These first two books are largely about “getting away with exposition” and “planting”. Therefore, if you think my work thus far has been satisfactory, I believe you will find the forthcoming (still unwritten) books quite spectacular.
That’s because from now on I will be free to mix my scenes and sequels in whatever way I like, as reader-suspense suggests, because now it’s all “in there” (planted/exposed). Note that at this time, the two written books can still have characters and structures added, removed, or altered.
All the hard work is done; everything is in place, and what isn’t has been left out solely because when it is included, it will enhance and create possibilities rather than constitute a nuisance. This is a truly significant project.
In these two books, we follow Karli Nobel—Odin's son, though he is unaware of this—on his adventures on Earth. This is simply too large a project to present in its entirety. In fact, it is only now (mid-September 2019) that the books have become presentable in English (and Swedish).
This adventure series has intricate backstories and hidden complexities comparable to those of The Lord of the Rings.
Tolkien addressed this exposition problem using two “big bookends”: The Hobbit as a soft intro, and Silmarillion as caviar for the generals. I adopted a different approach:
My first two books – The Seventh Lot and A Question of Honour – correspond to Tolkien’s bookends, as well as the first book in his trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring. I then shook, stirred, and poured them into two volumes.
The first two books focus significantly on “getting away with exposition” and “planting”. Therefore, if you think my work thus far has been “ok”, I believe you will find the subsequent books “quite spectacular”.
That’s because, from now on, I will be free to mix my scenes and sequels in whatever way I like or as reader preferences suggest, because it’s all “in there” (planted/exposed). Furthermore, the two written books can still have their characters and structures altered.
All the hard work is done; everything is in place, and what isn’t has been left out only because it will augment, rather than detract or be problematic.
This is a truly enormous project, and I haven't yet figured out how to present it here on my homepage. Therefore, allow me to attempt to impress you with a little backstory on the villains: VIDEO
Let us go to Baghdad; there’s a heated argument between those calling themselves “The Kharijites” and the religious leaders of the Abbasids. Virtually 200 years have passed since the Prophet’s death, and perhaps 100 years since the original "Addendum" was destroyed. In this dispute, the Kharijites advocate for the use of unprovoked violence to further the spread of Islam. When the Prophet's (and God's) purpose with the original Addendum—which was: no unprovoked war—is invoked to counter the Kharijites’ argument, they contend that if there ever had been such a thing as an Addendum—which, probably, there hasn't—it must have been a forgery, produced by A’isha or Uthman, trying to distort the true spirit of the Koran; "Had the writings been here now, that could easily have been proven." Now a loose-tongued member of the Abbasids drops a bombshell by spilling the beans: a large silver plate, along with six smaller copies, ordered by the Prophet, was engraved with the text of the now destroyed original Addendum, solely to ensure that violence would never be used in the name of Islam. Additionally, this indiscreet individual reveals that these plates are to be unveiled to the world on the 200th anniversary of the Prophet’s death, i.e., in a matter of days. The Kharijites must retreat, and panic ensues within their ranks. The leadership of the Abbasids has deliberately withheld this information from the Kharijites to prevent them from stealing or destroying the plates, and the man who has prematurely disclosed this information has acted recklessly, especially as he has enabled the Kharijites to deduce the location of the closest shrine. There could still be enough time for the Kharijites to halt at least the opening of the first shrine. The loose-tongued individual is admonished, and the Kharijites are warned not to attempt to obstruct the opening of the shrines.
Now, in a Kharijite emergency meeting regarding the upcoming opening of the shrines, no agreement was reached. One group argued that it was too risky to pursue the “Six and The One”; "They are watching us, and if anything happened to the plates, they would know that it was we who had done it, and we would all be destroyed." However, the radicals contended that the plates must be found and destroyed at any cost. "With them exposed to the world, our cause would be forever lost." Despite the lack of consensus, the radical branch of the Kharijites, numbering seventy-seven, secretly set off to trace The One and the Six in order to eliminate them all and kill anyone with knowledge of their existence. They arrived at the first location, where the shrine’s keepers greeted them as brothers in faith. However, after obtaining all the information sought, they slaughtered the entire order. Upon discovering their next destination (of "Muhammad’s Travellers": those who opened the shrines 200 years ago), they set off for it. As they arrive at the second shrine (just about to be opened), the keepers greet them much as they were greeted at the first. However, they behave as before and learn that the subsequent destination of Muhammad's Travellers is Djardjan; thus, they set out for it. In June 832, upon reaching Djardjan, they find that the shrine – which housed four of the five missing plates – had been looted just days earlier by Karli, a Viking from the Swedes’ land (Odin’s son, though Karli doesn’t know this: our protagonist). Some of the Kharijites suggest it’s time to give up, with some even arguing it must be God’s will; others claim it is their duty to follow the Vikings and retrieve the plates, whatever the cost. Nonetheless, it appears unlikely they will manage to catch up with the Vikings before they return to their homeland: the land of the Swedes. Moreover, trailing them back to their homeland would necessitate recovering the plates from Karli on his own territory; not an easy task.
There is mayhem and confusion, and it is decided that a council shall be convened. This council reaches no conclusion, and in order to settle the question, it is determined that a poetry challenge shall be held to resolve the matter; Handsome Jacob from Spain – who represents those intent on pursuing Karl - wins for the radicals. It is decided that Karli must indeed be pursued and that the plates must be destroyed at whatever cost; for failing to do so would mean the very reason for the Kharijites’ existence would cease to exist. However, as it is unlikely – at least if they all pursue him as a group – that they will catch up with the Vikings before they reach the Swede’s country, this idea is discarded. The alternative of sending a single man with horses and sufficient gold and silver to purchase the plates is then discussed. However, this is a project – at least if they fail to catch up with Karli before he arrives in the Swede’s country – that is likely to require more than a man’s strength, silver, gold, and (quite possibly) lifetime. Alternative solutions are sought and discussed, but no feasible new solution is found. Thus, equipping their best rider with two horses, alongside enough gold and silver to buy back the plates, is seen as their optimal option. Handsome Jacob - a Spaniard, a convert, the best rider, and the winner of the poetry competition - accepts the job: “Your task is to retrieve/destroy the silver plates at whatever cost.”
At this moment, an expert in pre-Islamic magic, the leader of those seven (mainly pre-Islamic) magicians that form part of The Kharijites' 77-strong radical core, suggests: “Here in Djardjan dwells a renowned and powerful jinni by the name of ”Djardja.” If we could make her accept the same challenge as Jacob has just accepted, it would have two thousand years to complete the task rather than half a man-age.” However, it is then argued that a jinni is too awkward and unreliable a creature to deal with, and in addition, would be unlikely to be accepted by the Norse. Then the magic experts suggest they offer the renowned jinni food and sex to make her accept entering a human’s (i.e., Jacob’s) body, thus to be given a human appearance and a persona that will appear less awkward. The pre-Islamic expert knows the required spells and rituals for keeping the jinni from breaking such a promise, and though Jacob protests vehemently, the suggestion is accepted. Now men are sent out to find suitable men as sex partners for the she-jinni and attractive jinn-food. Once this is done, the renowned jinni is conjured, admired, and presented with the proposal: “If you “marry into” a human shape (until your task is complete) and pursue the Viking captain called Karli to retrieve the five silver plates he has stolen, we’ll provide you with the finest food money can buy and all the best humans-for-sex Djardjan can offer. The jinni/Djardja responds thoughtfully: “But then, when I have exhausted myself in intercourse and consumed all the food and drink my body can handle, what will I do then? If I cannot continue this way of life in the Viking’s country while searching for the silver plates, how will I benefit?” A new council is convened, and eventually, it is deemed acceptable for the jinni to become a long-term drain on the Kharijites’ resources. (This summarises "The Bad Guys", and as the reader won't be informed about this in the first two books, I include it here for your reading.)