THE ELEMENTS: Concept
Conveying the sheer depth and storylines of a series, it is not enough to merely provide a few chapters and synopsis of the books written (or those being planned). If the story being developed is going to be given any justice, it is important to appreciate not only what it is and what it is about, but also the artistic intentions constructing it. And perhaps more importantly, an appreciation of how all the different elements are related together. The reader thus enters a hidden universe in a constant state of mystery, unsure of who the people are and what side of the moral line the characters ultimately lie on. The intention has been to blur the lines, creating a gripping and intense journey into a dangerous world that can only be glimpsed beneath the surface – relating it to discoveries that normally wouldn’t belong at all in a conspiracy or espionage thriller.
the elements: Themes
The use of the elements as a thematic concept becomes more literal as the series unfolds. The characters navigate through their respective worlds of chaos and confusion, deception and revelation, piecing the story elements together figuratively and literally. Perception and understanding of the whole emerge as elements are combined, with ongoing and mounting implications.
The Elements concept unites the books by a thematic code so each book has a distinct thematic identity – working with the classical elements air-earth-fire-water, expanded with the elements stone, darkness, ice to reach the esoteric number 7. ‘The 7’ forms the basis for 7 deceptions and 7 revelations revealed throughout the working of the series. Each theme is interpreted figuratively and literally, each element book becoming an exploration of an emerging whole where perception and understanding comes together. This is used to order the story elements as an esoteric re-interpretation of the classical elements. To date, a prologue and three books of The Elements in the Labyrinth trilogy are written, the rest work-in-progress. The end game is developed, where the series catches up with the prologue and continues past, with many scenes again written as the characters introduced in Beyond The Light Of Reason take on a new and far more meaningful significance.
The Elements: A Learning Adventure
To construct a tale that is as wide as it is deep, the series progresses along two parallel timelines. The present time frame of the eighties one in Europe, the other journeying farther afield to North Africa and the Middle East in the period from 1917 with investigations relating to archaeological expeditions to the 19th century with focus on Scandinavia encompassing Europe and the Middle East in the years 1917-1989.
The use of the elements as a thematic concept becomes more literal as the series unfolds, the real meaning of the elements becoming apparent at the end and how they are combined, answering the questions raised in the prologue. As the threads come together, the complete story is woven into a search for the truth – revealed to be far more meaningful than the those conditioned by the schemes of the intelligence community. Some of the subjects covered to this end include mythological aspects (draugr killings in the Prologue, the saga of Rómund, Æsahult church, numerous Egyptian references in The Labyrinth trilogy that will develop throughout the series), unknown aspects of the transition from WWII to the cold war (illegal liquidations of the Nightingales resistance group; the attack on the Shell House, secret underground construction operations featured in part 3 of Labyrinth), past key discoveries covered up because of conflicting interests.