An Introduction to Xak Stellar M. R. Mathias wrote a half million-word fantasy series (actually several of them) but one series in particular, was filled with sexual connotations, graphic sexual situations, and enough vivid detail describing battle scenes, wounds, and adult oriented motivations, it was unsuitable for anyone under the age of 17. That series did pretty well in its day, but the material is so compelling, and the storyline outside the adult content and gore, so well thought out, the NC17 aspects stifled what might have been a massive hit across the board.
Suzza Sarra, one of Mathias's trusted proofreaders, and an accomplished author in her own right, was given the task of removing all of the sex and gore from the series, and since the NC-17 market and the Mid-Grade/YA market are so vastly different, Mathias had Suzza change the names and descriptions of the places and characters, created a new map, as well as removing all the over descriptive battle gore. She also changed the adult motivational aspects, and sexual situations used to drive the plot.
Suzza Sarra is almost done with book two, and there is enough source content to fill books three, four, and possibly five, with whole stories of what she calls "sanitized," well edited, material. The result of her great effort shines through in The Adventures of Xak Stellar, Book One - Fire Island. And having read both versions, I have to say, her result is a masterful, all ages epic adventure that is comparable to the best fantasies ever written. That is not to say, Mathias's series weren't great, some books just weren't suitable for anyone under 18 years old. If you have read Mathias's 10 book, The Legend of Vanx Malic series, some aspects of The Adventures of Xak Stellar, will seem slightly familiar, but only remotely so. And since The Legend of Vanx Malic is now buried under searches for The Legend of Vox Machina, it is only fitting that Xak Stellar, and Suzza Sarra both get a shot.
If you are a fan of Vanx Malic, don't worry, that series is not going away. But it won't be front and center, or promoted much anymore, beyond its connection to The Wardstone Trilogy and Devious Arcana.
Here we have a story comparable to LLoyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, or C. S. Lewis's the Chronicles of Narnia. Not many know Mathias graduated H.S. with a scholarship in creative writing, and his million copy selling trilogy, had a huge tribute to the two author's above, and J.R.R.Tolkien. The evil wizard Pael, in The Wardstone Trilogy, had an Imp familiar named Inkling. Mathias once told me, if you don't have an Inkling, about who the Inklings are, or why their bad guys were orcs, or cauldron born, and not other humans, you shouldn't be writing fantasy.
Please enjoy Xak Stellar and his amazingly, diverse, companions. And if you happen to like a bit of battle wound reality, and more adult oriented content, pass this on to your kids, and grab The Legend of Vanx Malic Complete Ten Book Box Set. Luckily, if you like this series, there is also the Devious Arcana series, Perpetual Fantastica, The Dragoneer Saga, Dragon Racers, and of course, The Wardstone Trilogy, all written for fantasy readers of any age, but clean enough to be rated PG. Even cooler, all of those series tie together, except for The Dragon Racers Trilogy.
- Digital Wizard ONE