Gezeitenwelt
Encyclopedia
Die Gezeitenwelt is the name of a series of German fantasy novels
. They are set on a planet named World of Tides that is hit by large fragments of a comet
with dramatic consequences: The coasts are hit by gigantic tsunami
s, earthquakes alter the landscape, a global climate change
ensues - and mysterious magic awakes, that lets monsters appear and dreams become reality.
A distinct feature of the Gezeitenwelt is its attempted realism in a fantastic context, which is based on research by the authors with the help of geophysicists
, archaeologists
, anthropologists
and biologists
.
The series was planned in three groups of four books. After the release of the introductory group, the publisher Piper Verlag
offered only to finish the series with one instead of eight more books, which the authors refused. The series rests at the moment (2007).
stands for the magic in the World of Tides, while Magellan
represents the element of discovery.
The authors are:
These authors have among other works contributed intensively to the role-playing game
The Dark Eye
.
Each book of the 1st group is a self-contained description about the events directly before to some years after the cosmic hit in different parts of the world (only book three and four by Thomas Finn belong together), with some reappearing events and minor characters.
The novels won the Deutscher Rollenspiele Preis (German role-playing price) for best novel in 2003 and 2004.
, who became known for his illustrations of games like Settlers of Catan and Magic: The Gathering
.
The interior illustrations were done by German drawer Caryad, known mainly for her work in The Dark Eye
.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
. They are set on a planet named World of Tides that is hit by large fragments of a comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
with dramatic consequences: The coasts are hit by gigantic tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
s, earthquakes alter the landscape, a global climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
ensues - and mysterious magic awakes, that lets monsters appear and dreams become reality.
A distinct feature of the Gezeitenwelt is its attempted realism in a fantastic context, which is based on research by the authors with the help of geophysicists
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
, archaeologists
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, anthropologists
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and biologists
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
.
The series was planned in three groups of four books. After the release of the introductory group, the publisher Piper Verlag
Piper Verlag
Piper Verlag is a German publisher based in Munich, printing both fiction and non-fiction works. It currently prints over 200 new paperback titles per year. Authors published by the company include Andreas von Bülow and Sara Paretsky. It owned by the Swedish media conglomerate Bonnier. It was...
offered only to finish the series with one instead of eight more books, which the authors refused. The series rests at the moment (2007).
Authors
The novels are written by four authors sharing the pseudonym Magus Magellan. MagusMagi
Magi is a term, used since at least the 4th century BC, to denote a follower of Zoroaster, or rather, a follower of what the Hellenistic world associated Zoroaster with, which...
stands for the magic in the World of Tides, while Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
represents the element of discovery.
The authors are:
- Bernhard HennenBernhard HennenBernhard Hennen is a German writer of fantasy.Hennen is one of the best known German writers of fantasy. Many of his books especially his Die Elfen-Saga are translated and published in all major European languages except English. He is married and lives in Krefeld...
- Hadmar von Wieser
- Thomas Finn
- Karl-Heinz Witzko
These authors have among other works contributed intensively to the role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
The Dark Eye
The Dark Eye
The Dark Eye , is a German role-playing game created by Ulrich Kiesow and launched by Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH and Droemer Knaur Verlag in 1984. The name literally means "the black eye"...
.
Books
The Gezeitenwelt series was planned to cover a fictitious period of about 50 years divided into three groups. Only the first group has been realized (2007).- Prelude
- Das Geheimnis der Gezeitenwelt (The Secret of the World of Tides)(10/2004) ISBN 3-492-26566-9 (SC)
- 1st group
- Der Wahrträumer (The True-Dreamer) by Bernhard HennenBernhard HennenBernhard Hennen is a German writer of fantasy.Hennen is one of the best known German writers of fantasy. Many of his books especially his Die Elfen-Saga are translated and published in all major European languages except English. He is married and lives in Krefeld...
(10/2002) ISBN 3-492-70051-9 (HC) / ISBN 3-492-26541-3 (SC) - Himmlisches Feuer (Heavenly Fire) by Hadmar von Wieser (03/2003) ISBN 3-492-70052-7 (HC) / ISBN 3-492-26542-1 (SC)
- Das Weltennetz (The Worlds' Net) by Thomas Finn (09/2003) ISBN 3-492-70054-3 (HC) / ISBN 3-492-26543-X (SC)
- Die Purpurinseln (The Crimson Islands) by Thomas Finn (04/2004) ISBN 3-492-70055-1 (HC) / ISBN 3-492-26544-8 (SC)
- Das Traumbeben (The Dreamquake) by Karl-Heinz Witzko (10/2004) ISBN 3-492-70053-5 (HC) / ISBN 3-492-26545-6 (SC)
- Der Wahrträumer (The True-Dreamer) by Bernhard Hennen
Each book of the 1st group is a self-contained description about the events directly before to some years after the cosmic hit in different parts of the world (only book three and four by Thomas Finn belong together), with some reappearing events and minor characters.
The novels won the Deutscher Rollenspiele Preis (German role-playing price) for best novel in 2003 and 2004.
Illustrations
The maps of the world were designed by Franz VohwinkelFranz Vohwinkel
Franz Vohwinkel is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games.-Works:Vohwinkel drew the cover art for the book Dataware for TSR's Alternity game, and illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game...
, who became known for his illustrations of games like Settlers of Catan and Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
.
The interior illustrations were done by German drawer Caryad, known mainly for her work in The Dark Eye
The Dark Eye
The Dark Eye , is a German role-playing game created by Ulrich Kiesow and launched by Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH and Droemer Knaur Verlag in 1984. The name literally means "the black eye"...
.