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.
Don't forget! At the bottom of this post there is a link to enter a giveaway for a number of free books, including Prince of Malorn!
Don't forget! At the bottom of this post there is a link to enter a giveaway for a number of free books, including Prince of Malorn!
Author’s name: Annie
Douglass Lima
Title of series: Annals
of Alasia
Titles of books: The
main trilogy consists of Prince of Alasia,
In the Enemy’s Service, and Prince of Malorn. There is a short companion book entitled Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews.
Brief summary of the series:
Each book in the trilogy deals with events surrounding the
same major political incident: the invasion of the kingdom of Alasia by the
neighboring kingdom of Malorn. Prince of Alasia begins on the night of
the Invasion and describes what happens to twelve-year-old Prince Jaymin after
he is forced to flee for his life. In the Enemy’s Service tells the story
of those who were not able to escape from the Alasian palace when the enemy
invaded. Prince of Malorn begins several months earlier and focuses on the
Malornian perspective of the events leading up to the Invasion. In each of the books, main characters from
the others make brief appearances and interact with each other at the point
where the timeframes and settings overlap.
Though each of the three can stand on its own, they each fill in gaps
left by the others and together provide a much more complete picture of what
was going on in the two kingdoms.
Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews is a collection of twenty-four “interviews” I
conducted with major and minor characters in the other three books. Though not a novel in and of itself, it is interesting
to read alongside the trilogy. In the
interviews, characters reveal more about their personalities, motivations, and
backgrounds, talking about themselves in their own “voice” and giving extra
insights into the events of the series. You can download it for free here.
Brief description of
the world or location you created for this story:
The kingdom of Malorn is mostly surrounded by a huge
mountain range that curves around it to the east, south, and west. To the north, the Grenn River separates
Malorn from Alasia. The Impassable
Mountains, as their name suggests, are dangerous and difficult to travel
through even in summer, and almost impossible in winter. The highest peaks are covered with snow all
year round.
Two races of people live in Malorn. The Mountain Folk are a small, nomadic tribe
of hunters and gatherers who live in extended family groups up in the
Impassables. Each family keeps a flock
of goats for milk and meat. They seldom
venture down to the “Lowlands”, as they call the rest of Malorn, except when
they must trade for supplies in one of the foothill towns. But they are suspicious of Lowlanders, whom
they accuse of cheating them in trade and mistreating them, and they avoid
interaction with them whenever possible.
Lowlanders (who think of themselves simply as “regular”
Malornians) live mostly on the plains, where they make a living through a
variety of trades. Many work as farmers,
since the weather there is mild and ideal for growing a variety of crops. Coffee grows well in the foothills, so you’ll
find coffee farmers there, but few Lowlanders care to venture much higher than
that. Miners do travel into the
mountains in search of gold, but again, most of them prefer to set up camp in
the foothills where it’s safer and life is easier. Those who live on or travel into the lower slopes
of the Impassables are suspicious of Mountain Folk, whom they regard as dirty
and primitive. They often accuse the
Mountain Folk of cheating them in trade and stealing crops.
If we were to visit Malorn
as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
If you like hiking or mountain climbing, there are numerous
rugged and scenic spots to explore. If
shopping is your thing, you may enjoy browsing some of the high-class shops in
Sazellia, the capital city, where you can buy fine clothing, jewelry, or gold decorations
for your home. Music is popular
throughout the Lowlands, and minstrels can often be found performing in taverns,
parks, or on street corners. It’s polite
to leave a coin or two if you stop to listen.
The best musicians perform in large concert halls where admission is
expensive, but if people like a street minstrel’s performance, they may hire
him or her to play for a party or special event at a more reasonable price.
What is the political
or government structure in Malorn? Who
is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Malorn is a constitutional monarchy, so the king there has
less power than in neighboring Alasia.
The government is made up of a High Council, which includes the king and
up to 19 other members, and a majority vote among them is required to pass new
laws or make most decisions for the kingdom.
King Kerman passed away under suspicious circumstances four
years ago. His son, Prince Korram, was
still too young to take the throne (the legal minimum age for kingship in
Malorn is 18), so a regent was chosen from among the king’s High Council to
hold the reins of power until the prince came of age. An honorary member of the High Council in the
meantime, the prince can offer input into the running of the government but has
little real power. Regent Rampus, on the
other hand, has done much to improve life for Malorn’s citizens and thus has
been gaining popularity throughout the kingdom.
Conveniently, his political opponents have almost all dropped out of the
picture due to a variety of unfortunate circumstances. Rumor has it that if Prince Korram were
prevented for any reason from taking the throne next year, the High Council
would be sure to select Rampus as the next king. In the meantime, Rampus continues to rule in
Korram’s name, and the kingdom rests assured in the knowledge that their
beloved regent is assisting the inexperienced prince in his royal duties.
Prince Korram is concerned that Rampus may not be planning
to allow him to survive to his eighteenth birthday next year. But there is no one to turn to for help,
since practically everyone of any consequence in the kingdom is under the
regent’s control in one way or another.
Even the military answers to him.
Only Malorn’s reclusive Mountain Folk, who care nothing for Lowland
politics, are certain not to be influenced by any threats, bribes, or promises
from Rampus. And so Korram determines to
journey into the Impassables to recruit his own personal army from among them,
hoping thus to protect himself until he can legally claim his rightful throne.
What types of plants,
animals, or sentient races might we encounter in Malorn that we don’t see on Earth?
A root vegetable similar to a turnip, called lumjum, grows
plentifully in the mountains. Other
plants in Malorn are pretty much the same as those you’d find in similar
climates on Earth. If you trek high
enough up in the mountains, you may glimpse a snowcat, though I don’t recommend
trying to find one or getting close to it if you do. This pure white, long-haired feline is about
the size of a tiger and at least as dangerous.
Korram has two separate (and very different) encounters with snowcats
during his time in the Impassables.
Humans are the only sentient race in Malorn. However, Mountain Folk would argue that their
horses are more intelligent and affectionate than mere animals.
What dangers should
we avoid in Malorn?
It would be unwise to venture into the Impassables alone or
with anyone not familiar with the area. Besides
the risk of getting lost, you would probably have difficulty finding food,
unless you’re experienced in wilderness survival and living off the land. In addition, you would face the possibility
of blizzards and avalanches on the higher slopes. Wild animals, including snakes, wolves,
bears, and snowcats, are plentiful there.
If you met any Mountain Folk, they would be unlikely to help you for
free, though for enough money they would probably sell you goat milk or a
little of their food.
You would be much safer in the Lowlands, though there is
always the risk of encountering pickpockets and other petty criminals in the
cities. Regent Rampus is not to be
trifled with, but unless you plan on speaking out publicly against his
leadership, you are not likely to attract his attention.
Is there a distinct
or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Malorn?
I hope you like coffee!
It’s by far the most popular beverage in the Lowlands and is available
at any time of day anywhere food or drinks are served. You can request it pretty much however you
like, but it’s most commonly brewed strong and served with cream. Lunch and dinner often include either
potatoes or a variety of flatbread made with several types of grain, served
beside vegetables (and meat, for those who can afford it). A popular breakfast dish among the upper
class involves eggs scrambled with cheese and sausage.
Mountain Folk have an unusual meal schedule which they fit
around their day’s work schedule. They
typically wake up early to milk their goats, and then they share a small “meal”
of goat milk. after that, two or three
members of the extended family group will take the goats out for the day to
graze on a nearby slope (the grass is better the higher you go). They will usually pack leftover cooked meat
or other food to eat later in the day.
Meanwhile, the rest of the family will spend the next few hours working
in the area where they are camped (usually in a valley by a stream or
river). They fish and gather nuts, berries,
lumjum, and other edible plants, or they may go further afield to hunt. They also spend time shaping tools from wood,
stone, or bone; gathering firewood; or skinning animals they have caught,
tanning their hides, and sewing them into clothing or bags or tents. In the autumn, they will butcher several of
their goats and dry the meat to last through the winter. They keep busy at these tasks through most of
the day, but they do take a break in the mid morning for breakfast. In the early evening when the goats are
brought back to camp, everyone stops their other work to help milk them. After that, they eat supper and drink the
milk together. Both breakfast and supper
can consist of meat, fruit, and small fried cakes made from mashed lumjum. Though they don’t eat lunch, Mountain Folk
snack on berries or anything else edible they come across throughout the day.
What types of
weaponry or fighting styles are common in Malorn?
Soldiers in the Lowlands fight with broadswords. Mountain Folk make wooden spears, though they’re
primarily for fishing. They occasionally
use them to protect their goats from predators or to scare Lowlanders who they
feel are threatening them, but on the whole they are a peaceful people and practice
no traditional fighting techniques. This
makes Korram’s job all the harder when he seeks to raise and train an army from
among them.
What types of
vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Malorn?
Lowlanders usually ride horses (or mules, if they’re
traveling in the foothills). Carriages
are common among the upper class, and farmers will take their crops to market
in carts or wagons. Mountain Folk use
horses as pack animals when they move camp every few weeks to find fresh
grazing. They seldom actually ride them,
though, except occasionally for short hunting trips.
Are the days of the
week and months of the year the same in Malorn as on Earth? What holidays or
special events are celebrated regularly there?
Yes, they are the same, though only Lowlanders use
them. Mountain Folk don’t keep track of
days or months, measuring time only with seasons and phases of the moon.
Every year, Mountain Folk look forward to the Mid-Autumn
Gathering. This week-long event is
basically a reunion in which their entire tribe comes together in a certain
valley deep in the Impassables. During
this time, most work ceases, and friends and extended family members who
haven’t seen each other since last year can relax and enjoy each other’s
company. Weddings always take place at
this gathering. It’s also a time to
share news and discuss any issues of interest to the whole tribe. During the rest of the year, the Mountain
Folk live and travel in extended family groups, usually of ten to fifteen
people, but at the annual Gathering, these groups are often rearranged so
people can spend the coming year with different relatives. Occasionally unmarried young adults will
arrange to spend a year with someone else’s family, especially if they are
hoping to get to know a friend of the opposite gender better.
Tell us about any
sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Malorn.
Most Malornians in the Lowlands are more interested in the
performing arts than in sports. Horse
races are popular, though, and many people from the middle and upper class
enjoy social outings on horseback through meadows and farmland, often including
a picnic.
For most of the year, Mountain Folk lead busy lives that
don’t leave much room for sports and games. In the Mid-Autumn Gathering, however, they
often engage in activities such as archery and spear-throwing contests, and
young people play games similar to tag and hide-and-seek on horseback.
What, if any, “hot-button”
or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
Racial prejudice is a theme I delve into in Prince of Malorn. Those Mountain Folk and Lowlanders who are
willing to get to know each other and learn the reasons behind their cultural
differences find that they are not as different as they had thought. But they come to realize that they can’t just
blame the other group and sit around waiting for “them” to stop mistreating
“us”. Both sides have wronged each other
over the years, and both need to be willing to take the first step toward
reconciliation. I believe it’s the same
in our world: it’s easy to hide behind cultural differences and assume that
“they” are strange and different and “we” are normal, and “they” are in the
wrong for any conflict or misunderstandings.
But if we’re willing to get to know each other and learn about each
other’s cultures, I think we’ll all discover that we’re not as different as we
might think.
Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and
later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her
husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at
Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since
her childhood, and to date has published eight books (three YA action
adventure/fantasy novels, a collection of character interviews, one puppet
script, and four anthologies of her students’ poetry, all available through the
links in the sidebar to the right). Besides writing, her hobbies include
reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and
international travel.
Where, and in what
formats, can we purchase your books?
Prince of Alasia $2.99 temporarily 99 cents)
In the Enemy’s
Service ($2.99 temporarily 99 cents)
Prince of Malorn $3.99 temporarily 99 cents)
Annals of Alasia: The
Collected Interviews (available for free!)
Where can readers
connect with you online?
Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon
Google Plus: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Malorn. 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 a science fiction world known simply as The City, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXII!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to a science fiction world known simply as The City, in Realm Explorers Part XXXXII!
-Annie Douglass Lima
4 comments:
So glad to visit Malorn again! Thanks for posting this. :D
My pleasure! I enjoyed the visit too. :-)
Annie, I just finished "In the Enemy's Service" yesterday and started right into "Prince of Malorn." My 5th grader is ahead of me and has finished all three and started on the collection of interviews today. We both absolutely love your books. I am so impressed with them and am recommending them to all my daughter's friends! I don't know if you know this, but we are in Penang, Malaysia, quite close to Dalat, so if you ever make it this way for any Morrison/Dalat meetings or just for a vacation, please let us know as we'd love to get to know you in person!
Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week!
Tina
I'm so glad you're both enjoying the series, Tina! And wow, I really appreciate your recommending them! Reviews on Amazon would be much appreciated when you're done. :-) Yes, I know you're in Malaysia. I was there a few years ago for a teaching conference; if I'm ever in that neck of the woods again, I'll be sure to look you up! And let me know if you ever plan to come to Taiwan!
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