Multiversal Nexus

I did complete my latest novelette, which ended up +/- 13,200 words. It’s tentatively called The Agency. I’m not sold on this title, as it maybe sounds like a legal thriller rather than a fantasy. But I’m going with it for now.

In my last post I mentioned that I’m working on creating something unique. So the Agency is a multiversal nexus, connecting fourteen different Realms who all have magic rather than science. Multiverse stories are popular these days, so why not?

The idea is that the Realms share knowledge and community to uplift each other. (At least, until one of the Realms decides it is superior and tries to use the Agency for conquest.) Instead of the Agency having one kind of magic, each Realm will bring its own special flavor. There will be humans, elves and goblins, with their own styles of dress and magic. I like this because it gives me options to treat different situations in a variety of ways.

Of course, this also means I have to come up with the names and basic identities for all of these Realms. Which will be a lot of work, but also fun, and I’ve been focused on that this week.

Something else I’m pondering is whether I want to have some of the Realms be the settings of my other novels, novellas and novelettes. For instance, Tenebira (Cleodora duology) and Skaythe (Minstrels series) could be some of the Realms. This might spare me some world building, as I can draw on what I already created. The Agency is governed by a council of delegates who would come from these other stories.

But, I don’t know. That might be a bit too self-referential. And not that I’m well enough known that newer readers would get the self-references. But, I suppose I could always put in an index with links to the stories in question.

What do you think? Should I boldly self-reference in The Agency?

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