Warriors’ is an epic tale, spanning multiple worlds and multiple genres — fantasy, urban fantasy, and SF.
The thing I love about Warriors, and which makes it a unique read, is having magic and technology going up against each other. I can’t say too much without ruining the surprise, but it was a lot of fun to write! There is what “appears” to be a fantasy world — the Blessed Realms — that can stop an advanced space-faring civilization of bad guys — the Vaults of Sheol — dead in their track. Throw in a mind-controlling immortal alien warlord . . . and that’s just the start!
At its heart its heroic fantasy. Probably because I can’t help myself. My all time favourite author was British heroic fantasy writer David Gemmell. I will never be able to write like Gemmell, but all my writing is in part a tribute to his work & Warriors probably more than most.
The story in Warriors’ starts just before the turn of the last millennium — in the days leading up to 31st December 1999.
Does anyone remember all the fuss about the Y2K bug? We were all going to end up back in the Stone Age after all the computers that controlled the banks, the power, and the nuclear arsenals all went berserk! Thankfully, that didn’t happen. But the conspiracy theorists were in high gear, that’s for sure.
One of the challenges of writing a complex story that extends across so many worlds is where to begin! The story starts in Brisbane, Australia, with Liam Durrow, who goes on to play a pivotal role in events.
Warriors’ opens with a teaser article from a Sydney newspaper, which sets the scene for what has been happening there.
Sydney Morning Mail, 12th December 1999
“Unexplained Homeless Deaths Continue.” By reporter Danny Critchfield
Another homeless man was found dead in Sydney’s western suburbs yesterday, the seventh in less than a month. Police continue to be baffled by the deaths, so far ruling out initial theories of homicide or a new killer drug. The body of Johnny “Longjohn” Walker was discovered at 7:34 am yesterday by resident Majorie Thomas. “I thought it was a prank at first. You know, a dummy dressed up in old clothes. His face was so . . . blank. Empty. But when I got closer . . . oh! The smell! It was like he had been dead a week, not a few hours,” said Mrs Thomas.
Anger is building in the local community, already frustrated by the homeless problem. “We are sick and tired of this. I’m trying to raise children in this street,” said another resident yesterday, who did not want to be identified. “This is the second overdose in this area in a week.”
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Peter Holmes said yesterday. “As yet we have been unable to establish any cause of death, but we have ruled out overdose.” State Health authorities continue to play down fears of a new, undetectable virus, but this has not stopped the rumours amongst Sydney’s homeless community of the “Black Breath”. Locals have begun wearing face masks.
The deaths have fuelled the local urban legend of Black Jack. “He’s always looking,” said one homeless man, only identified as “Pete” who was at the scene yesterday. “It’s the End Times. End of the millennium. Jack’s wanting the one that can open the door to the hot place [Hell] to let all the devils out. Midnight on December 31st. That’s when it’ll be. He’s the one what’s killin’ them others.”
Detective Sergeant Holmes denies any link to a killer. “We have no evidence of homicide, or of any other individual linking these deaths,” he said.
Police investigations continue
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