Category: ITSOE

ITSOE

What is “In the Shadows of Eternity”?

by Andrew DahmsLeave a Comment on What is “In the Shadows of Eternity”?

The year is 1345 Modern Time, more than half a millennia since a catastrophic event that decimated the earth’s population and left the southern hemisphere uninhabitable. The only things that stir there now are the mechanical monstrosities that arrive to assault the remaining peoples of the world in twice-yearly waves. The only thing standing between them and total annihilation are the men and women of the Reactionary Forces of Central, more commonly known as the souldiers.

“What… are they?” she said. “The enemy.”

“It’s hard to say,” said the man. “What is certain is that once upon a time, a great many centuries ago, we depended greatly on the intelligence they provided. The entire world is said to have engaged in a great race to outdo one another with the most wondrous inventions until, at some point, they slipped out of control…”

The idea for Central and the Line came to me almost twenty-five years ago now. It was my first year in senior high school, and I had just moved to a new school where I suffered terribly under the faithful attention of the local bullies. My writing started as a way to escape at first, a collection of notes and drawings about an imaginary future that could take my mind away from the events around me. As time went on, however, I started to see how it could become the vehicle for a story of a much more meaningful kind.

At its heart, I wanted to write a story about that time-honoured tradition of the science fiction genre, the evil robot uprising. Although the world had yet to see the likes of The Matrix, I was a very impressionable recent viewer of one of its forebears, Terminator. It had action, it had robots, it had high stakes, and every flash-forward to a vision of the bleak future filled my imagination with thoughts about how the world could end up in such a way. When the secret was finally revealed, however, I couldn’t convince myself that it could be something simple as a pushed button or a bad piece of code.

Unsatisfied, I set out to create my own.

“Never let your mind believe the design of an
object defines its only purpose.”

As you can probably guess, while I came to the idea much earlier in life, it’s taken me a long time to build up the experience to actually write it down. As much as I wanted to write it sooner, one benefit of that prolonged process is that the years in between gave me more time to grow as a person and refine the themes and approach to the story itself. The robots are still there (as well they should be) but the story has grown from one that focused on the conflict and the past to one of a much more personal kind.

In The Shadows of Eternity is as much a story of high stakes and fast-paced action as it is one of reflection and personal growth. It’s the heart-wrenching search of a young woman’s journey to discover what happened to her best friend set against the backdrop of a dangerous and unforgiving world whose secrets she must unravel (and survive) if she wants to discover the truth. It’s a love letter to introverts of all kinds, an ode to eastern and western science fiction, and the answer to many of the struggles I have encountered in life.

Perhaps you’re a fan of the mystery and emotional tension in Neon Genesis Evangelion, the character dynamics and growth in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, or the scope and grandeur of Horizon Zero Dawn. I’m a fan of all these series, too, and if these are the type of stories that resonate with you, I’m sure you’ll find something to enjoy here as well.

Want to learn more?

Read the first chapter –

Vivian
Editing updates, ITSOE

Where is a.j.dahms?

by Andrew Dahms3 Comments on Where is a.j.dahms?

Hi everyone,

Given the quiet over here and my other social media accounts over the past few months, you might be given to wondering –

Where on earth is a.j.dahms?

Well – I’m still here, but the truth is, there’ve been a couple of things.

First and foremost, publishing the first volume in the series was a momentous occasion. One made all the more special thanks to the support and kind words of so many amazing people. It was also the moment that, after a frantic schedule of research and preparation for so many years, my body decided it needed some well-earned rest.

Second, and perhaps more influentially, it’s been a demanding year all round. My day job has been extremely busy, I’ve had some personal issues to contend with, and – on a more positive note – after ten years of saving, my wife and I finally moved into our own home, a change that comes with as much joy as it does fresh responsibility.

So, what does all this mean for the series?

Needless to say, my original plan of publishing successive volumes once every six months seems a little ambitious now, doesn’t it. By this time of the year, I’d hoped to be announcing the release of the third volume, yet here I am, still figuring out some aspects of the second.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though.

While I haven’t been active on social media, I have written (and re-written) almost 80,000 words of concepts, chapter ideas, and lore for the world of Central and the Line. I have a much better handle on the series and feel confident that when it comes time to publishing the rest, they’ll be an order of magnitude better than anything I could have produced my first time round.

What it also means is that I’ll need to ask your patience a little while longer as I get things ready for the second volume. Things are moving ahead, though, and it’s in no small part due to the overwhelming support I’ve received from you all that I want to make sure that I get them absolutely right.

I’ll be providing more updates as things go along, but for now, thank you for reading, and – as always – may the day be yours.

ITSOE, Souldier

Wallpapers

by Andrew DahmsLeave a Comment on Wallpapers

Greetings, souldiers, and may the weather be a sign!

On behalf of the Adjutant Corps, I am pleased to announce the release of several images that are now available for official use.

There are three designs, two of which are more suitable to mobile devices, while the third is formatted for larger devices such as terminals and transifax pads.

During your time in Central, you have no doubt seen the seven-pointed star of Central on the fortress and many of the city’s other civic buildings. However, if you have yet to pass field training and receive an assignment on the Line, you might not be as familiar with its meaning.

The seven-pointed star of Central is one of the souldiers’ oldest symbols from the Age of Awakening. And, like many of the souldiers’ older traditions, it is rich in meaning.

Each of the seven points represents one of the major continents on Earth, the largest representing the homeland of the enemy, otherwise known as the ‘sundered continent’ or the ‘lost continent’. The star is always depicted upside down in mourning, with each of the points bound by the Line. The colour is important as well, representing one of the most important things that separates us from the enemy.

Can you guess what it stands for?

As for the background, be warned that it can get extremely humid on the Line during the summer months. Sudden rain on a hot morning often draws out the moisture in the jungle, creating clouds of mist that gather about the mountaintops. Spot commanders are advised to avoid similar conditions unless absolutely necessary due to decreased visibility; if you must enter affected areas, extreme caution is advised.

Further communications to follow.

Until then, good fortune!

ITSOE, Souldier

It’s here!

by Andrew Dahms2 Comments on It’s here!

Hi everyone,

After years of writing, months of editing, and weeks of anticipation, I’m thrilled to finally announce the release of my debut novel, Souldier –

Get it today on Amazon via the links above, or on Apple Books via the following:

Get it on Apple Books

After such a long time in the works, it’s a strange sensation seeing this story out there in the ‘real world’ alongside other authors and books. It’s a cathartic one as well, and as I stumble my way through these first steps in getting everything out there, I find myself eternally grateful for the support and enthusiasm of a great many people who have helped me get where I am today.

Many thanks go to my amazing beta readers, Tahlia Richardson, Martin Lopes, Lucy Bopf, Alex Wellstead, and Ellie Minto, and to Brice Fallen for sharing his insight into and knowledge of the publishing industry. Their advice and feedback has helped me grow as a writer in ways I could never have imagined, and I am deeply appreciative of the time and expertise they have shared with me.

Many thanks must also go to my wonderful wife, Chie, who has stood with me every step of this process, given my encouragement when I felt down, and gave me the strength to keep on going. Everything I am today, I am because of her.

And last but by no means least, thank you to you as well, dear reader. As I have mentioned before in other posts and forums, this series touches on a number of themes that are incredibly personal to me, and it is thanks to the support and consideration you have given me over this process that I have been able to find the courage to speak so openly about them.

Whether you go on to read the full series or your adventures remain here, I thank you for whatever serendipity has brought you to this page, and wish you good fortune.

Until next, may the day be yours.

Editing updates, ITSOE

Editing update #3

by Andrew DahmsLeave a Comment on Editing update #3

Finishing something – actually finishing it, once and for all – is a curious thing.

I’ve been sitting on this story for almost twenty-three years now, and in that time, I’ve re-written and re-approached it so many times that it’s almost hard to imagine it as a real and solid thing. Somewhere along the way, however, the rough edges have gotten smoother, the characters more real, and the scenes most important to the story stronger than the rest.

We’re still about three months away from the final publication date, and with a first draft in place, it might be hard to imagine what could possibly take so much time to complete. There’s work, of course, and other life events that dictate the amount of time I can spend editing, but more so than that is the sheer volume of things to do.

Most importantly, the closer I come to finishing the manuscript – to actually finishing it, once and for all – the more I’m becoming aware that these words that have been bouncing around inside my head for so long are themselves about to be decided, once and for all. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s also at this moment that the mind begins to wonder – have I been creative enough? Is this sentence quite right, and what does it mean to finish something, anyway?

The good news is that, after several weeks of constant editing and re-working, I’m happier with the story than ever before. Years of growing practice have helped me understand some of the areas I can improve, as has the feedback from a small group of dedicated beta readers whose praises I’ll be singing as we draw closer to the publication date. I’ve finished most of the major edits now, and am focusing on sentence-level changes, spot edits, and making sure the details of the world itself are right instead.

In short, there’s still more to come, but it’s all moving along.

Editing updates, ITSOE

Editing update #2

by Andrew DahmsLeave a Comment on Editing update #2

Hi everyone!

Two more weeks of editing and things are both ahead of and maybe-kinda-sorta just on schedule.

Let me explain –

Each volume in the series comprises two parts, and each part is a standalone arc with its own themes and conclusion that feed into the broader story. According to my original plan, I’d set aside one month to review each of the parts in the first volume, then another to review the story as a whole. Instead, I made it through both in the very first month, and I now have the remaining two to ensure the details are correct and that everything flows as smoothly as it can.

It’s also made me aware of a host of other things as well. Each pass over the text reveals more areas to tweak or fix up, and through this process, I’ve made two important realisations:

  • Writing a story feels a lot getting the keys to a hidden mansion and opening up the doors. At first, you’re aware of the general dimensions and possibilities of the place, but it’s only when you explore each room that you understand how they’re all laid out. Likewise, it’s only when you’ve explored them all that you understand how the mansion comes together. Even though something might have been staring at you all along, it’s only when you reach this point that you see it’s out of place (or right at home).
  • Some scenes and conversations are easy to re-write or touch up, but others resist all attempts at change. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the latter are often some of the most important in the story. The emotion you felt at the time of writing is so crucial to these scenes that even the smallest changes can set everything off track. With that in mind, it is possible to edit something into oblivion, but sometimes, it takes several days of attempted re-writes and changes to fully understand that fact, update one or two sentences that make everything just right, then leave the rest alone.

Everything’s moving along as fast as it possibly can, but there’s still a great deal more to be done. My wife and I sit around in the late hours of the night after meetings debating logos and symbols, and I’m spending every spare minute in helping it all move ahead.

I’ll provide more updates again soon.

Until then, may the day be yours.

Editing updates, ITSOE, Souldier

Editing update #1

by Andrew DahmsLeave a Comment on Editing update #1

Hi everyone!

It’s been a few weeks since my first entry, so about time for a quick update on where things are.

In short, it’s been a learning experience.

I knew my writing style and understanding of the characters had evolved over the first few entries in the series, but it was still surprising to come back to the first one. Not so much the major elements, but definitely small things like smoothing out transitions, adding to or removing from descriptions, and making conversations more natural. After running through everything a few times, I’m happy to say a first pass is now complete, and I am moving on to more detailed checks.

There are a few more things in the works as well.

My wife (and collaborating creative) has gone to the drawing board on logos and cover designs, and the number of visual diaries and pens in the house is on the rise. I’ve also made my first foray into the world of Twitter, which you can follow on here for some more frequent updates and thoughts –

Most importantly, I want to extend a very deep and heartfelt thank you to everyone who reached out and took the time to read my first entry in the last few weeks. I had no idea what to expect, and you ended up helping generate more than one hundred views of the article on that first day alone, which was far beyond my wildest dreams.

There’s a great deal more to come, and I hope you can stick around for the ride as I start uploading a few more general posts and details in the weeks to come.

For now, may the day be yours.

Editing updates, ITSOE, Souldier

I’m writing a book

by Andrew Dahms1 Comment on I’m writing a book

It’s been a long time coming, but I am both excited and decently terrified share a passion project of mine that I’ve been working on in the background for quite some time.

I’m writing a book.

Not just one of them, either, but five in a series.

And not just writing them – they’re already done.

For the past two-and-a-half years, I’ve used every spare moment I can find to chip away at an immense story that’s been stuck in my mind since I was a teenager. I’ve been writing in the early mornings before work, during lunch times and on the train, writing in the evenings before meetings, and writing on the weekends and public holidays. There’ve been no breaks or reprieves at all throughout this time, but somehow, I’ve managed to get through it all at a pace of almost one new book every six months. At an average of twenty-four thousand new words a month, that’s a total of seven hundred and twenty thousand words, but finally, it’s done.

Those who’ve known me throughout this time might be surprised to hear that I’ve been working on something of this scale. After all, apart from a random comment here or there, I’ve been pretty tight-lipped about what’s been taking up so much of my time. It’s not the only thing I’ve had to deal with, either, this same period coming with a number of disruptive personal life events and at least one traumatic experience whose fallout I’m still coping with in many ways.

Even though it’s been a struggle to find the time and energy to reach this point, one of the reasons I’ve been able to stick with it is because of how personal it is. It’s a story that helped me through some darker days during my youth, that helped me grow and examine a great number of my own feelings, and most of all, it’s a story that represents a key philosophical concept that defines my outlook on life.

In essence, it’s a piece of epic science fiction; one that represents a fresh take on a familiar concept –

It’s the year 1345 Modern Time, and the world is still reeling in the aftermath of a cataclysmic conflict that came within an inch of ending life as we know it. All records and knowledge of the times before then are lost, the technological achievements of the Age of Wonders forgotten, and nobody alive today now knows how it all began or what came before it all began. Now stuck in a centuries-old stalemate against the ever-evolving enemy forces of Factory Prime, the remaining peoples of the world cower above a defensive perimeter about the equator known as the Line. The only thing that stands between their destruction and the enemy hordes that arrive to challenge them twice a year is the constant sacrifice of the men and women in the Reactionary Forces of Central, commonly known as the Souldiers.

When her childhood friend goes missing in the wild lands beyond the Line under mysterious circumstances, young Vivian must make the decision to leave the town of her childhood forever if she wants to find out what really happened. To do so, she’ll need to cast aside everything she knows to be true, summon all the courage she can muster, and face the Line where no step forward can be won without sacrifice. Along the way, she’ll find more than she bargained for and, if she can avoid falling victim herself, come to learn the truth about the world and how it all came to be.

There’s a decent mix of action, mystery, and cruel choices, but the thread that ties it all together is an incredibly human story that touches on a number of themes that are very close to me. It’s not just a chance to set up some epic action sequences – although there are plenty of those as well – but to examine the things I find most important, such as finding your voice, standing up for yourself, and finding your place in the world. If you’re a science fiction fan, an introvert, or someone who just enjoys a good read, I’m confident there’ll be something in there for you.

Even though I’ve completed a rough draft, one of the interesting things about writing an entire series rather than one volume at a time is how aware it makes you of your earlier mistakes. There’s also a great deal more to completing a novel than just the writing, so I’m planning on using the next six months to touch everything up and get the first instalment ready. In the meantime, I’ll be using this space to not only provide updates on progress and a few teasers, but to talk a little about my own background and the themes and ideas that drew me to this story to begin with as well.

It’s an exciting prospect, finally getting to share some of these things with you all, but it’s also a terrifying one, too. After all this time lurking inside my head and taking up precious mental real estate, I’m aware there’s a real chance it might all just fizzle and amount to nothing. Setting up this space and navigating the currents of social media is another scary prospect for someone who isn’t used to self promotion, and I’ll be sharing a number of personal episodes that I’ve never spoken about openly before in support of my message.

Even knowing all that, it’s still something that I want to do, that I have to do, and whatever the outcome, I hope you can share this journey with me as we learn more about it together.