I came up with the idea of a Coloth series as a joke on a Discord server.
Let's poke fun at Big Finish's habit of making spinoffs about random characters by creating a spinoff about a one-off character from a random short story who dies before anything interesting could possibly happen. Let's parody Tardis Wiki's past tense perspective and fickle validity policies by featuring a Library situated somewhere after the end of the universe, populated by bookkeepers who are really book-burners.
The idea came amid the dramas of the wiki's Faction Paradox inclusion battle, the same stew of emotion that led to the Wallowing in Pessimism's Mire hoax rediscovery. But as tempers cooled, and as Tyche McPhee Letts and I spent more time with the wiki's rules and users, the thoughts occurred:
What if, however mad the wiki's project may be – an in-universe history of a sprawling and frequently self-contradictory fictional multiverse! – there's something to admire in the people who donate their time to contributing to it, and (as Lawrence Miles showed) there are great adventures to be had in a Borgesian Library?
What if the short story "War Crimes" – published in the original Short Trips anthology, featuring a fleshed-out alien culture from the amazing imagination of Simon Bucher-Jones, set during The War Games at the cusp of that greatest alchemical moment of change in franchise history – is actually an excellent jumping-off point for a spinoff?
Best of all, what if Coloth and his unlikely trio of friends – the Bookkeepers Callum and Maritsa, and their vortex-traversing steed Rich the Time Rooster – are actually really fun, and I'd like to spend some time with them, and I bet others would, too?
This idea has followed me, occupying my notebook margins and doodles, from my first year of college, through grad school, and into my early career. I planted seeds: Callum and the Library in "The Library at the End of the Universe"; a mysterious cactus boy and the Plume Coteries in the background of my Faction Paradox stories; and the Bookkeeper and birdhemoths in one of my Book of the Peace Dossier fics. But when it came to the debut Coloth novella, demands on my time pulled me in other directions. Instead others carried the torch.
It was James Wylder of Arcbeatle Press who introduced Coloth and his Bookkeeper friends in the 10,000 Dawns crossover stories "White Canvas" and And Today, You. It was my brilliant co-brainstormer Tyche who peeked at Coloth's future with Rich in "Sonnenblumen". And finally, it was the inestimable @AristideTwain who took the initiative and debuted the Coloth series title in the Auteur crossover story "The Cactus and the Corpse".
So when Aristide told me he wanted to use Coloth in the framing narrative of Arcbeatle's winter anthology The Book of the Snowstorm, and that the anthology would have a big COLOTH logo on the cover (!!!), I knew I couldn't miss it!
I could go on and on with more behind-the-scenes tidbits, or wax poetic about all the emotions this brings up in me (and Holly's cover art! by god!), but ultimately this is not the last Coloth-related story annotation I expect to write, and I have to save something for next time. The topic is the story at hand: and the topic of that story is the Library.
"The First Noël"
Our protagonist is named Caspar, just like the Biblical mage of the same name. This is the story of his pilgrimage, his sojourn.
"long-lost schismatics" — I believe this is the first published hint that not all of the Plume Coteries who originally discovered and settled the Library became "Bookkeepers".
"a Valid book" — A reference to the Tardis Wiki, where for years "validity" is the term which stands in place of is distinct from, and should not be confused with, "canonicity".
"1177 levels up, 312 miles over" — A quaint number compared to the Floor 899,167,435,042 mentioned in "The Cactus and the Corpse". This story is set some generations in Coloth, Callum, and Maritsa's past.
"random gibberish" — When the Library first appeared in "The Library at the End of the Universe", my intention was that it was more-or-less the Library of Babel: finding a readable book in the haystack is like a monkey at a typewriter plunking out This Town Will Never Let Us Go. You can experience it yourself by spending a few minutes clicking through LibraryOfBabel.info; the snippet of gibberish was sampled from that website. Since people are really bad at comprehending true randomness, it's easy to slip into treating the Library's contents as less dauntingly incomprehensible, but part of my motivation for this story was to grapple with the implications head-on – more on this in a moment.
"⁎⁎⁎" — Snowflakes :)
"He had asked Mother," — Originally, there was no stylistic distinction for the dialogue; I've always been delighted by how disorienting this is in Cormac McCarthy's writing. The editor and I settled on italics as a compromise.
"veins of Validity" — Despite my original focus on randomness, it has been more convenient for other stories set in the Library to assume that all the books on the shelves are coherent. Stories such as the framing narrative of this very anthology! These stories all must be set in veins, known or unknown, or otherwise in the neatly organized inhabited section.
"progress had slowed" — If only they had some means to interview eyewitnesses… This particular case may be part of the Bookkeeper's motivation for asking the Great Houses for time ladle technology in "A Farewell to R.M.S.".
"fantastical stories about some random passerby, whom all other accounts agreed had been killed and devoured without further incident" — Not unlike the Coloth series, come to think of it…
"the investigators wouldn't miss it" — Maybe not, but it might explain why they didn't expect anything to go awry when they later ladled up one particular specimen!
"The leather blackened and curled in the heat." — This idea might be new to the Library, but on Earth it's a well-established mode of divination: fire serves as a random number generator which, when hunting for caribou (or for books), yields better results than human approximation.
"amaranthine, or indigo, or both at once" — Colors with significance in one of my prior stories, as I noted in my notes on "A Farewell to Arms". Maybe the results of Caspar's particular number generator aren't purely random, after all?
"vandalism" — A major concern on any wiki!
"The endless rows of spines gave him solace in their monotony. Sometimes he didn't sleep at all." — Susanna Clarke's Piranesi is both an aesthetic inspiration and one of my favorite stories.
"no time at all" — A beloved thought experiment. I like the idea that the clock "started" for the Library when the Plume Coteries showed up. Or did it?
"strange aeons" — An obvious nod to Lovecraft as well as Caspar's mental state.
Of course, the mystery box is the identify of the "wader". Their three annotations:
"A single line had been crossed out… This family of antivirals is effective for two-hearted populations, but it is inevitably toxic to other human species."
"the necessity of mechanical protection in the face of temporal winds. Unless a timeship digests you and your bloodline & you recreate a recording of its signals. That's how I waded here & how I'll wade away."
Random letters, like a recording of signals ritually recreated in handwriting.
I think it's fairly obvious – the connection between the stories that I'm drawing together is an open secret, after all – but then again I'm the author, so of course I would!
Finally, in parallel to the first Noël, just as the Biblical Caspar found the end of his pilgrimage in a place he least expected, our Caspar stumbles into the climax of his sojourn: a wintry snowscape. But his reaction is grief rather than joy, and his burnt offering … well, it's not frankincense.
We leave Caspar in "ash, and smoke, and tyranny." We'll meet him again, although perhaps not by this name!
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At a mammoth-length (828 pages, with a higher word count than Cwej: Down the Middle), "The Book of the Snowstorm" serves as the first dedicated print installment of the Coloth series, but somewhat more importantly to this blog, it serves as the first release for quite a few upcoming expanded Faction Paradox universe (a.k.a "Doctor Who universe") authors, including the likes of:
Myself, writing The Claus-Rosen Bridge with @tvmigraine (Elodie Christian) and The Cathedral of Winter (solo)
@thienvaldram (Thien Valdram) writing The Dinosaur in the Snow
Beyond these Tumblr users, there were many more by both other new authors (such as Ismaeel Clarke) and established authors (such as @doctornolonger (Nate Bumber), James Hornby, and more). Of course, Snowstorm wouldn't be Snowstorm if it weren't for the multiple stories written by @aristidetwain , and his marvelous editing work.
With all of that said, here is Arcbeatle Press's own official announcement, and here is the direct link to purchase the book (and the American link). The ebook is currently going for £2.35, and the physical for £23.61
Amazon Link (for ebook and physical copy -https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR1FYNQW?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520)
Payhip Link (alternative link for ebook - https://payhip.com/b/OIkPi)
Lots more about the book below:
The Book of the Snowstorm is just an amazing anthology with a lot of passion put into it from all the writers, so many of whom I've gladly written with in the past, and quite a few new voices who I'm sure will make lovely additions to this community that's been built up over the years. This book is like a portal to many, many areas of indie sci-fi/fantasy publishing, some of which from Arcbeatle Press, some of which leading elsewhere, and many of it somehow connecting to Doctor Who. Fortunately, despite this level of interconnectedness, this book works as an introduction to all these characters and concepts (and not all the stories feature pre-existing concepts).
Also, I wrote something! Jenny Over-There's Wonderful Life, featuring my favorite underdescribed grouch* - this story actually started off as a throwaway joke in a different holiday special that I'm still working on (it features at least three ghosts if you want a hint), but then the call for pitches came along and I sporadically decided to turn it into a full story. It almost definitely threw off my schedule, but it was worth it!
In short, please go buy this book! As an ebook, it's only $3 (which is very cheap considering there are at least 800 pages worth of writing in this thing), and again it's the debut of many new writers!
The Book of the Snowstorm – Readthrough/Review Part 7
Framing Story (Scenes 16-18)
Did that just imply… Urizen was God. Like the ‘God’ mentioned by the Toymaker in the Giggle was actually Urizen (and thus Rassilon)? Also a Church on Ruby Road reference with the goblin. I like Rich’s little section, and in general I’m curious as to how the events in the 925 Universe tie to the Snowstorm in the library and how the mysterious-99-per-cent-sure-he’s-not-Auteur stranger factors into it, if they do at all.
The God Who Came For Christmas
Hello again FASA War Chief. The glimpse into the Archon’s perception of one another was fascinating and I think I get what it’s trying to do. Imply the FASA War Chief is a Self-Hypnotised Master trying to disguise. Either way, fun little piece even if (IIRC) it’s a sequel to a DW RPG story that I have not seen.
Presents
Interesting piece. The Fantastic Realm is an interesting setting and I like the use of comic book terminology alongside more DWEU concepts. As well as the general exploration of the infinitely variable constantly resetting characters of comic books. Captain America, or well… Captain Yank, was a good choice of character for that IMO and I appreciated the references to other suspiciously similar substitutes for Marvel’s other cast members.
The Cathedral of Winter
Ok so first of all, Abraytha is really fun, and I appreciate his general upbeat demeanour and sense of adventure and fun. Also his aesthetic is cool. The Archons of Winter were really funny, and have similarly funny implications for their temporal counterparts (In that a Multiversal visitor with the appropriate equipment could in theory bypass their defences almost as easily as Abraytha did to the Archons of Winter). The cultural differences between Xiantio and Abraytha were also really fun. Aesthetic was great too, just the general winter theming. (Also Lotto cameo?????)
Specifically cowrote a short story with @a-wartime-paradox, who asked me if I was interested and... now we both have a published credit.
Coloth: The Book of the Snowstorm is just a really fun book, coming from the people that have previously released stuff like CWEJ: Down the Middle and the 10k Dawns series. A lot of different people wrote stories over a month, making this the fastest turn-around on a book I've ever seen (but I've never been involved with book productions before).
I've seen some people do reviews of the stories in Coloth and so far it's been well received! One of the people doing reviews is Wyrdvora, but she skipped over "The Claus-Rosen Bridge", our contribution to the book.
So I felt it was important to say that it wouldn't have been half as good without her. She's a very talented writer and I'm excited, as a reader, to see what else she works on. She has a good work ethic and really great ideas - you can look forward to a Time Lord Archon, a shapeshifting Rabbit and an inhabitant of the Library encounter Jesus Christ, Santa Claus and Auteur... who's probably important, I only know him from the Doctor Who: Lockdown short stories.
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The Book of the Snowstorm, brilliantly crafted and compiled by @aristidetwain, is AVAILABLE NOW in print, epub, and Kindle!
It includes a new story from me, “The First Noël”, as well as literally dozens of other stories. Welcome to the Library – just be sure to wear something cozy. Winter has arrived!
The Library at the End of the Universe: A Comprehensive History
In mid-2017 a friend asked me if I could submit a story to a fan anthology he was putting together. I was busy with "Cobweb and Ivory" and "A Farewell to Arms", so I just sent him a drabble from my notes. It's an interquel set between an unproduced story and an unwritten one, and it features the Thirteenth Doctor when her intro video was all I had to go off of. It might still be relevant one day…
Beyond the end of this universe and before the start of the next, there lies a gigantic bubble, and between this universe and that bubble, there lies a much smaller bubble. This is the Library, and its collections have been cultivated by the Bookkeepers since before the beginning of time.
“… no, that’s not quite right.”
Beyond the end of this universe and before the start of the next, there lies a gigantic bubble, and between this universe and that bubble, there lies a much smaller bubble. This is the Library, and its collections have been cultivated by the Bookkeepers since they arrived fifteen billion years ago.
“Well, that’s a bit closer, I suppose.”
Beyond the end of this univerSe and before the start of the neXT; THERE L1ES A GIGAN71C 8U8873 3ND 3OKVSTMBCXKW0S8SKCC0K8 O0GGOC KOKKKG4G8K8G WGOWG88SG8GSWCKS4KCW 84G0O44 S8K
“A fun interpretation, though the spacing is a bit strange. Next!”
On top of the universe there lie many realms where time flows differently and the laws of physics slide parallel to ours. One of these realms is the Library, and its collections have been cultivated by the Bookkeepers since they discovered it fifteen years ago.
“Ooh, now that’s very interesting.”
On top of the universe there lie many realms where time flows differently and the laws of physics slide parallel to ours. One of these realms is the Library, and its infinite collections have existed without change since its interminably-ancient creation. However, upon being discovered by the Bookkeepers seven million years ago …
… its infinite collections have existed without change since its interminably-ancient creation. However, upon being discovered by the Plume Coteries twenty-five seconds ago, the Library was introduced to the concepts of change and entropy. Since then, trillions of books have been uploaded to a …
… upon being discovered and colonized by the former Plume Coteries fifteen years ago, the Library was introduced to the concepts of change and entropy. Since then, trillions of books have been organized into categories, with the Coteries, now called the Bookkeepers, fueling their civilization by combusting the volumes of untranslatable gibberish.
“Finally!”
Callum looked down from the ladder, excited. “We found it?”
“Oh, no, of course not,” the Doctor said from the floor, dropping the book into an increasingly mountainous discard pile. “Something still doesn’t feel quite right. But at least it has a more interesting beginning!”
Callum sighed and handed down a new volume from the shelf. “Well, what specifically was wrong about it?”
The Doctor grabbed the book from Callum’s hand. “I don’t know. Blame Eldritch. I just know I’ll recognize the true history when I see it.”
“Look, Doctor, I think this is a waste of my time. I don’t have your magic truth-guessing superpowers, and I’m sure you’d be able to handle the ladder by yourself. I’m going to find my way back to my people.”
“Nonsense,” the Doctor said while absentmindedly skimming the book. “You’re my companion, Callum; you have to stick around. I need your fresh perspective on the universe.”
“What universe?!?” Callum threw his arms in the air; a few books fell off the lower rungs of the teetering ladder. “You promised me all of space and time, and all we’ve done for the last month is coop ourselves up on the world I grew up in!”
“It’s not a world, Callum. It’s something much, much stranger.” The Doctor picked up one of the scattered books and shook it pointedly at the boy. “Besides, it’s true: I need you here. The Library is in your biodata. You were born and raised here, outside of your ancestors’ native time.”
“But why? I don’t see what this has anything to do with the ‘lost Earth’ situation.”
The Doctor stared up at Callum with unexpected intensity, her eyes bugging out at him. “It has everything to do with the lost Earth situation. History has been broken. The most important person in all of time and space was killed before their time, and they’ll be coming through here any day.” She dropped the book into the discard pile. “I need to make sure you’re ready.”
“That I’m ready?” Callum stepped down a rung. “Where will you be?!”
“Oh, I’ll be around,” the Doctor said, plucking another book from the floor. “But there are other things I need to be doing.”
“What – What could possibly be more important than the most important person in time and space? And what do you honestly expect –”
The Doctor made a frantic shushing noise. She had become completely still, and Callum similarly froze into a ready crouch, listening hard for any disturbance. There was nothing except the whispering of the shelves.
“What did you hear?” he eventually whispered.
“Nothing,” admitted the Doctor at full volume, slamming her book down onto the pile. “But somewhere out in the universe, there’s a soul crying for help in an empty room. I need to be that help.”
“Hullo,” Callum said, “calling for help right here, thank you.”
“Oh, I have faith in you! You’re a smart lad; you can figure it out. Whereas I strongly doubt that the universe will be able to beat off mammoths or mind viruses by themselves, hmm?”
Callum scowled and pulled another book from the shelf. “Well let’s get on with it, then, so you can go battle your bloody mammoths.”
“Wooly mammoths,” the Doctor corrected gently.
On top of the universe there lie many realms where time flows differently and the laws of physics slide parallel to ours. One of these realms is the Library, and its infinite collections have existed without change since its interminably-ancient creation. However, upon being discovered and colonized by the former Plume Coteries fifteen years ago, the Library was introduced to the concepts of change and entropy. Since then, trillions of books have been organized into categories, with the Coteries, now called the Bookkeepers, fueling their civilization by burning any volumes they deem too difficult to understand or too inconsistent with their beliefs. To verify unreliable records, they use time ladle technology in their extraction chambers to interview notable lifeforms from the universe at the moment of their death …
The Book of the Snowstorm – Readthrough/Review Part 1
Part 1
I will first clarify that I am not a great reviewer especially for something as passionate as this. I will endeavour to do my best though.
Foreword
Does this count? It’s an real life statement than a story but I did enjoy how it contextualises the anthology and I’m a fan of the light, but not mean spirited, jab at the 60th Anniversary’s more blatant and flamboyant celebrations and the general sentiment that the Third Universe is too big to be spanned by any one story or copyright or anything.
Previously on the Multiverse
Fun little rundown of just how big this little section of the wider multiverse really is. From the Archons, to the 10,000 Dawns to the Cupids and more. I admit I’m not familiar with a lot of it but this did a pretty good job making it seem like fun.
Scene 1
Nice intro, like the setting and this is pretty much my first intro to the characters besides brief readings of the wikis entry on the Cactus and the Corpse (I really need to get to Horrors of Arcbeatle at some point though quite frankly my wider knowledge of this part of the Universe needs a lot more filling in). Either way, nice little setup with Martisa and Callum trapped in a room with three unknown elements.
Magic Bird of Fire
To be honest, I find it difficult to reasonably review pieces that serve as simple little character pieces like this (Which may make the rest of this book a bunch of very similar short reviews like this tbh). SIGNET’s an interesting group to contrast with UNIT and Torchwood and PROBE and the like but this isn’t even really all that much about them, more about Aoife specifically. Fun characterisation and a neat little setting but not too much more I can say than that. I enjoyed it.
Scene 2
I do like the way the framing narration weaves the stories into its narrative. Linking the title of Magic Bird of Fire to the missing Rich and connecting Coloth’s presently missing circumstances to the following story.
The Dinosaur in the Snow
Ok so can’t review this one. For the potentially obvious implications that it was me who wrote it and that seems a little unfair. Best I can say is I enjoyed writing it and am proud of how it turned out, especially with Aristide’s editing work I cannot praise that enough.
If anyone has any questions about the story feel free to ask, though I cannot guarantee a meaningful answer especially in regards to statements of authorial intent, there are things I will not confirm nor deny.
Scene 3
We finally get to see what happened to Coloth and Rich, and there’s a little more on the nature of the books. I am really enjoying the library setting.
And that’s it for the moment, not too much to say but I did say I wasn’t that good at this.
