In "The Arbiter", one of the running themes of the book is the main character's feeling of dissatisfaction with his own life and his inability to be the person that he wishes he could. For Eryn, Terra is a world of escapism. He's quick to assimilate in the world not because he's particularly suited for it or finds it appealing, but because it allows him the opportunity to reinvent himself. By and large, he hates the lack of technology, the poorer food availability, decreased hygiene and rough life that he's forced to endure, but he manages to quite willingly, and he reflects something that I see in myself.
I know I'm not any sort of hero. There's nothing heroic about me. That's why I enjoy writing for Terra so much. By building a fantastic world filled with strange people, magical creatures, and interesting places, they sort of allow me to live through them in a vicarious manner, and I get to do all the impossible things that I wish I could through them. I think a lot of people have a dissatisfaction with life that they're unwilling to explore out of discomfort and wish that they could experience more. I try to capture that longing in Eryn, who goes so far as to reinvent the person he is to more quickly leave his old life behind.
In his own world, he worked the service desk at a technology store. Reaching the twilight years of his young life, he realizes that none of his dreams came true and he's beginning to assimilate into the "drone" status that we all fear slipping into. When the Watchers offer him a chance to change everything and become the person he wishes he was, he's more than happy to take them up on it. Without ruining too much for you, he's a firm believer in the adage "I would rather be a tiger for a day than a sheep for a lifetime."
That's who Eryn, the hero, is, and I'm glad to have created something honest of myself in him. I hope the four of you enjoyed learning a bit more about him and continue keeping up.
Here's to the future!
