Mekelir on the western coast of Ánovén. These storms were also rumored to form great funnels of cloud that churned the water and destroyed many traveling ships that came across them, as well as lightning and hail. The hailstones could be (as Narios of Hádakaš and Kir-Dovosir of Štélue reported) as large as the catapult-stones that defend the city of Avakaš, and able to slice through several feet of strong oak.