In the vast landscape of fantasy literature, few books capture the imagination quite like “How to Forget to Remember to Forget about Magic,” penned by Kristen M Chambers and Viktor H Strangewayes. The first volume of the Journey Eternal series, this epic tale is a masterful blend of adventure, magic, and timeless battles, meticulously crafted by the VAAL’BARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Laurence P. Cromwell, the central character, embarks on a quest that many have dreamt of but few have dared to undertake. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a string of mystical childhood encounters, Laurence becomes obsessed with the idea of true magic. His journey is not just about finding magic but understanding its place in the world and its potential to transform lives.
A Quest for True Magic
Laurence’s journey begins in the mundane reality of our present day, a stark contrast to the extraordinary events that unfold. His relentless search through ancient tomes and forgotten relics reveals a world hidden beneath the surface of our everyday lives. Unlike typical magical artifacts that beg to be used, many of these objects are best left undisturbed, their power too great and their intentions too murky for mere mortals to comprehend.
Joined by two unlikely companions, Laurence’s quest takes him across billions of years and multiple worlds, navigating the complex timelines that weave together humanity’s magical past and its potentially catastrophic future. The trio’s mission is daunting: to restore magic to its former glory before time runs out. Along the way, they must confront not only external adversaries but also their own inner demons and precarious destinies.
Unveiling a Dark and Magical World
How to Forget to Remember to Forget about Magic” is more than a fantasy novel; it’s a richly layered narrative that explores the fine line between reality and imagination. The authors pull back the veil to reveal a world teeming with dark magic, demons, and a battle that transcends the conventional dichotomy of good and evil. The heroes and villains are not mere caricatures; they are complex beings, each grappling with their own moral quandaries and internal conflicts.
As readers journey with Laurence and his companions, they are drawn into a universe where nothing is as it seems. The narrative is filled with powerful magic, hard choices, and emotional struggles. The dark imagery and inner monologues add depth to the characters, making their experiences palpable and their struggles relatable.
An Epic Tale for the Ages
This first volume is a colossal work, essentially three full-length novels combined into one, spanning an impressive 986 pages. It’s an immersive experience, promising readers an extensive journey through time, space, and the very fabric of magic itself. With two more volumes on the horizon, set to be released over the next two years, the Journey Eternal series is poised to become a cornerstone of fantasy literature.
The upcoming volumes, “How to Consume Friends and Eradicate People” and “How to Regret Your Life and Recover from Death,” promise to expand on the already vast universe introduced in the first installment. Scheduled for release in early 2025 and 2026 respectively, these volumes will continue to be available for free, ensuring that the magical adventures of Laurence P. Cromwell and his companions remain accessible to all.
The Magic of Belief
At its core, “How to Forget to Remember to Forget about Magic” is a story about belief. It’s about having faith in the unseen, the improbable, and the extraordinary. The book challenges readers to look beyond the surface, to question what they know, and to embrace the possibility that magic is not just a figment of the imagination but a profound reality waiting to be rediscovered.
For those eager to embark on this journey, the book is available for download on the VAAL’BARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY’s website and across various platforms through Smashwords. It has already garnered attention on Goodreads, inviting readers to delve into its pages and lose themselves in a world where fantasy and reality blur, and where the true power of magic lies just beyond the reach of the ordinary.
About Viktor
Viktor is an isolated, strange man with a mind set adrift within another world. He spends most of his days outside this reality, residing within a forgotten domain suspended between realms. Dedicated to scouring all possible avenues left to him, he has begun the painstaking process of working through an otherworldly library, translating every tome and manuscript at his disposal so that we, too, may learn their many truths. Often risking bodily or psychological harm, even the most dangerous grimoire is never left unopened for long.
If you would like to read his true story on how he became an author and Chronicler of Time, you can find it here: https://vaalbarahistoricalsociety.org/our-true-story/
A Final Word
As readers prepare to dive into this monumental tale, they are reminded of one crucial truth: not all fantasy is fiction, and nothing is ever quite as it seems. Laurence P. Cromwell’s journey is a testament to the power of belief, the allure of magic, and the timeless struggle between light and darkness. It invites readers to forget what they know and to remember the magic that has always been there, waiting to be rediscovered.
We had the privilege of interviewing Viktor. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Can you tell us more about your book? What is it about?
How to Forget to Remember to Forget Magic revolves around the story that humanity is long descended from a race called the Xahl’thari, who used Magic quite effectively to retaliate against a horrific evil, but have since forgotten who they are and where they have come from. Our enemies, however, have not forgotten. The main protagonists delve extensively into time travel, heading backward in time countless years, in an effort to not only stop terrible events from spiraling out of control in the future, but also attempt to correct a corruption that’s begun to grow within them. This book is filled with powerful Magic, hard choices, emotional struggles, dark imagery, inner monologue, peculiar characters, complex villains, and incredible locations – all of which are real, of course. If you have enough faith.
Who do you think would be interested in this book, is it directed at any particular market?
This book resonates with anyone from young adult to those of us who have traveled the world for a time, so to speak. It will appeal to people who fancy themselves a bit of a misfit, have a true imagination, an open mind, a desire to believe in Magic, and a turn toward darkness, whether they act upon it or not.
Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favorite and why?
Anne McCaffery comes to mind for world building and attention to detail. L.A. Meyer for casual ease of reading, word slinging, and keeping the reader on their toes. Stephen King is prominent on my shelves for his dark imagery. James S. A. Corey for grit and realism with an eye toward the future.
What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?
Write something and then read several books – authors you haven’t given a shot yet. Learn as much as you can from your peers. Then, start back at the beginning of your story and review your writing again. Keep working through it over and over in that fashion. Above all, do not write to be famous or to secure an income; write because you love to write. If you’re passionate enough, and you pour enough into your work, you just may find you’ve earned the following you desire.
Where can our readers find out more about you? Do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?
You can find out more about us at https://vaalbarahistoricalsociety.org/ or www.ForgetMagic.com – they both go to the same place, but the latter address is certainly easier to remember despite the suggestion. There you can download our books for free, contact us, interact with a map depicting our heroes’ journey, and learn a few more details about everyone involved.
What was the inspiration for your book?
To be truthful, I was never interested in being an author. However, after suffering a seizure and head trauma, I began to experience a reoccurring dream which seemed benign enough at first but turned into so much more. Since then, recounting this journey has become my obsession, and I find myself incapable of surviving without it.
There are a lot of concepts within your books from magic, corruption, time-travel and people who have really forgotten who they were. How did you leverage them all to create an engaging story?
I never found myself in a position where I felt I had to leverage anything within this book. I was placed in a position where I followed alongside the characters, and watched as their intent to uncover aspects of the truth led to discoveries within themselves and our ancient past. I accepted what I wrote as truth, and did my absolute best to document, in as much detail as I could, exactly what took place, whether it was tragedy or triumph. It is simply my wish to share that journey with those willing to believe it as well.
What has been the biggest challenge when writing the first book? Your most cherished moment?
This is an unapologetically long story. Volume One is of approximate length to the first four Harry Potter novels, and it only contains parts 1-3 of 9. Publishing a book that long is nearly impossible. Publishers wouldn’t even look at it, and I received responses of “cut it down by ¾.” If they only knew, I couldn’t delete even a single word; Laurence’s Magic wouldn’t let me. Worse, most self-publishers can’t even handle the printing of it, save for one. This series pushes the limits of what is possible right now, and unfortunately that is a daunting and expensive venture to pursue.
Furthermore, no one has heard of the Society. It has proven to be an immense hurdle to expose the story for the value it contains, even when attempting to pass it out for free, due to the volume of free stories being produced on the market every single day. That being said, my happiest moments come from when people begin to read it and they see why they were destined to take the journey with me. When I receive a letter telling me how much it has changed them, it makes me smile because I know I’ve done something that has enhanced not only another person’s life but the future of humanity itself.
What is your favorite moment within the book?
For me, that is a terrible question. I have several favorite moments in the book, but I can’t truthfully divulge any of them without sharing powerful details that a reader must discover for themselves before truly appreciating their significance. I will say, I find myself smiling most when the main protagonists run into a number of peculiar characters that exist not only in the shadows of our current society but also far in the past and, possibly, out of time altogether. Doug Bug, Ekklan Ekklan, Melvin, and many others have no modern-world equivalents. I feel readers will find their lives enhanced by having met them.
You have two more books in the series in the works. Can you tell us more about them?
Volume One through Three should be viewed as one complete journey from start to finish. If you think you’ll read Part One of Volume One and reach a satisfying ending, you will find yourself sorely mistaken. Nor, for that matter, do I suspect you will find yourself capable of pausing at that point. Volume Two will pick up precisely where Volume One left off, as will the Third. That being said, I can tell you that Volume One largely deals with the present, going back to the past. Volume Two deals largely with the past, moving back into the present, and Volume Three deals with the present, moving out into the future, and then beyond. This entire journey starts very small, with a child and an airplane. When you reach its conclusion, you will have expanded your knowledge beyond our universe.
Thank you so much, Viktor, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!
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