Jan 27, 2022

The Lorel Experiment

Updated: Jul 6

Magnitudes Of Epicness

The Lorel Experiment, An Okal Rel Novella by Lynda Williams

I just love epic stories. They do something to me. As if they changed me as I read them.

What’s epic? Good question!

Epic stories typically involve a heroic journey of some sort. They often deal with large casts of characters, crowds, whole populations. They generally span considerable amounts of time, oftentimes entire generations, or multiple generations, centuries, millennia.

Some stories don’t stretch that long, but have so much story past and backstory, complex family trees, historical timelines, legends, folklore, religions, whole societies that rise, fall, or thrive, or go to war.

They’re epic. I like that.

When I really get into one of these stories, oftentimes I am rewarded with multiple sequels, and sometimes also, fascinating prequels.

I like to immerse really deep into a great story, and to dwell in there for a good, long while. As I grow to love a story universe and its characters, I want to hang around for months, if not years.

This is when I feel the story’s impact on my own life. Because now I’m living two lives simultaneously, with two parallel story lines that tend to feed off one another. I get to experience hope and despair, glory and defeat, friendship and love, internal growth, catharsis at the crux of the climactic moment… always somewhat of life-changing process in the end. This is true also of shorter stories, epicness seems to amplify it for me.

The Oka Rel Saga appears to be exactly that: a wonderful, epic saga. Ten novels set in a far future, plus a slew of legacy novels… what more can you ask?

Okal Rel Saga

The Okal Rel universe is a future where the cultural and biological evolution of the human race has divided it into two societies: "Gelacks"[1] and "Reetions".[2] Gelacks are dominated by the neo-feudal descendants of an ancient bioengineering project that modified humans to tolerate reality skimming. "Reality skimming" (also known as rel-skimming) is a physically and mentally strenuous method of faster than light space travel which underpins the economy and culture of the Okal Rel Universe.[3] The Reetions are the descendants of unmodified humans whose social system depends upon transparency moderated by a form of artificial intelligence known as arbiters. Each race has advantages and handicaps, physical or cultural. (Wikipedia)

The Official Guide To The Okal Rel Universe, by Lynda Williams

I have barely scratched the surface of the Okal Rel Saga.

But already, I can say I like it.

So... Where to start?

The Lorel Experiment: The Story of Sevolite Origins

Dr. Lorel partners with couples around the world to take humanity to the next level through the gift of genetically enhanced children with a sense of responsibility for their fellow man and the ability to take the long view in planning for the future. But people resent competing with 'Lorels' and when the philanthropic doctor is killed, his son, Damien Lorel, opts to dehumanize the products of the family business, Self-Evolved Limited. Damien's Sevolites serve mankind as 'flesh robots'. It takes another Lorel, named Sandrine, to uncover Damien's long term plans - but will she be too late? (Wattpad) Read The Lorel Experiment for free on Wattpad

The Lorel Experiment is a prequel story, seminal to the Okal Rel Saga. There’s something fascinating about it. Many things in fact, but let me tell you at least one.

Although it's a novella, The Lorel Experiment has the makings of an epic story in itself. It does span multiple generations… and it sets something in motion that will eventually grow into the larger saga, connecting our near future (the 22nd century) and the far future where the Okal Rel Saga takes place. A smaller saga within a larger saga. Magnitudes of epicness.

How does Lynda Williams do it? She does it in a fascinating, clever, touching and compelling way.

Find out for yourself! The Lorel Experiment is available for free on Wattpad.

Lynda J. Williams

Williams taught applied computing at the University of Northern B.C. for 15 years, where she headed the Center for Teaching and Learning, and ran a web development lab for producing online courses. Since 2012 she has been Learning Technology Analyst and Manager at the Teaching and Learning Centre of Simon Fraser University, in Burnaby, B.C. She also teaches introductory web design, part-time, at BCIT. She was founder and producer of the online journal Reflections on Water, which ran for ten years ending in 2007. (Goodreads)