The Evolution of The Vanguard

The Evolution of The Vanguard

For those unfamiliar, The Vanguard is a story I’ve been writing over the past few years. It was originally intended to be a serial, with new episodes—or chapters—released every couple of weeks. I managed to stick to that schedule for a while, but between a full-time job and life outside of writing, I eventually had to step back from it.

Still, the story never really left me. Over time, I’ve revised the original eight chapters I posted and begun expanding the story beyond them. I believe it has a much stronger start now, and I’m excited to share the updated version with you.

As I’ve mentioned before, the initial urge to write something original came from running tabletop roleplaying games with friends. Getting the chance to be creative and tell stories in someone else’s world made me want to build my own. I’ve always been a huge fan of fantasy novels, but for a long time, I didn’t think I could write something meaningful myself.

That changed when I started building the world of Esthia—its rules of nature, its magic systems, its landscapes. Following advice I found online, I began with short stories to flesh out characters and ideas. Even if those stories didn’t end up in the final work, they helped shape the world. The Binder explores one of my magic systems; Torana explores another, and attempts to weave together two intertwining storylines. Writing them really helped bring Esthia to life.

When I started The Vanguard, I knew I wanted magical animals to play a big role. I’ve always been fascinated by the natural world—how animals adapt to their environments and interact with one another. So it felt right for the protagonist to be a zoologist. That’s how Eyde came to be.

In contrast to the natural elements of the story is the setting: Volgorne, a vertically sprawling city choked with smoke and industry. It’s a place where nature struggles against human ambition—a theme that’s always intrigued me. The industrial setting also helped me move away from the more traditional “medieval Europe” fantasy backdrop.

I enjoyed writing the early drafts, but as I reread them, I felt they needed more detail—especially in setting up Eyde’s journey and fleshing out the city itself. I wanted Volgorne to feel immersive and real. Reading China Miéville’s Perdido Street Station and the others in his New Crobuzon series really inspired me. The way Miéville crafts his cities—layered, gritty, alive—encouraged me to aim for the same kind of depth.

The characters themselves haven’t changed much, but I’ve worked to flesh out their personalities and motivations. I’m especially looking forward to diving into their backstories—but all in good time. Meanwhile, I’ll also be recording these chapters, although I haven’t yet decided how I’ll be releasing the audio. Exciting times ahead!If you’ve read The Vanguard before, I’d love to hear what you think of the updates—and if you’re new to the story, now’s the perfect time to jump in. Leave a comment, share your thoughts, or just say hi! I’m always excited to chat with fellow fantasy fans.