Progress Report: This Emerald Crucible

It was in February of 2018 that I recall wiping my forehead dry and taking my first deep breath of humid jungle air. Cambodia was in the midst of a stifling summer and there I stood, trusty Fujifilm camera in-hand, ducking and picking through some of the world’s most beautiful and enigmatic ancient ruins.

Like so many before me, I was dumbfounded. Angkor Wat is perplexing, to say the least. It’s a sprawling complex whose whole purpose is still unclear, and whose full extent continues to grow with every turn of the archaeologist's spade. Those structures which remain standing are vast and silent, most holding their secrets close. And yet the odd carving seems to scream for attention and rememberance.

It should therefore come as no surprise that I was immediately inspired by the place, and began jotting down notes even before I’d left the site.

The idea was simple. I wanted to extend the world of Aliru — the world I’d created in The Torril City Mysterion — and weave a story that could transmit the feelings of mystery and majesty I’d experienced. The story would take place in steaming ruins and time-worn stones. I couldn’t think of a better vehicle for delivering this excitement and adventure to readers.

With that, the seeds for This Emerald Crucible were planted. It would be another two years before I began working on it in earnest, but today I’m thrilled to announce that the first draft is finished.

There’s still a way to go, but already I feel that this new addition to the ‘Aliru Anthology’ is a worthy companion to Torril City. This is not a sequel, nor a prequel. It features different characters in a different time and place, but should the reader pay attention, they might find little sparkles along the way which illuminate a greater whole…

Stay tuned for more announcements. I can’t wait to share This Emerald Crucible with you all very soon.

Jim :)