A fantasy world on the brink of scientific and political upheaval
1. What is Grasp for Eternity?
Grasp for Eternity is a multiple POV (point of view) epic fantasy series that follows a wide variety of characters whose stories intertwine. The first novel takes place during two time periods that are thirty years apart- later additions to the series will explore other time periods as well.
The impact that history has on the present is one of the major themes of the story, and readers will get to see the consequences of events and decisions that took place years before.
The world of Grasp for Eternity is one at the precipice of revolutions scientific, industrial, and religious.
2. What makes this different than other epic fantasy?
The largest difference is that there is no magic in this world. There are no wizards, elves, dwarves, dragons, or other typical tropes of high fantasy. Still, the scope and setting are similar.
Grasp for Eternity also features characters from a wide range of lifestyles and professions. There are the traditional soldiers and kings, but there are also university professors, scientists, industrialists, and other characters that are not usually associated with epic fantasy.
War is not the only game of high stakes.
3. An epic fantasy without magic?
Magic allows for deus ex machina. Have you ever read a story or watched a movie where the characters have their backs to the wall, only to be saved by a special magic power that you had no idea even existed?
Have you ever thought, “If he can shoot fireballs, why didn’t he do that earlier?”
Do character deaths seem cheap, when you know the author can bring the character back to life in the next book?
This fantasy world follows the same laws of physics as our own Earth, but it has its own unique geography, history, and cultures. It’s a world with clearly defined limits, where actions have weight just as in real life, and problems cannot simply be solved with magic.
That’s not to say this world is “just another Earth.”
In place of magic, there is herbalism.
Like in our own world, humans use plants as cure for ailments and to improve overall health. The difference is, in the world of Grasp for Eternity, there are plants that are much more potent.
Herbalism tonics give short bursts of improvement to abilities that humans already possess- strength, quickness, vision, etc. An herbalism tonic cannot give someone the ability to fly or to shoot fire. Think of it as pharmaceuticals with greater potential.
But herbalism is a new science, and the people who practice it have yet to discover the limits of its power…
4. What is the story of the first novel?
-A historian learns about the strange circumstance of a colleague’s disappearance, and wants to know why the Crown is so concerned.
-An outlawed religion claims that this year will see the fulfillment of a prophecy that cannot be ignored.
-A pioneer in the field of herbalism searches for immortality, keeping his research, and those conducting it, hidden from the world.
-An aged swordsman is the only hope for a defenseless village.
-A hunting crew is framed for murder, but the reason why is shadowed in secrets.
-And more, across two time periods.
5. Is this all just in your head? Will these ideas ever see the light of day?
The first novel in the series was originally completed in 2022. Since then, it has been edited and rewritten a number of times. However, the main plot and the driving forces of the world have remained the same.
All that is to say that this is not just the promise of a fantasy series. It is already underway, and the first novel has been read by a handful of friends and family members.
6. What is the purpose of this Substack?
To introduce people to a new fantasy world, with chapters being released once per week, every Saturday.
