Knots: A Novel of Fractal Magic

by Chuck Boeheim

Knots features a cast of eccentric and only conditionally-trustworthy characters that will appeal to fans of Roger Zelazny or Neil Gaiman. Or if you enjoy the inventive magic systems of Brandon Sanderson, let Knots introduce you to Topomancy. In this world, a precisely tied knot, an exactly folded paper, or a cunningly drawn figure can unlock wonders and horrors.

Resche, an art thief, finds himself in a quaint Swiss town that borders Spain on one side and South America on the other. Mages are engaged in playing a game of Geomancy with tiles the size of cities. When he is caught stealing from one of them, he becomes a pawn in their intricate game. The Fractalist priest is enigmatic, the Jeweler may not be what he seems, and the Astromancer turned up dead the night he consulted her. Emeline, the newspaper editor, seems sympathetic, but what are her motives? His companion Trefoil tells Resche to trust her, but what does a cat know (even a talking one)? It’s time to find a way back to his own world, but the bridge he crossed has vanished in the fog.

Wouldn’t you love to have a Knot of Confusion to use against your enemies? Step into the unique world of Knots today. Just remember your way back.

Genres: Fantasy

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Chuck Boeheim brings his career in science and technology to tales of science fiction and fantasy while leaning into the "sufficiently advanced technology" trope. He's prone to filling his notebook with celestial mechanics calculations and other research for accuracy before telling the human stories set against that background. (Don't worry, the math doesn't end up in the stories.) His debut novel Sellenria has appeared on the Amazon top Hard Science Fiction list, while Knots is an exploration of a magical world based on topology. His short story Charon recently appeared in the anthology "Of Gods and Globes III."

Chuck lives with his wife, Chidori, and two cats, Rumplethumpkin and Yomogi, on the edge of Cayuga Lake in Upstate New York. When not writing, he enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, and traveling the world. He's visited most places in the world with high-energy physics labs and is now busy filling in the gaps in between.

Reviews

[Bob Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world of topomancy was new to me. This review was based on a complimentary pre-release copy. Luckily, just before reading Knots, I'd learned about the discipline of math known as Topology from my daughter studying it in college. She has a well-ordered mind, much like the protagonist in Knots, only the latter takes knots, mathematical precision, patterns and order and turns them into powerful tools of magic which he uses to unravel this mystery of how he ended up in a strange land and to try to get home.

Knots is a compelling story filled with unexpected characters, plot twists, literal location twists, mystery and redemption. It was so unusual a read that I struggle with how to classify it. Is mystery,? Fantasy? Adventure? A math lesson? I can't decide. What it is is a fun journey for the mind. I enjoyed the characters so much that I read it twice. I hope Boeheim dreams up a way to tie them to future adventures.

[Stella Jorette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unique novel mixes genres and interlaces humour into a mystery/adventure tale. Riffs off of the art of MC Escher, math, knots, and fractals transforming into magic, and a "geographical disaster" create a magical alternate Earth. But despite being written by a physicist and told from the point of view of a somewhat OCD character, the book isn't all "head." It also contains plenty of "heart," including a humorous cat sidekick and an energetic and intelligent love interest. The book is very well edited and the prose vivid and intelligent. Highly recommended.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as a review copy, this is an honest review. ML Resche finds himself trapped in a very bizarre world where magic can cross into dimensions and beautifully intricate. Getting home, this art thief will have to discover his own abilities to master the puzzles that will keep him trapped if he fails. A very mind bending read, highly recommended.