Having grown up in the 1980s there was no dearth of great science fiction or fantasy content. At that time there were also plenty of films and television shows that combined elements of both genres. For most of the time I that have been writing, my 30s and now my 40s, I have written primarily science fiction and only dabbled in fantasy, generally of the paranormal variety. It was not until recently, 2024 to be precise, that I began re-watching many of those films I’d loved so much as a child and got the notion into my head that I would enjoy very much crafting my own world and characters within the “science fantasy” genre.
This work is also influenced by my intense interests in military history, religion, and politics as well as my general affection for short stories as a medium. There are many influences, both western and eastern, in the universe that I have crafted and will now give you a brief precis of.
No time frame is given, as the general assumption is that these stories do not take place in our particular universe and thus do not reference Earth or any dates that would register on our calendar. One may assume, as a generality, that the setting is the far future, as star travel has been a common feature of this universe for no less than 100,000 years. Humanity, or at least the species that is analogous in this setting, is spread across an entire spiral galaxy as well as two satellite galaxies. These galaxies can be said to roughly resemble the Milky Way, the Large Magellanic Cloud, and the Small Magellanic Cloud, though not precisely.
In this universe space is populated by countless intelligent, the vast majority of which also possess interstellar travel capabilities. There is also a plethora of lesser life forms which have been spread far and wide as sentient species moved from one place to another, bringing with them the flora and fauna or their native worlds. This has left few ecosystems which remain intact in their original form. Likewise very few governments or societies are homologous, tending toward being composed of multiple intelligent species with a multitude of beliefs and languages. Political spheres of influence range from small to very large and number in, at least, the dozens. Despite this only three governments control any truly vast swathes of the galaxies. These are known as the Kingdom of Elysia, The Hyperion Supremacy, and the Systems Confederation.
The first, Elysia, is the oldest center of human power in the known space. It is said to be nearly as old as space travel itself and that the ancient homeworld of mankind is contained somewhere within its borders, though others have speculated an extra-galactic origin for humanity with no fact or evidence to bolster that claim. Elysia is prosperous and, within the confines of its own worlds, wholly peaceful. Outside of its own sphere, however, the Elysian government is regarded as self-righteous and meddling. It wields great influence in galactic events through its near-chokehold on verudian, the priceless psychoreactive mineral that amplifies arcana, or magic as you and I would understand it. Elysia also projects power through its powerful war fleets and its vast numbers of the warrior mages known as Vanguards, members of the Order of the Luminous Path.
The second, the Hyperion Supremacy, exists as the antithesis of the Kingdom of Elysia in nearly all ways, save for its own propensity to meddle in affairs outside of its own worlds. It is ruled over by the Sovereign Zerephus II, an emperor in all but name. Supremacy society could best be described as Nietzschean authoritarianism, where striving for power and leaving the weak behind is at the very core of its philosophy. While poor in verudian the supremacy controls vast quantities of omidite, a mineral with similar properties, if much less powerful. Supremacy military doctrine is to maintain strength through overwhelming numbers, both in space and on the ground. It wields arcana via the power of the Crimson Legion; dark mages known as Acolytes, disciples of the red sorcerer of Hellion Prime, Malikar.
Stolen novel; please report.
The third, the Systems Confederation, is far smaller and less homologous than either of the two other great powers. It is a free and open democracy, with all of the benefits and drawbacks that come with such a system. Confederation leadership attempts to keep itself and other smaller powers out of the centuries-long cold war between Elysia and the Supremacy, but they have not always been successful in this respect. Positioned between the two warring factions, however, the Confederation acts as something of a trade broker between the two, and between each and the galaxy at large as well. This enables it to maintain a sizeable military of its own. Its space has become known as a haven for Ronin, wandering exiles from the Order of the Luminous Path and the Crimson Legion.
Travel between stars is made possible through the use of starslip, a technology many believe humanity to be the progenitor of. Routes are charted by warpships; massive vessels powered by omidite cores that can pull energy directly from the ether and thus travel with limitless power. These ships are designed to be self-sufficient in deep space for years, even decades, at a time. They can navigate slipspace safely only through the telepathic link between their coresmen, specialized mages trained in summoning energy via the core, and the navigator, spice-cats capable of the prescience necessary to sense any obstacles in the path of travel through slipspace. Once a route, most commonly referred to as a starway, is charted smaller craft with navigation computers can traverse in relative safety. Routes are maintained long-term by slip-capable probes that map constantly for any changes in the starway.
Instant travel between worlds is facilitated by a network of oculus gates, their origin lost to history. They are extant in all three explored galaxies, on roughly every one in twenty habitable worlds. Their presence can often be sensed by highly-attuned mages. This has led to speculation that they operate by means of some unknown form of arcana.
Arcana, magic as you and I would call it, emanates from the ever-present source of all things, the En. It is accessible to all, but only the most dedicated, sparing those rare individuals born with a natural gift for it, may wield it with any true skill. Through its mastery abilities such as telekinesis, telepathy, prescience, and even limited control over matter itself can be made possible. These are the skills that are used by the specialized trades as well as the warrior mages, who are considered generalists, and whose goal is to attain proficiency in multiple abilities rather than mastery of any particular one. These myriad skills, combined with intense physical and mental conditioning, cement them as the most formidable warriors in known space.
Through this foreword it is my hope that I have established to you, the reader, the very basic foundation of the world in which these stories will take place. I will continue to write them over time, with no set schedule for release as I find that putting myself into a place where I absolutely must create robs me of the want to create. If you enjoy them please drop me an email telling me so, as my motivation has always been more to share my stories than to make any profit from them.
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