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Far, far away and long, long
ago... There was, or perhaps there is, another world. A world enwrapped in clouds of
alternative time and strange enchantments. It is a world where magic prevails
over machinery (although, to be fair, some wizards do construct magical
mechanisms that can be a delight.) It is a mystical place where valour
and honour and are valued and admired. Where knights rescue damsels and
slay dragons, where hordes of foul Goblins from the Underworld raid the
farmlands and towns of the surface dwelling peoples ...
I know this place as The Hidden Realms; a world
filled with
fantasy and magic. It can be found Beyond Reality's Edge, where
time, they say, dances to a different tune. It is a far off place, and
yet, from another perspective, it is just around the corner. You might,
perhaps, call the Hidden Realms an alternative universe, although universe is a
rather large word to use in this context...
Cornelius Clifford, by the sign of the Sorcerer's Rest
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A magnificent wizard's tower
The very best of wizardish
architecture in the Hidden Realms - a magic tower! |
INTERVIEW
"So tell me, Professor
Clifford, where exactly are the Hidden Realms?"
"As I have already quite
clearly stated; they are Beyond Reality's
Edge. You only have to step through the correct magic door, or drink the
appropriate potion, to be magically transported there."
"You mean, there are worm-holes
in space, or gaps in the space time continuum?"
"No, no, no. It's not like that
at all. You are trying to make the connection between our world and the
Hidden Realms fit your view of the physical rules of science. It
simply does not work like that. You will need to think in a completely
different way to grasp this. There are some mystics, I have been told, who can make
themselves 'in' the Hidden Realms simply by thinking about it in the
correct manner. They somehow visualise themselves as there, and they are
there. Does that explain it?"
"Not really, Professor. Are you sure
you've taken your little purple pills today?" |
The above is an
extract from an interview
with Johan Smithson of Omnis Magazine, and is not quoted in full here.
But you get the idea...
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A crazy wooden bicycle
Invented by an eccentric wizard
this silly wooden bicycle is probably terribly difficult to
operate. |
A very special tree house
In the Hidden Realms tree houses
are common. This is my favourite and the very special home of a
highly esteemed magic user of my acquaintance! |
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A Fungle woman
Not all Fae Folk of the Forest Tribes are
pretty, far from it, as this little sketch clearly demonstrates |
Text and illustrations copyright
Cornelius Clifford © 2010
Dreamworlds is an
imprint of Albatross Art:
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