The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.
Juba sat in front of a huge meal prepared by a very concerned Alexand. She gave him clean clothes, a bath and healed the wounds on his feet with a strange contraption she called a writer. He has told Alex of his wife and Son’s death. It’s mid afternoon, Abouna Panak’s gone and Alex has given Juba some wine to comfort him. She sits nursing contractions, attempting to figure out how to help her old friend. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After being ‘rescued’ from an army cell, by the rather sinister Field Marshal Panak, Juba Apfvarzian finds himself unexplainably transported to the desert. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba Apfvarzian was released from the floating asylum, and found that his wife Lucy and son Ayo died during an influenza pandemic. With no one else in the world to turn to, he has traced the one person who he believes could help him clamber out of the mess he’s in. Traveling from Somalia to India, he has found Alexand’s location. He discovered she is back in the military, living in a base called Saskatoon with her husband and son. Unfortunately security didn’t let him in because of his asylum record and he is being held in a detention cell on the outskirts of the city. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Violet Hodgkins has worked her way up to a lady’s maid. She had a strange request from her previous employers to relocate to the other side of London, where she would tend to the house of a wealthy Russian family. When she arrived at the house it was empty. (She was given a key to the back door) She found a note in the kitchen. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
The Guild Master’s General treads across the rooftops of London’s East End after leaving a baby Boy (Thomas Watson) at the banks of the River Thames. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Eldenath stands in the gardens, pruning rose bushes. She has been promoted to a junior National Guard and looks forward to starting her duties in the coming weeks. Her new duties will mean she gets to go outside the gates of the House of Plenitude and Mirth, to guard the public from bad things. To celebrate the 100th issue, and to thank you for your support these past three years, this story is set just before the first manuscript, which I hope one day will be available for you to read too. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Inajda Rekaya sits in Professor Sumian’s home, waiting to be handed whatever item Abouna Panak requested her to retrieve from the particle physicist. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After agreeing to sail to Maryland, (to retrieve an important artefact for Field Marshal Panak) in exchange for the safety of her daughters, (Alexand and Heyem) Inajda Rekaya is nearing her journey’s end. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After promising Alex that she would help find the cause of her haunting, (See Baio-Yujia’s Ghost Part 2) Katherine had collected a film recorder from her own room. She and Alexand are now in Alex’s room preparing to ‘capture’ the Ghost of Baio-Yujia Sun. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After managing to successfully create two haernyarn (proposed guards for Amanojuko Lords and Ladies) Gianti Dincrind called Lord Filius Anderson to witness their birth. She hopes that this will entitle her to immortality. (See issue 75: Gianti Dincrind) CLICK HERE for next chronological story
Mr Ash craves Lord Anum Anzeti’s gold mines more than any other place in the world.
Alexand Merek is on her way to begin her new duties as Katherine De Somme’s assistant. She had been randomly selected, from a group of cadets, by Doctor De Somme. Alexand was mesmerised by the efficient and intimidating woman, and is walking nervously towards her laboratory. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Samuel Merevija is tempted to escape from The House of Plenitude and Mirth, along with Eldenath Balsara, but they are both afraid of what could happen in the world outside. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Eldenath uses chores as cover for time with her own memories. Something she would get in trouble for if anyone else in the House of Plenitude and Mirth, could read her mind. (Apart from her friend Samuel Merevija, who is also an inmate) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After a near death experience, (see issue 84: Ancille Merevija part 3) Ancille is angry with her mother for making her attempt to fly off Mount Kilimanjaro. This story is dedicated to Lee J Tyler from The Point Of The Quill, who requested an Ancille story. Thank you, Lee. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After being taunted by her identical twin sister, (Anastasia) who isn’t really there, Ancille has been taken for some ‘time out’ by her mother, Alexand. Alex believes an adventure may be a temporary remedy to the voice in Ancille’s head. (Ancille was left deaf when her brother, Sam and sister, Anastasia were taken by The Amanojuko and has problems with memory, due to her injuries. Her mother Alexand does her best to help her daughter recover in the years afterwards) This story is dedicated to Lee J Tyler from The Point Of The Quill, who requested an Ancille story. Thank you, Lee. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Maria Thamian is a drama lecturer in the University of Hong Kong and has been courting her fellow lecturer, Heyem Merek for a few weeks. She has gatecrashed one of Heyem’s lectures for the pure enjoyment of watching her girlfriend teach. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Antun and Inajda are given food by their rescuers, (Xan Medani and Edith MehXian) and although relieved to have escaped the trail which killed their parents, both are in severe shock. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
As the cart speeds away from the trail of Russian refugees, Antun and Inajda sit with their rescuers, Xan Medani and Edith MehXian, unable to change the past, but relieved to be safe in the warm with food and water. See part 1 here (Antun is 17 and Inajda 9 years old.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After being expelled from their homeland, Antun and Inajda Rekaya fight to stay alive, whilst being herded towards Mongolia by the military. Their parents died on the way, and the children are hungry and exhausted. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
There’s a knock at Margaret’s door, but it’s 2 in the morning and she likes sleep. She has a knitting needle in her hand and an angry temper. If it’s another bleeding highwayman she’ll show them they can’t mess with an old lady in a bad mood. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Lucy Apfvarzian’s husband Juba, went missing, whilst he was out performing as a magician on the streets of Mogadishu. Lucy and their son Ayo haven’t eaten for five days and have come to The Bureau of Complaints to attempt to find out where he’s gone. (See The Floating Asylum which is the next chronological story.)
Gianti Dincrind has been charged with the development of Project H, turning humans into wraiths, called Haernyarn. The Haernyarn are proposed to act as future guards for the growing number of Amanojuko Lords and Ladies, privileged enough to have been granted immortality. Gianti is not yet an Amanojuko, but has been promised a chance at being selected if she manages to successfully create Haernyarn from the prisoners on board the Floating Asylum. Unfortunately the process is unstable, and usually results in the subject’s death. Gianti is looking for a way of transmitting the virus from a haernyarn to a human, by genetically altering DNA and is about to make a breakthrough. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Toreth Rek-cho has been offered eternal youth, by the mysterious Field Marshal Panak. She has also been shown a bleak future, and has ten minutes to decide her own fate. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Abouna Panak has brought Heyem Merek with him to The Floating Asylum to prove to her that an Amanojuko conspiracy to take over the world, exists. (See The Other Side Part 1) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Eldenath Balsara has been living in The House Of Plenitude And Mirth, since her mother’s execution. (See Eldenath Balsara Part One) Ma’am Alamandez is chief matron and her words will keep Eldenath from being sent to The Far Away Lands or put inside The Bad Thing Box. This story directly follows after issue # 43: Ma’am Alamandez. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Octavia Vijay’s husband cheated on her and left her to raise her two sons, Jarad and Jove on her own. Feeling bitter and cheated, Octavia grows angrier. Isolated and resentful, she lashes out at her younger son, Jarad, who reminds her of her husband. (Also featuring Alexand and Heyem Merek) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine finally relented to Alexand’s charm. (See Love In A Box Part 1) The morning after, Alex is asleep, and Katherine lies, wondering about their future. Note: Katherine was injected with a virus, by Helga Ritter, to silence her (See Amanojuko Part 3) after discovering a government induced plague, was genetically engineered and that some members of the establishment are attempting to live forever. As a result of being injected with “plague” Katherine is dying. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
It’s world Liberty Day. The Amanojuko have taken control, and are storming universities all over the world. Abouna Panak is an ethics lecturer, who now wishes he had some sort of weapon, and the ability to disappear, as crowds of militant National Guards, groomed by the Amanojuko, flood the building. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Jonathan is away in France, fighting in The Second Battle of the Marne under Sir Douglas Haig. His thoughts wander towards his family, in between combat. His message will be sent home via pigeon post. (Commemorating Remembrance Day on 11th November) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Molli’s obsession with music and literature brings her to every bar and underground club, looking for emotional and artistic connections. She was brought up in an orphanage, and didn’t know anything about her family. She learnt that no one cared about her. Now 18, she craves for parts of herself disconnected by a lack of history, but doesn’t let anyone get close. She used to believe in steampunk, turned to electro punk and then goth, and vampirism, consuming and exploring every new possibility. She felt alone, that is, until one dark night, her perception changed forever. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Cordelia is a media student at The University of KwaZulu, Natal, in South Africa. Her competitive nature has put her ahead of her peers, and she is in line for a scholarship to work as a junior reporter for a local news network. She is building her résumé in a rather dangerous way, and expects to knock her competition out of the game. Sometimes things aren’t always as easy as you’d like them to be, no matter how hard you work. This story is dedicated to all the people (writers, editors, readers, critics, friends and family) who have and continue to support me (and sometimes chuck bricks at me) on my own battle for publication. Thank you, you know who you are… (This story also features The Guild Master’s General) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Georges De Somme lost his youngest daughter, Lali, in a horrible accident, which he blamed his elder daughter, Katherine for. (See Katherine’s story Issue # 6) This is the night he left Katherine in a military correction facility, as punishment, and never returned. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Life as a bachelor isn’t working out well for Thomas. After placing his mother in an asylum for insane women, (Bedlam) he’s looking for a wife to replace her. He’s gone to Stepney Union Workhouse, London. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Asenath Bomani is a nine year old scullery maid. She doesn’t remember her name, or where she came from. She has just arrived in London from her home in Egypt without her parents, who she believes are dead. She has been asked to clean the pantry of a rather grand house in Fleet Street. The problem is, there are just too many distractions and she can’t remember how she got there. One thing she does remember is that she loves music much more than cleaning. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Maria Thamian, is waiting to deliver a very important message, to her sister in law, Alexand. Alex is late and Maria’s wife, Heyem is getting impatient. (The story also mentions, The Guild Master’s General and Field Marshal Abouna Panak.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anum Anzeti has never met a lunatic quite as frightening as the man who claims to be a future version of himself. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba Apfvarzian was a good magician. He woke up in an asylum ship, after performing a particularly skilful illusion. Magic can apparently get you into a lot of trouble, in an increasingly intolerant world. Alexand Merek has survived for three years inside the asylum, outliving everyone. She doesn’t know how she has survived, she just wants to be somewhere far away. (This asylum is responsible for the events leading up to issue # 1 of this series.) You can also read The Floating Asylum Parts Two, Three and Four. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Giselle Balsara has a secret. She hides banned books and keeps paintings in her cellar. In a world where books that don’t pop up, will get you put inside The Bad Thing Box, Giselle is taking an incredible risk, sharing her knowledge with her eleven year old daughter, Eldenath. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Farokh is thirteen and has just lost his father, Eric, to a heart attack. He is angry with his father for dying and longs for a different life, somewhere better than his homeland. He wants to be like his older sister, Alexand. Nothing will convince him that life in the army isn’t the great adventure he dreams about. The mandarin in the second drawing reads, “Beloved Father.” It was placed there by Heyem in his honour. This story is set a few weeks after issue # 9: The Guild Master’s General. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Rachel is no damsel, but sometimes people need help. She has survived an abusive marriage, divorced her husband, and is trying to rebuild her life and her sense of self worth. However, Donald isn’t the most reasonable of wife beaters. He didn’t bargain on meeting The Guild Master’s General, the night he tried to claim back his wife. A dubious Knight in dark sunglasses and a balaclava, intercepted Donald’s plans. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
In the years before the arts were put inside “The Bad Thing Box,” there were artists and dreamers, musicians and opera singers. Edith MehXian was one of those artists. From the age of seventeen she sang amongst the finest opera singers in The Chinese Hall of Excellence. She came from a poor family, but her skill was so great that she won a scholarship and became one of the most loved singers in the whole of China. This is the story of her final performance. The day her dream ended. Edith was a perfectionist. She wanted people to remember her, flawlessly. (This story is dedicated to one of my childhood heroes, Elizabeth Sladen, who will be missed by many people, some of whom didn’t even know her, but grew up loving Sarah Jane Smith.) Edith MehXian is Alexand and Heyem’s paternal grandmother. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anastasia was stolen from her family when she was five, and forced to live as a concubine. From the age of fourteen she has produced children for the Amanojuko Lord, Ichitumbu. The Amanojuko are a race of immortals who have the ability to regenerate. They are no longer human, but Anastasia’s mother, Alexand Merek’s blood, is poison to them and can turn them into ‘What isn’t’. Amanojuko scientists are using Anastasia to attempt to find a cure for the poison in Alexand Merek’s bloodline. Anastasia has no concept of death and therefore no concept of murder. “What wasn’t” is an Amanojuko term for human and “What could be” refers to the potential for Anastasia producing an Amanojuko child. So far she has failed and her husband isn’t pleased. This story also mentions Anastasia’s mirror twin, Ancille Merevija. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Abouna Panak’s life is going to change more than he can imagine. He has been left an orphan at the age of ten, but has no time to grieve for his mother’s loss. After he discovered his mother laying in the kitchen, with a suicide note, he was greeted by a very dubious man. Abouna has no other living family. His mother never told him why. The man in the balaclava isn’t responsible for his mother’s death, in fact his mother seemed to trust him. Who is this Guild Master’s General, and why would Abouna’s mother wish for him to travel with him after her death? CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After the murder of her father, and the disappearance of her brother and sister, Ancille Merevija must rebuild her life, with her mother, Alexand. Alexand was on a military mission and returned to find two of her children stolen, her husband murdered and Ancille left for dead. Ancille was badly injured and lost her hearing. When Ancille was strong enough, Alexand took her daughter to her sister, Heyem’s house, to hide from whoever destroyed their family. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Heyem Merek has run away from her former life. Her childhood, spent in poverty and her teenaged years in military correction. She is well educated and proud of her achievements. If only her identical twin sister, Alexand would allow her to forget about her past, completely. Things would be a lot less complicated and painful. (Artwork on the wall in drawing 2: by Frida Kahlo, “My Nurse and I.” 1937) This story also features Samuel, Ancille and Anastasia Merevija. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
The Guild Master’s General is a mysterious man, who appears throughout time and place. Not much is known about him, apart from the fact he has created a lot of chaos in the lives of many. This story also features, Alexand Merek. CLICK HERE for next chronological story. A Spanish version is now available, translated by Hernán Jara Droguett.
Inajda Rekaya (Ee-n-eye-da) is seventeen years old, but has joined the army to support her husband, Eric and twin Daughters, Alexand and Heyem. She doesn’t realise that her decision will not just save their lives, but change the future of her family. Special Thanks to Imran Malik for helping me with translating English to Hindi. (The Hindi reads, “It’s open!”) This story also features, Katherine De Somme. CLICK HERE for next chronological story. A Spanish version is now available, translated by Hernán Jara Droguett.
Juba Apfvarzian needs to forget his past. He spends a lot of time taking drugs and drinking with his best friend and fellow drunk Alexand Merek. They met decades ago on a floating asylum ship for the criminally insane. Juba had a wife, Lucy and a son, Ayo, before he went to the asylum. When he was released, he discovered that they had both died of influenza, and he was alone. He and Alexand met up again after her release and discovered that they had a lot in common. Alexand had also lost her wife, Katherine to an unknown virus and her husband Jarad to an unbeatable war. Her son, Sam and daughter, Anastasia had been stolen when they were children. Alexand’s surviving daughter Ancille has grown up and Alexand and Juba spend a lot of their lives trying to run away from bad things. This is one of those days. (A Spanish version is now available to read, translated by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine De Somme is thirteen years old and has been forced to join the army, (by her father Georges) after accidentally killing her younger sister, Lali, in a chemical explosion. Her parents had high expectations of her, but her need to live up to their high standards has resulted in devastation for everyone. Katherine loses everything and everyone, in one horrible night. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Jarad Vijay has spent the past four years, bringing up his son alone, after his wife, Alexand, was taken and placed in an asylum for crimes against the military. Once released she woke from a catatonic state. Six months have passed since she woke. Jarad hoped her recovery would enable him to rebuild their lives as a family. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple. (Jarad and Alexand grew up together as children. They were forced into the military at a young age. Jarad left, but Alexand remained a soldier. Their lives drifted apart until a series of events brought them back together. They were married after Alexand was widowed. Jarad believes she is still grieving for her dead wife, Katherine De Somme. He is very much in love with her, but this further separation in the form of Alexand’s imprisonment, has done little for their relationship. Alexand is very traumatised by her ordeal inside the asylum and Jarad doesn’t know if he can help her recover from it.) Trivia: Why has Alexand got metal fingers? Answer: Her fingers were severed by a samurai sword, during a mission as a young woman. (See issue 9:) The sword bearer was a man dressed in a black balaclava. He appears throughout time and place. People come to know him as The Guild Master’s General, but know little about him. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
This story is set seven months before issue # 1: Alexand Merek, (a week after her release from an asylum). Samuel Merevija is only four years old. His mother was taken from him and his father when he was a baby, but now she has been brought back to their family home, after spending four years in a floating asylum ship. Samuel doesn’t understand why his mother won’t speak. He has made some special things for her to try and bring her back to his world. (Characters from left to right are: Samuel Merevija, Jarad Vijay and Alexand Merek). (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
Eldenath Balsara is an orphan. She doesn’t know who her father is and her mother was put in ‘The Bad Thing Box’ for being ‘evil’. She has a new mother, who is a matron in The House of Plenitude and Mirth. Eldenath has to un-learn the Bad Things taught to her by her old mother, like reading big words and looking at paintings and singing in the shower and listening to music. (See issue: 17) She is about twelve years old here. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
Anesidor Sumian dreams of escaping from a gradually shrinking world and the confines of a disapproving society. Her story begins with a wish and is set over a century before her first appearance in my series of novels. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
Alexand Merek has been released from a floating asylum. She has just woken from catatonia. This story is set fifty years before her first appearance in my series of novels. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
