STRANGE PASSAGES. When Eau Claire area author Erik Meyer’s first release, The Sublime Luminary of Um, arrived to local bookstores across the Chippewa Valley, he was already in motion to complete a second book in the science fiction series. Today, Return To Um finds its two leading characters – Theodore and Grandma Betsy – in new, otherworldly landscapes Meyer illustrates by hand, as shown above.  (Illustrations by Erik Meyer)

Summer is well underway in Wisconsin, but Theodore and Grandma Betsy have found themselves tumbling through Um’s frozen Northlands. In the second installment of Eau Claire author Erik Meyer’s science-fiction works, Return To Um, these two fictional characters grapple with the passing of time and struggle to return to life as normal.

In Meyer’s own words, once Grandma Betsy and Theodore uncover the reality of alternate realms – populated by non-human beings who possess remarkable gifts – the often mundane existence on Earth begins to seem rather bland.

“I wanted to open the world up a bit and find a way for characters to explore locations that had been mentioned in the first book but not actually visited,” Meyer said. “I also wanted to address some of the reasons why Um has had fantastical people with unusual abilities, but has periodically held itself back.”

In book two, Meyer once again leans on his creative talents; he pairs the narrative of Um with vivid  illustrations that bring the diverse inhabitants and varied landscapes of his story to life.

Antique golden rings give passage to these lands, Meyer said, dropping the grandmother-grandson duo into puzzling situations. Together, they encounter ancient technologies which assist their attempts to find a way homeward.

When asked to describe the ancient technologies discovered in Return To Um, Meyer described portal generators capable of transporting individuals across immense distances and vehicles that utilize propellantless thrust.

Book cover for Return to Um, by Erik Meyer of Eau Claire. (Illustrations by Erik Meyer)

(In case you need a crash course on “propellantless thrust,” this can be defined as experimental propulsion systems designed to generate a net directional force, without expelling mass or reaction fuel.)

Both concepts fit well into the realm of science fiction, yet pay homage to the ways in which technology has expanded the horizons of human capabilities, Meyer said.

“One thing to remember is that every civilization has its own technologies and ways of doing things, and – avoiding a spoiler here – readers may have not yet met all the cultures and humanoids who call Um home,” he noted.

“A device that makes people fall asleep could be a weapon in the wrong hands,” he teased.

Since Meyer’s first release – The Sublime Luminary of Um – hit local bookstores across the Chippewa Valley, Meyer has seen locals respond well to his illustrations.

He has received several suggestions to expand his illustration talents, and the world of Um, to a complete coloring book.

“I find events go by as a blur,” Meyer said. “It’s interesting to hear people speculate about the characters and guess what might happen in upcoming books, but I've been working hard not to write myself into a corner.”

Growing connections with other area writers and sci-fi enthusiasts will likely lead Meyer forward down this path of expansive creative expression. You, too, can get a taste of Um's world by picking up Meyer's books locally.

Copies of Return To Um and The Sublime Luminary of Um are available to purchase in person at The Local Store (205 N Dewey St., Eau Claire) and Audrey’s Boudoir (404 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire). Learn more about Erik Meyer’s work in illustration, online at indiegraze.com.