| A NEW CLASS OF LITERATURE |
Dear Reader:
I, the Director of Sphyrex Publishing, hereby declare this and all other
verifiction realms to be formula-free zones and safe havens from literary
convention. Within them, creative free expression shall forever remain a
sacred right. Therefore, let it be known that the ayatollahs, mullahs, and
imams of grammar, structure, and style have no power in Sphyrex’s domain.
Their screechy little voices clamor unheard. The same is also true,
concerning the fascists of political correctness. Let them yammer and
squeal all they want. Nothing they might think or say is equal to the truth.
Forgive me for either bragging or complaining, but I have been working on
the Ancient Circles Chainsaga and related works for over three decades.
In doing so, I began at the end and worked our way back to the beginning.
Meanwhile, I started with one premise and ended up serving another. Of
course, I realize that it may sound silly, even delusional, to suggest this, but I
am not necessarily imagining the worlds, events, places, and people
represented in my writings. As it is, I write in character. By saying so, I do
not exactly mean that I sit around pretending to be other people. Yet I am
not exactly saying that my writings are automatic, either. To one or another
degree, most of them are products of both of those methods. Dreams, vi-
sions, epiphanies, moments of perfect clarity, and other mystical
experiences serve as either primary or secondary sources for them as well as
for most of the remainder of my writings. Please, do not dismiss what I am
telling you out of hand. Yes, there are many fools, charlatans, and madmen
roaming this little world. Perhaps, I am among them. But I beseech you to, at
least, consider greater possibilities than you have probably been
conditioned to accept. Likewise, I hope you enjoy my writings for whatever
you interpret them to be. Nevertheless, to be accurate and truthful, I resist
labeling my writings as science fiction-fantasy. And so, whenever someone
asks me about them, I (formerly) categorized the main body of such as
apocalyptic science fiction-fantasy (apocalyptic meaning “revelatory” and
“prophetic” as well as the modern erroneous denotation suggesting
“cataclysmic tribulation” or “doom”). That, however, is still not accurate
enough. Therefore, I ultimately chose to describe the main body of my
writings as verifiction--a hybrid class of literature, which cannot be properly
described as fiction, nonfiction, or Scriptural, but which fuses together the
fundamental elements of all three. [Now, I realize that the literary world only
recognizes two classes of literature. But doing so is intellectually sloppy
and dishonest. Scriptures, whether Jewish, Christian, Islamic, or whatever
else, deserve to be placed in their own class apart from all other literature.
For to deem them nonfiction is insulting to nonbelievers, while deeming them
fictional is insulting to believers. Yet believers cannot prove their essence is
truthful, while nonbelievers cannot prove that they are fanciful BS…I
submit that mythological literature should also be placed in a class by itself.
After all, myths essentially blur the lines between truth and fiction.
Likewise, you cannot prove that my tales are wholly the product of
imagination, while I cannot yet prove that their essence (much less their
details) is the truth.] Anyway, verifiction tales are allegorical in structure
and typically composed of multidimensional metaphors consisting of diverse
elements. Those include (but are not limited to) action-adventure, drama,
intrigue, suspense, mystery, mysticism, romance, erotica, comedy, tragedy,
mythology, folklore, philosophy, revelation, speculation, and prophecy. In
The Ancient Circles Chainsaga and its paralogues, I endeavor to weave
those qualities together into literary tapestries portraying people and
places that existed and events which occurred between circa 8670BC and
8610BC within a distant region of our galaxy. Whether or not you are
inclined to subscribe to those and various other claims that I make, I
challenge you to venture into the world of the chainsaga and navigate its
twists and turns. Perhaps, you will not only enjoy the flight, but might also
glean a few nuggets of wisdom.
Thus far, I have been trying to convey the thought that, whenever any-
one reads my verifiction writings, they must be prepared to think differently
than they are probably accustomed to doing…I have been told that people
are clever, intrepid and wise. That they yearn for progress. Alas, it seems
far too many humans believe that the only means for cultural progress is the
advancement of science and technology; that uninspired logic and half-
baked reason are the only means to discover the truth; and that social
progress only means moving ever farther away from their roots. Indeed, most
folks seem to believe that nothing about the past is worthy of their
attention, much less their consideration. Well, I was brought here to
challenge those and other ridiculous notions. For God and the sages of
Shobol worry about the Children of the Earth. They grieve over what
they see coming to this little world unless her inhabitants drastically change
their attitudes, ways, and means for the better very soon.
Anyway, verifiction stories are about heroes and paragons who strug-
gled to survive in increasingly troublesome times, while striving to uphold
their high ideals and godly principles. None of the narrators whose voices
recall their efforts claimed to be first-rate writers. In reconstructing their
tales, I have and shall continue to do my best to stay faithful to the
guidance provided on their behalf by my mentors, muses, and sources. If
doing so re-quires me to employ a cliché or redundancy, then that is what I
shall do. Please, excuse my adamance (see, there is another of those pesky
terms, “adamancy”, that are accepted by convention, but which are too
awkward for me to consider using). For I enjoy less sway in most matters
regarding my writings than you might be tempted to suppose. If I told you
what has happened whenever I have attempted to jazz up a story or insert a
word or phrase that I have been warned not to use, you would, no doubt,
judge me to be less than sane. Even so, I know what the rules are for my
participation in this project and I shall do my best to adhere to them no
matter what. The alternative is much worse than the possibility of merely
being consigned to obscurity.
Please, keep in mind that the nations, peoples, cultures, societies, and
worlds described in my verifiction tales are every bit as important as are the
individuals that I depict. And so, if it seems that I occasionally give you too
much information, I apologize. I endeavor to refrain from doing so, but
sometimes my enthusiasm runs amok and becomes regrettably willful. Fur-
thermore, I portray the characters in my tales as they were, and in some
cases, as they still are. Now, I do not always approve of what either the pro-
tagonists or antagonists did, thought, or said. Therefore, I implore you to
forgo accusing me of glorifying vice, drugs, wanton sex, or perversity of any
kind. For I am obliged to present the truth whether palatable or not.
Thank you for your consideration,
James Howard Trusty
Note:
* Now and then, when you read a chainsaga tale or paralogue, you will,
no doubt, encounter words that are unfamiliar. Do not fret. Just interpret
them however you will and read on. Otherwise, consult the chainsaga
lexicon, EL’SCORPUS. A version of such is available as a free
download on this website. Nevertheless, you will occasionally encounter
words that you might consider misspelled. I have endeavored to eliminate
such blights. But I strongly disagree with the way various words are usually
spelled, as well as how assorted terms are constructed. Examples of that
are “terraforming” and “battle group”. To “terraform” a planet seems to
imply that one would need to create it. Rather, it is more accurate to use
the word “terreform” since the process essentially means reforming a planet’
s surface, atmosphere, and/or core dynamics…Call me perverse if you like,
but I refuse to construct the noun “battle group” or the adjective “battle-
group” as such. To me, it looks better (less awkward) as one word,
“battlegroup”.
* The cigarettes, cigars, and smoking herbs mentioned in verifiction tales
included no tobacco whatsoever. None of the characters portrayed within
verifiction had ever heard of such. But they did know about cannabis. Most
of the protagonists happened to be from what the anthropologists of their
day referred to as cannabis cultures. Conversely, most of the antagonists
were from alcohol cultures.
* In the Ancient Circles Chainsaga and related writings, Zargus and
most other narrators employed the Amerian rules of grammar. Accordingly,
such references as Vanity, Heaven, and Evil are either personalized or are
considered real places or entities, and so, warrant capitalization. The same
applies to abbreviated names, such as the Galaxy, which refers specifically
to the Milky Way Galaxy.
* The names of the people, organizations, and places described in the
Ancient Circles Chainsaga and related works are not necessarily their true
names.
* Partly due to intragalactic commerce, but mostly due to convergent (or
parallel) evolution, many lifeforms appear on various worlds, sometimes as
the same plant or animal, though more often than not (whether the
similarities are profound or superficial), the plants and/or animals in
question are not the same. In other words, a horse might actually be a horse,
but it is probably just something similar and might not even be closely or
directly related to true equines.
I, the Director of Sphyrex Publishing, hereby declare this and all other
verifiction realms to be formula-free zones and safe havens from literary
convention. Within them, creative free expression shall forever remain a
sacred right. Therefore, let it be known that the ayatollahs, mullahs, and
imams of grammar, structure, and style have no power in Sphyrex’s domain.
Their screechy little voices clamor unheard. The same is also true,
concerning the fascists of political correctness. Let them yammer and
squeal all they want. Nothing they might think or say is equal to the truth.
Forgive me for either bragging or complaining, but I have been working on
the Ancient Circles Chainsaga and related works for over three decades.
In doing so, I began at the end and worked our way back to the beginning.
Meanwhile, I started with one premise and ended up serving another. Of
course, I realize that it may sound silly, even delusional, to suggest this, but I
am not necessarily imagining the worlds, events, places, and people
represented in my writings. As it is, I write in character. By saying so, I do
not exactly mean that I sit around pretending to be other people. Yet I am
not exactly saying that my writings are automatic, either. To one or another
degree, most of them are products of both of those methods. Dreams, vi-
sions, epiphanies, moments of perfect clarity, and other mystical
experiences serve as either primary or secondary sources for them as well as
for most of the remainder of my writings. Please, do not dismiss what I am
telling you out of hand. Yes, there are many fools, charlatans, and madmen
roaming this little world. Perhaps, I am among them. But I beseech you to, at
least, consider greater possibilities than you have probably been
conditioned to accept. Likewise, I hope you enjoy my writings for whatever
you interpret them to be. Nevertheless, to be accurate and truthful, I resist
labeling my writings as science fiction-fantasy. And so, whenever someone
asks me about them, I (formerly) categorized the main body of such as
apocalyptic science fiction-fantasy (apocalyptic meaning “revelatory” and
“prophetic” as well as the modern erroneous denotation suggesting
“cataclysmic tribulation” or “doom”). That, however, is still not accurate
enough. Therefore, I ultimately chose to describe the main body of my
writings as verifiction--a hybrid class of literature, which cannot be properly
described as fiction, nonfiction, or Scriptural, but which fuses together the
fundamental elements of all three. [Now, I realize that the literary world only
recognizes two classes of literature. But doing so is intellectually sloppy
and dishonest. Scriptures, whether Jewish, Christian, Islamic, or whatever
else, deserve to be placed in their own class apart from all other literature.
For to deem them nonfiction is insulting to nonbelievers, while deeming them
fictional is insulting to believers. Yet believers cannot prove their essence is
truthful, while nonbelievers cannot prove that they are fanciful BS…I
submit that mythological literature should also be placed in a class by itself.
After all, myths essentially blur the lines between truth and fiction.
Likewise, you cannot prove that my tales are wholly the product of
imagination, while I cannot yet prove that their essence (much less their
details) is the truth.] Anyway, verifiction tales are allegorical in structure
and typically composed of multidimensional metaphors consisting of diverse
elements. Those include (but are not limited to) action-adventure, drama,
intrigue, suspense, mystery, mysticism, romance, erotica, comedy, tragedy,
mythology, folklore, philosophy, revelation, speculation, and prophecy. In
The Ancient Circles Chainsaga and its paralogues, I endeavor to weave
those qualities together into literary tapestries portraying people and
places that existed and events which occurred between circa 8670BC and
8610BC within a distant region of our galaxy. Whether or not you are
inclined to subscribe to those and various other claims that I make, I
challenge you to venture into the world of the chainsaga and navigate its
twists and turns. Perhaps, you will not only enjoy the flight, but might also
glean a few nuggets of wisdom.
Thus far, I have been trying to convey the thought that, whenever any-
one reads my verifiction writings, they must be prepared to think differently
than they are probably accustomed to doing…I have been told that people
are clever, intrepid and wise. That they yearn for progress. Alas, it seems
far too many humans believe that the only means for cultural progress is the
advancement of science and technology; that uninspired logic and half-
baked reason are the only means to discover the truth; and that social
progress only means moving ever farther away from their roots. Indeed, most
folks seem to believe that nothing about the past is worthy of their
attention, much less their consideration. Well, I was brought here to
challenge those and other ridiculous notions. For God and the sages of
Shobol worry about the Children of the Earth. They grieve over what
they see coming to this little world unless her inhabitants drastically change
their attitudes, ways, and means for the better very soon.
Anyway, verifiction stories are about heroes and paragons who strug-
gled to survive in increasingly troublesome times, while striving to uphold
their high ideals and godly principles. None of the narrators whose voices
recall their efforts claimed to be first-rate writers. In reconstructing their
tales, I have and shall continue to do my best to stay faithful to the
guidance provided on their behalf by my mentors, muses, and sources. If
doing so re-quires me to employ a cliché or redundancy, then that is what I
shall do. Please, excuse my adamance (see, there is another of those pesky
terms, “adamancy”, that are accepted by convention, but which are too
awkward for me to consider using). For I enjoy less sway in most matters
regarding my writings than you might be tempted to suppose. If I told you
what has happened whenever I have attempted to jazz up a story or insert a
word or phrase that I have been warned not to use, you would, no doubt,
judge me to be less than sane. Even so, I know what the rules are for my
participation in this project and I shall do my best to adhere to them no
matter what. The alternative is much worse than the possibility of merely
being consigned to obscurity.
Please, keep in mind that the nations, peoples, cultures, societies, and
worlds described in my verifiction tales are every bit as important as are the
individuals that I depict. And so, if it seems that I occasionally give you too
much information, I apologize. I endeavor to refrain from doing so, but
sometimes my enthusiasm runs amok and becomes regrettably willful. Fur-
thermore, I portray the characters in my tales as they were, and in some
cases, as they still are. Now, I do not always approve of what either the pro-
tagonists or antagonists did, thought, or said. Therefore, I implore you to
forgo accusing me of glorifying vice, drugs, wanton sex, or perversity of any
kind. For I am obliged to present the truth whether palatable or not.
Thank you for your consideration,
James Howard Trusty
Note:
* Now and then, when you read a chainsaga tale or paralogue, you will,
no doubt, encounter words that are unfamiliar. Do not fret. Just interpret
them however you will and read on. Otherwise, consult the chainsaga
lexicon, EL’SCORPUS. A version of such is available as a free
download on this website. Nevertheless, you will occasionally encounter
words that you might consider misspelled. I have endeavored to eliminate
such blights. But I strongly disagree with the way various words are usually
spelled, as well as how assorted terms are constructed. Examples of that
are “terraforming” and “battle group”. To “terraform” a planet seems to
imply that one would need to create it. Rather, it is more accurate to use
the word “terreform” since the process essentially means reforming a planet’
s surface, atmosphere, and/or core dynamics…Call me perverse if you like,
but I refuse to construct the noun “battle group” or the adjective “battle-
group” as such. To me, it looks better (less awkward) as one word,
“battlegroup”.
* The cigarettes, cigars, and smoking herbs mentioned in verifiction tales
included no tobacco whatsoever. None of the characters portrayed within
verifiction had ever heard of such. But they did know about cannabis. Most
of the protagonists happened to be from what the anthropologists of their
day referred to as cannabis cultures. Conversely, most of the antagonists
were from alcohol cultures.
* In the Ancient Circles Chainsaga and related writings, Zargus and
most other narrators employed the Amerian rules of grammar. Accordingly,
such references as Vanity, Heaven, and Evil are either personalized or are
considered real places or entities, and so, warrant capitalization. The same
applies to abbreviated names, such as the Galaxy, which refers specifically
to the Milky Way Galaxy.
* The names of the people, organizations, and places described in the
Ancient Circles Chainsaga and related works are not necessarily their true
names.
* Partly due to intragalactic commerce, but mostly due to convergent (or
parallel) evolution, many lifeforms appear on various worlds, sometimes as
the same plant or animal, though more often than not (whether the
similarities are profound or superficial), the plants and/or animals in
question are not the same. In other words, a horse might actually be a horse,
but it is probably just something similar and might not even be closely or
directly related to true equines.