Artama & The New Kingdom
AFTER ATRAMA’S SECOND JOURNEY to planet E1 in Artama & The Watchtower Portal, he returned to his home on E3, hoping to bring enlightenment. But upon his arrival, his father warned, “Beware, my son. These are dark times.”
This third book in The Artama Legend series, Artama & The New Kingdom, is a lyrical, literary tale of speculative fiction. Travel through The New Kingdom with Artama—from Eastedge to The Capital to The Honeycomb—onto The Plain, and, ultimately, through the watchtower portal.
Action and adventure abound. Experience the array of characters, from wondrous, angelic Kora to lovely Cressa to despicable Tribb, Hape, and D’anor. Witness the hope of Korbin—The Hope of The Radiant Star—and the unintended consequences of the secret, illegal, esoteric writings of Artama. Explore the creation and functioning of the cosmos, life and the illusion of death, and the enigma of quantum entanglement. Artama & The New Kingdom is a tale of love, knowledge, hate, ignorance, fate, free will, loyalty, bravery, betrayal, cowardice, ambition, jealousy, deceit, treachery, lust, debauchery, brutality, tenderness, romance, intimacy, theft, murder, prayer, acceptance, the verisimilitudes of time
and space . . . and more.
D’ANOR, the new King of kings, declared his reign by divine right—and by the might of the sword. Nam, the new God of gods, had anointed D’anor—so the people were told—and The Kingsmen honored The King and enforced his will.
The Town—now surrounded by a wall the height of five men—was renamed Eastedge.
There were constant rumors of war and endless tales of advancing marauders.
Arbitrary brutality was common. This was—after all—planet E3.
The Kingsmen were uniformed in black, and to protect themselves from the sun—or the chill of the night—they wore long, blood-red cloaks with hoods, capotes. Their scabbards held wicked blades. The Kingsmen manned the battlements, and they patrolled within the wall as well. Always watching.
By the grace of D’anor . . . .
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The circus was coming to Eastedge.
Every year since the wall was built, D’anor commissioned an extravaganza—a distraction.
When Artama had returned from across The Plain the first time, when he had returned from E1, although only a boy, he was received as a wonder. The Lord Most Honorable High Reader had declared that Artama should be The Writer and should write in The Book of Knowledge & Wisdom. As young as he was, Artama had taken his task seriously. Unfortunately, the tales of his journey had been twisted into stories of the discovery of gold and profane wealth, rather than enlightenment. Eventually, this led to the arrival of Zortan and his beastly horde. Zortan threatened to destroy The Town unless Artama led him across The Plain. Although not yet a young man, to save The Town, Artama agreed, knowing he could only lead the horde onto The Plain—crossing is a matter of the heart.
“. . . Combining speculative fiction with deep philosophical undertones . . . .”
“Stellar world-building, dynamic pacing, and thought-provoking themes make this a must-read for fans of speculative fiction and fantasy.”
“Through lyrical prose and a rich array of characters, Paul explores profound ideas about existence, fate, and the mysteries of the universe.”
“Themes of love, knowledge, betrayal, and the nature of life and death permeate the story.”
“. . . Brilliant dialogue and interplay that contributes to the emotional depth and complexity . . . .”
“. . . Robust characters, a fully drawn setting, and exciting prose. It is a gorgeous offering for fans of fantasy.”
