When Worlds Collide
Throughout his life, Barliman wondered about the great civilization that once existed on his world. Their highly advanced remnants are strewn throughout the landscape. In the early stages of Till Our Worlds Collide, Barliman becomes a mage-priest and uses his position to question the rumors about the giants that live on his planet generations ago. He’s one of the few humans questioning why and how his people came to be and their relationship with the giants. He had the right to know the real history of his world.
While training to become a High Priest, Barliman and fellow trainee, Gwenaelle, an attractive red-head, sneak away from the temple one night to explore the nearby ruins. There they meet Ironheart, a robot built by the giants. Barliman convinces the mechanical man to reveal the past. He and Gwenaelle learn about a great war that left humanity fragmented into small bands of survivors. The magic they learned at the temple is an imitation of the wondrous power their ancestors once wielded.
After Barliman is ordained as a High Priest, he returns to his village to meet Balamund, a member of a humanoid race with skin like polished stone and muscles like iron. Humans perceive these thyrs as inferior beasts of burden used for labor. The High Priest wonders why they are enslaved. Balamund works on Baliman’s family farm. They meet one day and eventually strike up a friendship that develops into a joint quest to unravel the mysteries of their world’s past.
Artnoob100 writes an exciting action-adventure sci-fi novel about their world’s societal taboos and discoveries about their hidden past. When they hear about a Scarlet Witch, an enchantress with fiery hair and a ghostly complexion, Barliman suspects she must be his friend, Gwenaelle, so the High Priest and his thyr friend seek her out.
Till Our Worlds Collide (Vol.1) is an exciting read until its shocking conclusion that leaves so many questions unanswered and left for a promised Vol 2. The plot keeps the reader wanting more, and the characters are well defined. My concern for characterization is trivial, but having two major characters who consistently interact with each other having similar names—Barliman and Balamund—left me having to think which was which? I suggest the author give the thyr character a name starting with any letter but B and use less syllables. Also, when the two men locate Gwenaelle in a cave, they not once question her about the horrible rumors they had heard about her. I found that strange.
With that said, Till Our Worlds Collide is a worthwhile read, so much so, I’m looking forward to Vol. 2.
About the Author
Artnoob100 is more than just a pen name, it defines a journey – one of resilience, determination, and adaption. The author has always been fascinated by digital art but never got the time for it – that is until time got him. After getting hit on his motorcycle by a truck, he ended up having plenty of time to himself in the hospital. He devoted himself to art every day for 100 days, starting as a complete beginner and steadily honing his skills. At that time, he also developed a fascination for speculative fiction – the ‘What Ifs’ in the realm of Science Fiction – inspired by such authors as C.M. Kosemen and Isaac Asimov.
Once he left the hospital, his new passion never faded and he continues to push boundaries, ever improving and embracing new horizons in his relentless pursuit of artistic and literary excellence.
I have also always wondered if there were civilizations in the past on earth that were more advanced then we are are now.