‘The Mudbrick Swamp,’ First Book in ‘Rodiniya’s Reason’ Fantasy Series, Published by Writer Ivan Dikov

“The Mudbrick Swamp,” the first book in the “Rodiniya’s Reason” fantasy series, has been published by Bulgarian English-language writer and journalist Ivan Dikov on Amazon.com.

“pThe Mudbrick Swam” is actually Volume 1 of what is conceived as a vast epic set in a medieval fantasy world with alternative history elements.

The new release, which is 370 pages its e-book Kindle edition and 354 pages in its print editions, paperback and hardcover, is Book 1 of Volume 1, and encompasses the vastly intriguing and exciting first three chapters of “The Mudbrick Swamp.”

The fantasy epic’s mystical world created by Ivan Dikov is a place of giant prehistoric mammals roaming free, and co-existing with a vast human civilization with elements of both Antiquity and The Middle Ages from humankind’s real history.

In his world of bizarre rhinos, wooly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, giant sloths, giant short-faced, the specter of dragons also lurks in the shadows.

“The Mudbrick Swamp, Book 1, Volume 1, is only the beginning of the beginning of a vast fantasy epic, God willing. As beginnings are almost as important as endings, please let it sink in, and look forward to the next chapters, parts, and volumes,” Ivan Dikov says.

“My inspiration for the ‘Rodiniya’s Reason’ fantasy series and its first volume, ‘The Mudbrick Swamp,’ came from three directions. First, my veneration of J.R.R Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’; second, my admiration for George R.R. Martin’s ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’; and, third, all impressions from the 30 years in which I’ve been studying geopolitics and human societies, which I started doing when I was 9,” the author elaborates.

One of the most intriguing features of “The Mudbrick Swamp” and “Rodiniya’s Reason” is that they feature an entire nation of archaeologists – an archaeologist nation – who are called “the Arkies,” or the “People of the Ark.”

Ivan Dikov’s decision to create the archaeology nation in “The Mudbrick Swamp” is based on his experience covering archaeology topics, and founding and writing the ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com online news portal.

In “The Mudbrick Swamp,” Book 1, a young boy in the ancient nation of digging scholars – or scholarly diggers, who today’s world would call “archaeologists,” makes an unassuming discovery – yet nobody can figure what it is.

“I also wish to point out that the bulk of my fantasy epic is based on works in Selish, the language of the Greatest City of Sel, by Ivan the Bulgarian, a chronicler of the BiContinent of Rodiniya, whose native tongue was Old Alguarai, who in turn used the memoires of Ivan Wild, a Selish warrior,” Ivan Dikov stresses.

Rodiniya’s civilization is also a tale of three Constantinoples, the TriCities, three mighty “public” city-states, each more dependent than the others on the other two.

It is a very shaky balance, just as the two ultimate vicious empires are lurking in the east.

The civilized world has found the wisdom to form a united Frontier against evil, but tensions and temptations are too many, and cases of goodwill and humans of good heart – too few.

A huge forbidden continent lies to the west. Packed full of secrets, menaces, and promise, it’s guarded by the People of Light, the best and brightest of all humans.

A few heroic statesmen take on the human evil in this world of weird rhinos, woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, giant sloths, giant short-faced bears – and the specter of dragons.

The Mudbrick Swamp is so tangible, it’s right there serving as a warning, but it’s also easily ignored.

The outside evil is appalling but conspicuous.

The evil that’s inside – that is another story.

And both are testing out the Rodiniya’s Reason.

 ***

“The leaders of the TriCity nation-states thus yielded ground where they were not supposed to. They succumbed to feelings, enemies, and weaknesses. So did their publics. Those who knew War wanted to forget it. Those who didn’t, never could recall it. Because of that, War came and found them once again, and it was worse than ever, and it was worse than what the future would have held. And knowledge didn’t help them because they lacked the will and wisdom to apply it.”

Ivan the Bulgarian (Chronicler)

***

“As men succumbed to happiness, convenience, and joy, it was invariable that they would lower their guard. Those with the brains, and will, and guts to fight became too few. That was when evil struck. It was predictable, it was mundane. And yet, it was again allowed to do it. And this time it was as strong as it had never been.”

Ivan Wild (Warrior)

***

“All in all, ‘The Mudbrick Swamp’ and ‘Rodiniya’s Reason’ are inspired by the greatest lesson I’ve attained in the decades that I’ve spent studying geopolitics and human societies: that evil never ever stops, regardless of how good or bad human life happens to be – and that there is a constant need to be alert and always fend it off. Otherwise, it wins. Oftentimes for good,” Ivan Dikov concludes.

Sounds interesting?

BUY ‘THE MUDBRICK SWAMP,’ Book 1, Volume 1, of the RODINIYA’S REASON fantasy series HERE!