Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Anderson Atlas
Title of book and/or
series:
Surviving the Improbable Quest
Brief summary of the
story:
Allan mysteriously arrives on Lan Darr, a planet with three
moons, poisonous plants, and watchful shadows. A stone wall towers over him,
hiding a dense and ancient city. He needs to escape the dark forest whose trees
are marked with blood and find his way home. Trouble is, Allan is a paraplegic
and his wheelchair is nowhere to be seen.
Brief description of
the world or location you created for this story:
The inhabitants of Lan Darr are as advanced as humans were
in the 1800’s and just as brutal to each other as well. The rulers of the city
of Dantia own slaves and do as they please, especially at the expense of weaker
individuals. Allan is in for quite a rude awakening when he’s shoved into a
cage by an ornery creature shaped like an ostrich but with a much larger, crooked
beak and bloodshot eyes.
If we were to visit Lan
Darr as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
First of all, I would recommend going with an armed group of
guards. Once you’ve obtained the proper permits from Killian Crow, I’d
recommend visiting the capital city of Dantia. It’s traversed by canals and the
buildings are ten stories tall or more. The food is very diverse and Dantians
do love their sweets.
What dangers should
we avoid in Lan Darr?
The pyramid-shaped flowers have a sharp piston tucked inside
their delicate petals that pack quite a punch. Its effects have been likened to
sticking your finger in a light socket. If you run into this plant by accident,
jump into the canal, then, while submerged, remove the piston from your skin.
The pain will fade in an hour or so.
I’d also avoid the Jibbawk’s territory. It’s a hunter and
always looking for its next meal. If you see a red ‘X’ on the trunk of a tree,
get out of there.
Is there a distinct
or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Dantia?
Yes. Dantians serve crispy baguette style breads with
different types of spreads. Nupkinkle spread tastes very much like whipped cream
and cherries. Nupkinkle spread contains red seedpods. They’re soft and velvety and
about the size of a nickel. The texture has frightened away many travelers, but
bite into it and the juices are magnificent!
What types of
weaponry or fighting styles are common in Dantia?
Killian Crow and his policemen have various tools at their
disposal, but most notable are the shock poles. Shock poles are powered by rare
energy crystals and last a thousand years when used as a light source. When
used in shock poles, they die in about five years. The underground Tinkers, a
society of free thinkers, steal the energy crystals from shock poles so that
the people of Dantia have a light source other than candles.
What types of
vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Dantia?
Narrow boats are used to traverse the canal system. It’s a
wonderful, quiet way to get around the city. The city is thirty miles across
and has many exciting events going on, including circuses and traveling
sideshows. If you can’t get to them by boat you’ll have to walk.
What types of plants,
animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Lan Darr that we don’t see on
Earth?
Hetaphants are very popular. They are elephant-like
creatures that are used to build things and to carry large stones to
construction sites. They are intelligent and caring. They help Allan in a
desperate time of need, to his surprise.
I’d also like to mention the pesky Chicubs that crawl into
buildings and steal things and have similar dispositions as Earth ferrets,
though not as cute.
Mytheather is also a wonderful plant. It’s as strong as
steal and as flexible as a spider’s web.
Is there any advanced
or unusual technology in Dantia?
The most famous of the Tinkers is Mizzi. He’s constructed
blimps, a rudimentary engine and even powered exoskeleton legs for Allan with
an energy crystal. He lives in humble surroundings, believing that his
inventions are only to help others and not himself. When Allan meets him, Allan
knows he’s found a friend on this strange planet. Hope seems a little more attainable.
Tell us about any
sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Dantia.
The Testing. There is only one way for a slave to be freed
in Dantia. They have to pass a series of dangerous, and sometimes fatal, tests.
The tests change every year but they push the contestants to the very edge.
What is the political
or government structure in Dantia? Who
is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Killian Crow is the leader and he rules with an iron fist.
It is his way, or no way.
Author Autobiography:
Anderson Atlas is an author and illustrator from Tucson,
Arizona. He’s driven to bring thrilling stories, hopeful messages, and such
enchanting hooks that young adults will experience the spark that reading
ignites.
As an illustrator, Anderson is dedicated to pairing his
stories with stunning visuals. He believes that reading is essential to
happiness and so is art. Combining the two is a symbiotic act of his creation
process.
When Anderson is not drawing or writing he’s hiking with his
6 year old daughter, playing guitar, reading, sailing or watching movies with
his wife and step-son.
Where, and in what
formats, can we purchase your book?
Amazon link for ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Allan-Westerfield-Off-World-Anderson-Atlas-ebook/dp/B0173XHSC4
Amazon paperback with illustrations: http://www.amazon.com/Allan-Westerfield-Off-World/dp/0692567453
Where can readers
connect with you online?
Thank you for reading and I sincerely hope you like Allan Westerfield: Off-World.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Lan Darr. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the world of Cambrogi, in Realm Explorers Part LXXXIV!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to the world of Cambrogi, in Realm Explorers Part LXXXIV!
-Annie Douglass Lima
4 comments:
Fabulous drawings.
Thank you so much for bringing your world to life! I'd love to come and explore more.
For some reason, this world seems particularly fascinating to me! Also, there are so few books with handicapped main characters so I love that Allen is paraplegic. We loved that about the Noah Zarc series as well! Have you read those?
Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday this week!
Tina
Tina - no, I haven't read those, but they sound interesting. You're right, handicapped main characters are rare!
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