TRANSMIGRANT: Introduction
This was, originally, an introduction to Transmigrant in an early draft of the manuscript. It did not survive the editing process, but I include it here for the sake of posterity.
Imperial Institute for Historical Reconstruction
As a translator, my task is to take the fragments of source materials I have gathered and turn them into a comprehensive three-volume narrative. This undertaking aged and taught me in ways I could not have imagined when I began this work as a fresh Ph.D. graduate, thinking the galaxy was my oyster. Now, sitting among the dust-covered archives of forgotten worlds, I realize the enormity of my mission: to resurrect the truth from the deep well of time, where the waters are muddied with myth, legend, and fabrication.
The challenge was staggering. Of significant note are two preserved works: Bliss by Takeshi Hoshi and Memories purportedly written by a philosopher named Thairis. There are no contemporaneous records that verify the existence of these two authors. While they might have existed, it seems more likely these are compilations of sayings by multiple authors passed down verbally over generations before they were placed into written form. Ray Decker’s own memoirs have been well preserved by his family which we include in separate appendices. Nevertheless, whole printed historical works dated within a century of the events depicted in this narrative, are preserved at the Institute.
A third work, Anatomy of Power by Katsu Niruku, is largely incomplete, having been banned and ordered destroyed at some point. It was likely the work of multiple authors over several hundred years, and only fragments remain.
The narrative itself is another matter. A thousand years have passed since the earliest explorers ventured from a now-lost world called Earth, spreading humanity across the galaxy. Straying into mythology was unavoidable, but it seems clear that writers of the time believed in an original single home of humanity. Their stories, passed down through countless generations, have been reshaped by each culture that inherited them. History has been stirred by the currents of time until what was once true is barely recognizable beneath layers of embellishment and myth.
Ray Decker was a genuine historical figure, despite persistent claims of his fictional nature. Numerous eyewitness accounts refer to him, and at least three written works are attributed to him. His existence, therefore, is assumed. My purpose was to sift through the legends and find the truth about his life.
At some point, truth was truth. A thousand years ago, perhaps, a record was kept, a story told with the clarity of recent memory. But as time marched on, truth twisted into legend, legend into myth. Real events were re-imagined by those who yearned for heroes, sought to elevate their ancestors to godhood, or simply forgot the mundane in favor of the extraordinary. Yet, I hold to a fundamental belief: all myths are based on foundational truths. It is the very point of a myth to continue to tell the inherent truth of what it means to be human, even when details are obscured by the fog of time.
But what does it mean to be human? That question has haunted me throughout my years of study. The ancient texts, written in languages now foreign to us, contain words whose meanings have been lost or altered over the centuries. I have had to guess at their significance, to interpret the intentions of authors long dead and forgotten. I have taken liberties, as any historian must when faced with the unknowable, but I have done so with the utmost care. I give to you, my readers, as much honest truth as I can muster. Yet, I fear that even my best efforts may be insufficient, that the truths I have uncovered are but shadows of the reality that once was.
In the end, perhaps there was an oyster, or perhaps it is merely a metaphor for the hidden truths I seek. These three volumes, combined, are my magnum opus—the culmination of a lifetime's work. Each volume is a pearl, a precious artifact formed from the grit of history and the layers of interpretation that have built up over time. They are imperfect, as all pearls are, but they are the great work of my life.
To begin each chapter, I have faithfully reproduced a direct quote from someone known to exist at the time. Where vulgarities have existed in the extant text, I have left them intact. I have made no effort to correct the manner of speech of those quoted, nor have I attempted to reconcile internal inconsistencies, preferring the original in all its unvarnished natural state, where possible.
And so, with humility and hope, I present to you the first of these pearls. It is not just a story of exploration and discovery, but a story of what it means to be human—a truth that has persisted across millennia, despite all the forces that sought to obscure it. This, then, is my offering: a glimpse into the past, a reconstruction of the truth as I have been able to discern it. May it serve as a guide for future generations as they continue the search for the true human story.
Lysander Arkwright, Senior Fellow
19th Day of Jubilee, 1054 GR
Chapter One: Begin Reading
Additional notes on the characters can be found here:
You can find the complete novel on Amazon. The audiobook version, narrated by Eric Priessman, is available on Audible.