"Levels" - The Perfect World - Maybe

[Jim]

Imagine a world in which the words murderer, rapist, terrorist, tyrant, arsonist, fraud and thief do not exist, because such people do not exist.

Imagine a world in which everyone, without exception, has access to the exact same quantity and quality of food, clothing, housing, medical care, formal education and social advancement opportunities - a world in which being different is not just accepted or tolerated, but is considered admirable.

Now imagine that, in this world, the words father, mother, daughter, son, brother, sister, family, marriage and religion also do not exist, because the concepts themselves do not exist.

Imagine that, in this world, the inhabitants are sometimes transported to a place they never knew existed or required to do something, without having the slightest idea of what they are doing or why it must be done.

Can you imagine such a world? I did. If you should choose to visit it someday, I sincerely hope that you enjoy reading about the world of Levels* as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Jim Vuksic - Author

* Levels - Available through 14 commercial vendors in: paperback (376 pages), e-Book download (Kindle/Nook/Tablet), audio book on CD (9 discs), and audio book download - 8 hours listening time, narrated by Stephen Rozzell
Distributed internationally by Ingram/Spring Arbor.

* http://jimvuksic.tateauthor.com/

[Jim]

Interviews

The Cult of Me , a literary blog published in the U.K. - Oct. 20, 2014.
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

Book Reader Magazine - Sept 10, 2014.
http://bookreadermagazine.com/feature...

The Platinum Journal , a teen literary magazine published in the U.K. - Aug. 11, 2014.
http://theplatinumjournal.com/2014/08...

AwesomeGang.Com , a literary website - Dec. 3, 2013.
http://awesomegang.com/jim-vuksic/

In Shaler Area Community Magazine (Reporter: Heather Holtschlag) - Nov. 15, 2012.

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter I of Levels - Main Level

It was strictly forbidden to ever challenge or even ask a question regarding anything spoken by a Revered One. (Page 9)

The tales of the Ancient Time revealed that Main Level had once received its light from a single massive source and that the overhead had once been blue in color. (Page 11)

"I wonder what happens after cycle eleven. Come to think of it, has anyone ever seen someone who has advanced beyond cycle eleven?" (Page 17)

Three of the Revered Ones were dressed in the traditional brown, hooded robes. However, the one who now stepped forward wore a robe that was as white as the overhead during awake-time. (Page 21)

We did not know where anything came from, how it was made, or how it found its way to Main Level. It never occurred to anyone to ask. (Page 23)

We were unable to travel long in any one direction before the column would encounter one of the countless barriers that form the diverse and complex geography of Main Level. (Page 23)

No one moved. Each appeared to be waiting for someone else to take the first step into Next Level. (Page 28)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter II of Levels - Next Level

A head suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and it seemed at first to be floating in thin air. (Page 30)

"What happened to all those people?"
The Revered Ones's answer was immediate, concise, and utterly terrifying: "Most of them died." (Page 40)

"I don't care what the Revered One says. I am slowly becoming a Changed One!" (Page 46)

Back in Main Level, replacement clothing and footwear had always appeared on our sleeping pallets as if by magic. (Page 49)

I was convinced that some terrible catastrophe must have struck while we were sleeping that had caused the Revered Ones to lose their sanity. (Page 54)

After one mini cycle, the aches and pains were barely noticeable. Our bodies were beginning to harden, and we no longer looked upon the various forms of exercise that we participated in as torture. (Page 56)

Throughout our entire lives, any environment to which we had been exposed had always been neat and orderly. That which we now gazed upon was totally alien and impossible to comprehend. (Page 58)

"Edward, you can talk, cant't you?"
When Edward just nodded and smiled, Alfred continued the interrogation. (Page 67)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter III of Levels - The Crossing

"Where's the overhead? What could have happened to it?" (Page 71)

He landed in an area completely surrounded by killing strands... (Page 74)

I pretended not to notice his wounded legs and hands. I had never seen so much blood. (Page 75)

There is nothing dramatic or heroic about death; it is depressing and permanent. Those left behind ache terribly inside because their hearts have been broken and never completely heal. (Page 77)

We reformed our column of twos except for me. I walked alone. (Page 78)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter IV of Levels - Procreation

"I wish the Revered One had explained why we bypassed Level Three and were transported directly to Level Four instead." (Page 80)

"Everything has a beginning and an end. For you and me, the end comes with death. Does anyone here have any idea of how we begin?" (Page 84)

"Others inhabit our world. They are very much like you yet very different from you. You share many common physical traits but differ in some areas. You will soon meet them." (Page 86)

We were informed that our cycle had attained the stage in our mental and physical development that would now allow us to participate in an activity absolutely essential to the continued survival of our society: procreation. (Page 87)

I found it difficult to look directly at her face, so I lowered my eyes and, in doing so, made a discovery that caused me to temporarily forget my name.
"They are called breasts. There. Now you know my name and that of the objects of your attention, but I still do not know yours." (Page 88)

I had always assumed that the mouth and tongue served only two purposes: tasting and forming words. I was wrong. (Page 94)

Edward announced a startling revelation. He had spotted a Revered One wearing a blue robe coming out of the Solemn Place. (Page 102)

"Do you mean to say that there are females who are attracted only to other females?" (Page 111)

"You have fulfilled your purpose. You have created a life inside of me." (Page 113)

Like it or not, we could not deny that the explanation and justification provided by the Revered One was logical and served the common good. Still, I could not help wishing that it would not have to hurt so much. (Page 116)

Apparently, they too had moved on to wherever their Next Level might be. (Page 116)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter V of Levels - Revelation

"Isn't it rather odd that we never get to visit more than one or two sectors in any level?" (Page 121)

I had known Cecil for nearly twenty-four cycles, yet his ability to logically arrive at a totally illogical conclusion never ceased to amaze me. (Page 126)

Their clothing resembled ours in style; however, instead of the traditional gray color, theirs was covered in scattered patches of various shades of brown and green, the edges of which appeared to blend seamlessly into one another. (Page 133)

"Brain damage is the only possible explanation for how your mind works." (Page 136)

For the first time in my life, the term outside took on a whole new and disturbing connotation. (Page 140)

The ability to see through the boundary was nothing short of miraculous, but the scene beyond it was even more astonishing. (Page 142)

"How could we stuff ourselves at every meal and not once seriously question where the food came from or how it got to us?" (Page 151)

For the first time in our lives, we now experienced oppressive, searing heat. (Page 152)

Although the flames were immense and actually made contact with the port, they did not seem able to penetrate beyond it. (Page 153)

"There are three distinct mysterious substances that fuel the various power sources." (Page 154)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter VI of Levels - Separation

The boundaries were secured and methods were developed to severely limit interaction between the ancient and new worlds. (Page 160)

No matter how fast I ran or where I tried to hide, there was no escape. (Page 164)

"The ultimate goal will be for you all to attain Highest Level, but it will not be the same for everyone." (Page 167)

"Maybe this, maybe that! Maybe so, maybe not! That's a brilliant theory. I can't believe you came up with it all by yourself. Maybe it's because your're stupid!" (Page 171)

"With freedom come certain responsibilities and obligations." (Page 171)

"How will we know when we are ready for advancement to Next Level?"
The Revered One simply replied, "You will know. You will always know." (Page 172)

Like our band of five, a few had formed personal friendships or cliques, but most chose to be loners. (Page 173)

Overcoming my personal fear of the unknown with a fierce determination to achieve Next Level, I walked with my friends along a pathway leading to the future. (Page 173)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter VII of Levels - Freedom

"A standard ritual was soon established to determine a change in direction." (Page 175)

Alfred nodded his agreement and quickly turned his head away to hide the tears starting to form in his eyes and, in so doing, did not notice the ones forming in mine. (Page 176)

"I didn't mean that I don't like you personally. I just don't like you the way my friends like you." (Page 180)

"I believe somebody gave somebody a certain secret signal." (Page 187)

"They only wear that clothing while in their home level so that they will blend in with their surroundings whenever they must venture out beyond the boundries." (Page 194)

"Until you told us, I had no idea that females were required to make the crossing." (Page 196)

"Our society does not tolerate petty jealousy or one person's right to claim the exclusive possession of another." (Page 202)

The three of them continued eating and talking as if plucking someone's eye out was a common occurrence. (Page 205)

Jade suggested an activity that might tire us sufficiently to make sleep possible. It did. (Page 206)

This revelation was very interesting, but none among us seemed to think that the color of one's skin or how it got that way was really all that important since it didn't seem to make them different in any other way. (Page 210)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter VIII of Levels - Decisions

"Please tell me you're just a bad dream." (Page 215)

I honestly believe that he did not fully comprehend the significance of this event. No one attempted to console him. (Page 217)

To be given the option of refusing a Revered One's offer was unheard of. We were stunned. (Page 218)

"I'm going to pack and go to the Place of Knowledge to inform the white-robed Revered One that I am prepared for transport." (Page 219)

"Watch out! There's something seeping out of the surface." (Page 221)

...if the Revered One had arrived any later, we would probably all have shared Cecil's fate. (Page 223)

"Did you hear how he said hello? It came out very slowly and sounded slightly odd, as though he might not be comfortable speaking our language." (Page 225)

There were no inhabitants wandering about, at least none that were visible. (Page 227)

Several of those, both male and female, scattered throughout the dining place, were missing limbs. (Page 229)

"They didn't treat people who differed from the established norm badly, but they did treat them differently, which can be just as hurtful and demeaning." (Page 230)

"Does it bother you that you cannot see your face?" (Page 237)

"I can't imagine wanting to live in a world in which everyone is the same." (Page 237)

"There are one thousand four hundred and twelve illumination sources in Main Level." (Page 245)

He was particularly delighted to have learned a new word to add to his vocabulary: kitchen. (Page 253)

"I'm not ready to go just yet. I really like it here." (Page 255)

"Whether we accept or not, I am sure our choice will somehow impact future opportunities for advancement." (Page 255)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter IX of Levels - The Museum

"How many different levels do you think there are in the world, Jonathan?" (Page 257)

"Our world has existed for over three hundred cycles. I guess depicting that much history requires a lot of space." (Page 258)

Lucille did not seem to take offense at this rejection of her services. (Page 259)

"At the beginning of the rebirth, individuals still wore the same clothing they had brought with them from the ancient world." (Page 261)

"Society began to place more value upon how an individual looked than how they behaved." (Page 262)

We all had learned through the sacred texts how the destructive traits of jealousy, infidelity, perversity, and materialistic rivalries were only successfully eradicated from society after the concept of exclusive relationships was abolished. (Page 263)

"The extra-long hair is a dead giveaway. There are no individual cutting stations in any of the pre-free levels..." (Page 264)

"Didn't you see the placard that described the common practise among the ancient ones to usually only use their given name when signing official documents or during solemn occasions?" (Page 266)

"Jonathan, you may listen to the sacred teachings, but I don't think you truly understand them." (Page 268)

Cecil's equally loud reply of "Hey, eat this!", brought Clarence to an abrupt halt and he angrily turned on Cecil. (Page 270)

Clarence's reply that it was Sector 4 was met with shouts and cries of disbelief. (Page 271)

"No pathway we've traversed so far seems to have been as long or as short as the first time we travelled it." (Page 272)

"They don't seem very friendly, do they?" (Page 275)

"Now more than ever, they must often do and witness terrible things to ensure the security and continuous existence of our world." (Page 276)

The sacred texts teach us to be careful what we wish for . Whoever wrote the sacred texts was very wise. (Pge 277)

"You're insinuating that you feared being judged guilty by association but lacked the courage to confront me personally." (Page 278)

"If your intent is to touch it, I don't think you should." (Page 281)

"However, curiosity without discipline might cause one to arrive at false conclusions that can result in tragedy." (Page 283)

"Nine of you have been deemed worthy of advancement to Next Level." (Page 286)

"We're not leaving without you!" (Page 287)

"Level Eight is nothing like any level you have visited before. Do not allow the alien landscape and customs to frighten you." (Page 288)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter X of Levels - Only Three

"You have got to reconcile yourself to the fact that for the time being at least, there will only be the three of us." (Page 289)

I remained frozen in place and stared at what appeared to be a white expanse of nothingness. (Page 289)

"There must be a practical reason for the absence of color." (Page 292)

"I'm okay, but I don't think anyone should follow until I have determined what it is I am standing upon." (Page 297)

Just as my vision had improved sufficiently to make out the uneven, inclined surface that Cecil had described, everything went pitch black again. (Page 299)

The knowledge that Dianne and Barbara preferred intimacy only with other females did not prevent my body from responding naturally to Dianne's close proximity and unintended physical contact. (Page 300)

"It has been a pleasure to associate with you, but I'm afraid that the time has come to go our separate ways." (Page 301)

"Barbara dear, I am thoroughly convinced that the only time your're truly happy is when you are unhappy." (Page 301)

"Who we are is not important. What is important is that we are here to help you." (Page 302)

"Another guardian of the darkness and I were the ones who pulled you out of Alternate Route and into Level Nine." (Page 306)

"We didn't see any Slow Ones in Level Eight." (Page 307)

"I believe that it might have something to do with a malfunctioning of one of his internal organs." (Page 309)

"You were screaming in your sleep." (Page 312)

"Even if the original intent is honorable and good, any teaching that inhibits freedom of thought and fails to value diversity or tolerate dissension will eventually self-destruct." (Page 317)

"I thought you weren't attracted to females." (Page 322)

I eventually admitted to myself that allowing my physical urges to override my brain had once again caused me to act foolishly. (Page 324)

"It serves no useful purpose to give in to fear or desperation until you have confirmed that there is a valid reason to be afraid or desperate." (Page 325)

In fact, pain seemed to serve as a stimulus. They would just smile and counterattack with renewed vigor. (Page 327)

"What is the matter with you? You can't go around striking females!" (Page 329)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter XI of Levels - Compromise

Even though it had been very dark when we had returned to the homeplace, Alfred's pallet was still empty. (Page 333)

...I swore that I would no longer take my life or that of my friends for granted, but as time passed, I gradually resumed doing just that. (Page 334)

"He told us that friendship should always be valued and reciprocated but must never be valued above personal responsibility." (Page 335)

"Our activities have been controlled and restricted throughout most of our lives. It would be a terrible waste to voluntarily restrict our opportunities now." (Page 337)

"You know full well that it is strictly forbidden to share personal knowledge of any level not yet attained by the listener." (Page 339)

"From experience we know that it is almost impossible to backtrack once we have traveled a significant distance." (Page 341)

The door sprang closed as soon as the last of us passed through. It was dark, very dark. (Page 342)

"One thousand four hundred and twelve." (Page 344)

"More than likely, a Slow One opened it from the other side." (Page 346)

Without warning, the entrance suddenly closed. No one spoke a word for what seemed, at least to me, a very long time. (Page 347)

"It can't be. Not after all we've gone through to achieve the ultimate goal." (Page 349)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter XII of Levels - Vocations

I had no idea of what the word indoctrination meant. I just hoped that it didn't involve exposure to danger or possible pain. (Pain 351)

Each shelf contained hundreds of strange objects the likes of which I had never before seen. (Page 351)

"The other two are to be trained in the arts of inconspicuous observation and indirect consultation." (Page 352)

I cannot hate them - the sacred texts forbid it - but I will never forgive them. (Page 354)

He reached up and casually pushed his large hood back to reveal a face no different in physical makeup from any other we had ever seen except for several deep wrinkles imbedded in his forehead and cheeks. (Page 357)

"The truths that I am about to reveal are never to be spoken of outside of Highest Level..." (Page 359)

As promised, every question received a detailed, honest answer, and with each answer, it became more and more obvious to me that perception and reality are often two very different things. (Page 360)

[Jim]

Excerpts from Chapter XIII of Levels - Reality

"Revered Ones always seemed to know when we qualified for transport to Next Level. Then they would mysteriously appear before us. Do they possess mystical powers?" (Page 361)

While he was busy blushing, I posed another question, one that had been haunting me for a very long time. (Page 362)

"...Your friend did not die needlessly." (Page 362)

"You were sometimes not meant to head in the direction you wished to travel, so you were not permitted to do so." (Page 363)

"The world is not as it seems. Very shortly you will see for yourselves what I mean by that." (Page 364)

"Place your trust in me and prepare yourselves. You are about to experience something more wondrous than you could ever imagine." (Page 365)

"What are those strange creatures, and how do they remain suspended and move through the air like that"" (Page 366)

"It's such a silly shaped structure. What practical purpose could it have possibly served?" (Page 367)

My legs suddenly felt weak, and my stomach hurt. A sense of denial, loss, and betrayal caused me to shout when I had only intended to speak in a normal tone. (Page 368)

"Your perception of the world has collide head-on with the reality of the world, and it has stirred feelings of anger, betrayal, and resentment within you." (Page 372)

I was ashamed and humbly begged the Revered One to accept my apology. He refused. (Page 375)

This is the final chapter of the book. I wish to thank those who have loyally followed each installment and posted comments, suggestions, and opinions either in this thread or via the communication page of the book's website.

[Jim]

How Levels was Born or My wife & kids made me do it!

Writing a novel was just one of several items included in a bucket list that my late wife insisted that I create upon retiring in 2001. She made it perfectly clear that sitting around just relaxing was not an option.

It took me fourteen months to produce what I felt was a completed, polished manuscript. A copy was given to each of my four adult children. Two of them pestered me for months to at least attempt to have it published. A deal was struck. Query letters would be sent to five mainline traditional publishers. If all five rejected the manuscript, the subject would be dropped and never again resurrected.

Within 48 hours, after e-mailing the letters, a formal rejection was received from three of the publishers. The acquisition team of the two remaining publishers requested a copy of the manuscript for review and evaluation. Approximately six weeks later, one of them sent a polite rejection letter. Within 24 hours, the last remaining publisher phoned and offered me a contract. My ego soared.

During the next several weeks, spent working with and learning from the copy editor, conceptual editor, and layout design artist, assigned to help convert the manuscript into a commercially viable book, my ego gradually deflated as I came to realize that the completed, polished manuscript, of which I had been so proud, was neither complete nor polished.

Finally, Levels was relaeased on August 9, 2011. My children are happy. I'm happy. The only one who doesn't seem very happy is the publisher (Levels has sold only 917 units to-date).

Writing a novel proved to be a worthwhile experience. I learned a lot and occasionally receive a royalty check. I am now focused upon completing the remaining items on that bucket list.