I created this to possibly go at the beginning of the first book. I wanted my current reader's feedback. I thought it might give the book a bit of uniqueness.

Forward

The manuscript for this book was found during the renovation of the monument to Lady Emily Paper in 1136 L.C. The box was believed to be a time capsule left by Lord Amos Bicman. Several other items were in the box, including what is believed to be the first drawing of the Bicman pulp grinder, a portrait of Emily Paper, a letter sent to Amos during her time at Kimton, and an original paper tray.

Although not considered his greatest work, the manuscript is significant in the world of literature because it sparked a new genre in literature worldwide. The literary community gave Amos Bicman the title of Father of Transmigration Novels.

It is a dramatized retelling of the life of Amos Bicman starting at the time he first inherited the Barony of Bicman in 643 L.C. It is considered historical fiction in nature, but how much of it is true is still under debate. Some of the ideas presented by the author are not mentioned in any of his writings or the histories written about him. Also, some of the ideas presented in the book were not discovered until after his death. This has given rise to the belief that this work is an elaborate hoax and was not written by Amos Bicman. The Cult of the Chosen is the main suspect, but they have always denied their involvement.

The counterargument does have some merit. The carbon dating of the writings and the quality of the paper both suggest its age is accurate. The penmanship matches other preserved writings of Lord Amos Bicman. The other main argument is that some of the concepts discussed in the book were not only not presented during his lifetime but were not even theorized at the time of the uncovering of the time capsule. Some of the words he used seemed like nonsense until you compare them with modern concepts.

A good example is the field of quantum mechanics. He claimed he had no idea how it all worked but talked a bit about things smaller than atoms and some random properties he had heard about on what he called the Internet—something that seems to be similar to our world Infobase.

For a full list of theories and inventions discussed but not in existence at the time of the discovery of the manuscript, please read the article "How the Bicman Manuscript Changed Our World" 1 written by John H. Plimgus.

The Bicman Manuscript has been translated into sixteen languages, and over four million copies have been sold. However, it is currently banned in several countries due to its negative portrayal of some cultures. The Colish Republic has spoken out against the book due to its depiction of the Arlish. Arlinian histories describe Amos Bicman as an oppressor and claim he invaded their land strictly for profit.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Some fanatics claim that the book is the true history of Amos Bicman, that he was, in fact, Chosen of the Endless and came from another world. This, however, can be debunked by the fact that the book is written from multiple points. Also, on a personal note, it is hard to imagine such a weak-willed individual growing into the leader that history claims he became.

This book has led to more questions than answers about Lord Bicman's life. Most, however, agree that its contents should be taken with a grain of salt and enjoyed as it is—a wonderful work produced by a man ahead of his time.

The original contents of the time capsule can be found in the Herik Museum of History in Belfam, Arboli.

-Professor Kurt Mulum, PhD

Carok University

Introduction

I decided to write this now instead of waiting because, in my position, you never know how long you have until you end up with a knife in your back. I wrote this book in the form of a story because I detest the idea of autobiographies. That being said, what I write in this book is the truth. I do not claim that all the dialogue in it is exactly accurate. How would I remember all the conversations I had so many years ago?

I do give excerpts of conversations had by other people or write from others' perspectives. Some of these have come from me speaking to these individuals after the fact and uncovering what they were thinking at the time. Some of them come from research into people's lives, so they are possible but not factual. Some are completely fictitious but help to move the story along.

I certainly would not have been able to interview the duchess without sticking a knife in her chest. Some may consider her a liberator. I, however, know how much blood is on her hands.

I promise to be honest in my writing. I will not shy away from telling you of the mistakes I made when I first came to this world. I was naive and scared. I was a fish out of water, and that is the only excuse I can give for the follies of my youth. So much suffering was caused by my unwillingness to change those first few months. On the other hand, how much suffering was avoided because the Endless One chose to bring me to Marth? Remember, you can choose how you act, but you don't get to choose the consequences of your actions.

The world I came from was quite different from this one. If I had to guess, this world was at least 2000 years, possibly even 3000 years behind mine in technology and culture. Sometimes, I look back and wonder how much I could have done if I had been a student of history or maybe of science. If I had been a doctor in my past life, would I have revolutionized medicine? But then I think of what I accomplished with the limited knowledge I have, and I am amazed. It is hard to believe that such small bits of knowledge helped to shape the world. A piece of wisdom from a man who has weathered life's storms. Living life with no regrets does not mean you are perfect. It means you accept yourself and always move forward.

I am sure that not all of this story is accurate. Please forgive my memory. It has been a while for some of these things. Also, what is a story without a little dramatization?

I dedicate this book to my dearest friend Emily, who always made me smile, even when she didn't mean to.

-Amos Bicman the First