MYSTERIOUS BACKSTORY

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https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/ep-blog-posts 

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PART ONE

Of Ten Parts in the eBook HOW IT CAME

Introduction

What has happened in my life during the last five years has been truly extraordinary. Perhaps that's why, with some trepidation, I put myself out there, since this is a very personal story and not just a little bizarre. However, it may help future readers of Elysium's Passage novel series to understand why the books are so different from 'normal' fiction.

In fact, I'm not sure which will be regarded as more strange, the non-fictional account of the eBook, HOW IT HAPPENED or the Elysium's Passage book series. If you are sceptical about what I write in this post, you will likely be even more so in the eBook. But then, so would I if it hadn't happened to me.

In this post, as well as in the subsequent parts of the eBook, I refer to my late friend, Dr Jan Merta. It would take several volumes to fully capture his life’s achievements, but this profile appears in a Who’s Who Publication. See the blog post on him for the PDF Who's Who profile

 What I've written about in another post, and what you will find in the eBook, is that he is very much part of the Elysium's Passage series, somehow inspiring it into existence from where he now dwells. If you had known him as I did, this might not surprise you. 

The Beginning

In mid to late 2012, I had a series of extraordinary encounters that led me to write the Elysium's Passage series, which I hadn’t planned or even thought of before. In fact, I had never considered writing a novel... ever!

It all began on a beautiful summer morning while inquiring about storage space in the basement of an older commercial building in central Calgary. I was considering bringing a private book collection back to Canada from the Czech Republic, which had belonged to my good friend Dr Jan Merta. (See links to his story posts below.) Unfortunately, he had passed away in his homeland a couple of years earlier, in 2010, leaving behind one of the world’s finest private collections of esoteric books; in fact, over 6,000 copies, many rare and very valuable. I had seen the collection years ago and was interested in purchasing it.

I knew, however, the library would be expensive, especially after shipping it from Eastern Europe to Calgary. Besides that, I didn’t have sufficient space in my residence for the books. If displayed on shelves, they would have filled the basement of an average house. As interesting as they may be to own, I also recognised it would be difficult to read even a small portion of these books. Despite all that, I still wanted to bring the books back to Calgary, since I knew they were such a literary prize.

After looking at the space, the studio/shop owner, Angel Rogers, and I agreed that, for various reasons, it probably wasn’t a good place to keep the books. Angel, an accomplished lifelong psychic intuitive, was curious to learn more about the library. As I was telling her who it had belonged to and the circumstances, she announced that Jan was now with us and asked why I was interested in purchasing the library.

Somehow, I wasn’t too surprised that he would make contact with me since, while he was on earth, he was just as interested in understanding the spiritual dimension as I was. But suddenly, here he was, now coming to me from that direction. 

What made this encounter so interesting was not just that he was a very close friend, but that he had such great ability while on earth; in fact, he was often described as the world’s most accomplished man. I realised that, by reconnecting with him, I might gain access to his unique perspectives on the experiences in his new sphere of existence. I couldn’t think of a better contact to have, considering how we already had several discussions over the years on subjects related to our ultimate existence.

While on Earth, he not only possessed unique abilities that enabled him to perform astonishing psychic/telekinetic feats, but he was also a scientist with several registered patents in deep-sea diving. Undoubtedly, these have saved many lives over the years.

Before he retired back to his home country in 2008, I would often meet him for lunch a couple of times each month in downtown Calgary near where he worked as Chief Diver for the National Energy Board of the Government of Canada. Since my academic background and ongoing interest are in philosophy, I was fascinated by the depths of his knowledge and the profound writings he introduced me to over the years. Although I consider myself exceptionally well-read in many areas of literature and philosophy, having been educated in these fields, his knowledge went far beyond my conventional understanding. During these occasions, I spent a lot of time listening, since there was little for me to say or add, except ask more questions that would open new fields and perspectives.

I remained close to Jan for about 15 years, from the mid-1990s, when I met him, until he finally retired in the Czech Republic. Over that time, I arranged for him to speak at a series of lectures on a variety of topics, which I video recorded. (There were twelve of these public presentations.[1]

And so, as I stood in there, I couldn’t think of a specific reason to answer him why I wanted to acquire his library. I just told him that I thought the books were so exceptional that the public should have access to them. But with him seeming to be so detached from what he once took such pride in, I wondered if I should spend all that money. His daughter, who lived near Prague, knew the value of the books and wasn’t about to give them away, even though she didn’t understand English and had no use for them.[2]

In any case, that was the beginning of my renewed acquaintance with my old friend. I was intrigued by this short conversation and being able to carry on as we had for so many years before. And so I was naturally eager to schedule an appointment to chat with him once again.

As you may imagine, there was far too much to discuss over the one-hour session to even begin inquiring into his state of existence. It was him, alright; there was no mistaking his unique wit, humour and demeanour. Later, I followed up with another visit about a month later while recording the dialogues on my mobile.

Though I lost my phone along with these conversations I recorded, I had already typed a transcript of the session in my private eBook. It may seem a bit confusing in places, but I think most of it is sufficiently coherent to see how Elysium’s Passage was about to germinate.

I didn't know it at the time, but this was to be the beginning of Elysium's Passage.

And yet, within six months, I found a novel was somehow being scribed through me. It didn’t stop there; in just over a year from when the story began to write itself, I had drafted four novels sequels that seemed to flow onto the computer screen without me having any idea what might happen next. Often, I would not be able to go to bed, even after writing fourteen hours, since I couldn’t wait to find out what might happen next.

By the second year, after more revising and editing, the four novels had swelled to several hundred pages, each with hundreds of footnotes of quotes and references. But my commitment to this undertaking didn’t come without a price. I became a bit of a social recluse; not entirely, but I seemingly preferred the company of my characters to acquaintances in my life. 

Some Hard Times

After a while, I could no longer focus on my work in commercial real estate, so I had hardly any income to live on. To make matters worse, my retirement investments were wiped out due to circumstances beyond my control. With this stress, my health began to deteriorate, resulting in three major surgeries along with a prolonged attack of shingles that caused inflammation to my posterior area, whereby I could no longer sit or void my bladder without a catheter.

I don't wish to overstate my troubles. It’s called life, and it happens to all of us at various times. My point is that even though these and several other unfortunate circumstances occurred, I couldn’t stop writing. Perhaps writing was my escape into another dimension of exciting characters and adventure.

After completing that glorious first draft of the series, where everything flowed naturally and effortlessly, things got tough, just as in my real-life circumstances. After I broke the story into several books, the first narrative doubled in size to 600 pages after undergoing twelve complete, often agonising redrafts over the last few years. I then split that novel into two of approximately 300 pages each. Now the series is close to 2,000 pages and seven books of a single story. 

Nietzsche once said, of all that is written, I love only what a man has written with his own blood. Perhaps that’s hyperbole, but considering the intensity of the book, I suspect it probably couldn't have been written any other way.

Content 

I trust there will be many readers who, with me, agree that Elysium's Passage is replete with meaning and significance. In fact, it seems to me that after having worked all my life in the world of business, the content has gone well beyond my natural literary abilities. Prior to this, I hadn't written anything of significance since my university term papers (in which I never did all that well). 

Though I regard the series as entertaining, the writing is much more than mere entertainment. For that reason, I realise the series may have a less-than-overwhelming appeal among readers who prefer more action and less intellectual dialogue (such as one of my professional reviewers suggested). I suspect, however, that there remains a significant audience that prefers reading literature that speaks to the depths of the human spirit.

In an eBook, How it Happened, I endeavoured to relate the events that led to the narratives' coming into existence, even as I continue to be led towards more literary adventures. The first book in the Elysium's Passage series, The Summit, was published early in 2018. After six years, I've split it into two: The Ascent, then The Summit, followed by Quantum Leaps, Surreal Adventures, Mystical Romance, The Elixir, and lastly, The Return.

Theme

The entire series is an ongoing narrative of a young philosopher from London, Dr James Phillips, who has a near-fatal fall while climbing towards the summit of a remote mountain in the Chilean Andes. Though his body remains in a coma in a hospital, his spirit awakens in an altered state of consciousness and encounters two mysterious beings on the summit.

As it turns out, they have very different perspectives on the nature of reality from his, challenging his understanding of life’s meaning and purpose. Before he returns to his body in London at the end of the fourth book, he becomes engaged in various adventures, including a mystical romance that leads him into several other surprises.

The name Elysium, which I chose, was used by Homer, Hesiod, Virgil, and many other poets to refer to the paradisiacal afterlife reserved for heroes. But Elysium’s Passage is not just about a hero or a mountain expedition, but a fall into a spiritual dimension that may be described in Latin as the Mysterium Tremendum. 

And now I will begin my tale of the peculiar events that gradually led to a story that, unbeknownst to me, would soon take form and be released.

[1] These lectures included: Nature and the Soul, Freedom, Mysteries, Energies, Soul and the Workplace, UFOs, Mind Body Spirit, Life After Death, Nature of the Soul, Right Choices, The Nature of Reality, etc. He never prepared for the lectures yet held the audience spellbound for two hours without a break. 

[2] A few years later, however, I arranged the sale of the books to a used bookstore in Calgary. 

If you wish to read the full 10-part story on this intriguing story behind Elysium's Passage Novel Series, it will be published in the future as an eBook titled HOW IT CAME..

To read more about Dr Jan Merta go to 
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/dr-jan-merta   
Merta Lecture Series
https://digitalbloggers.com/arts-and-entertainment/merta-lectures 

You may also watch some of his lectures that are posted on the ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXpzFH6VNMQLOtqOK2SrXpg (I apologise for the lack of quality, but all the transfers in format compromised the delivery. Earphones help. 

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 SUMMARY OF ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE SERIES

The Elysium’s Passage series is about a young British philosopher named James Phillips, who finds himself living in an altered state of reality while still remaining on earth.  

After experiencing a near-fatal fall while climbing to the summit of a remote mountain in the Andes, James awakens in a new dimension. He soon encounters two mysterious beings who offer him a very different perspective on his existence. Over the next year, before his body recovers from the coma, he is challenged to re-examine his understanding of life’s meaning and purpose far beyond anything he previously believed or could believe.

An engaging and sometimes surreal adventure with intimations of impending romance, the narrative explores the most important questions about life, death, reality and our ultimate destiny.

The Plains of Elysium (Champs-Élysées) was described by Homer, Hesiod, Virgil, and many other poets as a paradisiacal afterlife realm reserved for heroes. As the title suggests, this is about a journey through a passage that leads towards Elysium’s exciting realm of existence.

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PENDING PUBLICATION OF ELYSIUM’S PASSAGE SERIES

                                         

Amazon in 2026

 

THE ASCENT: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE SUMMIT: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

QUANTUM LEAPS: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

SURREAL ADVENTURES: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

MYSTICAL ROMANCE: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE ELIXIR: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE RETURN: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

 

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1. The Ascent is the first novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage that’s foundational to everything that happens in the following narratives that embark on an adventure that will surprise and delight the reader like no other book.

It all begins with an extreme adventure: climbing a remote, challenging mountain somewhere in the Andean Mountains. Just as James, the protagonist, is about to reach the mountain summit, he falls into an abyss that leaves him in a coma for almost a year.

After being airlifted by a forestry helicopter and flown back to London, his body remained there for almost a year. Eventually, he learns it was not him but his body that was rescued. Several days later, without understanding what happened, he continues to climb to the summit in an alternate dimension of higher consciousness.

Fortuitously, he meets two adventurers on the summit ridge who are no longer of this world. After that, his surreal life leads him to several new adventures in the subsequent chronicles that include a rich mix of adventure, romance, and fantasy, along with profound discussions of philosophy, spirituality and the afterlife.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

2. The  Summit, the second novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, carries on where James, the narrator and protagonist, is taught more about a multidimensional reality that he finds difficult to comprehend.

Not only does he find he’s not as clever as he imagined, but his off-world companions on the summit demonstrate that much of what he believed about life was not just parochial but wrong. At first, he finds this difficult to comprehend because their teachings contradict his limited understanding of non-material reality.

After being tricked into teleporting off a ledge where he was trapped, James becomes aware of a new reality that makes him capable of far more adventures than he ever experienced in his physical body back home.

Now, if only he would win over the only woman in this life who matters, the nurse on the other side of the veil, who continually demonstrates her unconditional love toward his healing.

Warning: This book may also open the reader’s eyes to a much vaster reality than most might be aware. As with the other Chronicles, there are discussions of philosophy, the spiritual afterlife and what might seem like fantasy.

3. Quantum Leaps is the third novel in Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, where James, the philosopher-protagonist, teleports back to London to visit his body and make contact with the special nurse taking care of it in his absence. Immediately, he feels an inexplicable spiritual bond with her for reasons he remains unaware of.

Now aroused by a renewed interest in matters of love, the beginnings of a relationship begin to emerge as he attempts to reach across the chasm of their worlds. But it’s not until the fifth novel, Mystical Romance, that he encounters her in a way that he finds difficult to believe.

However, before that can happen, there is much about his failed relationships that must be resolved before he is ready to move forward in his new life in Elysium’s Passage. It is during this time he christens his comatose body as the fall guy since it took the fall for him down the abyss so he could learn the lessons he’s now learning.

That will be the next focus of his life, where in his next Surreal Adventures, he is given virtual lessons to release many of his past beliefs about life.

4. Surreal Adventures is the fourth novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, which finds James, the protagonist and narrator, escorted by his companions to a remote South Pacific Island, where he is left to reflect on what he’s learned.

During the next forty days, he battles the demons of his past as he works through some rather painful issues from his early youth. Here, in a tropical storm, he encounters an eery suspended spectre of the one he loved yet still resents for abandoning him as a child.

After this, he achieves peace of mind and is ready to return to his lodge to join his off-world companions on the Andes summit. However, just when it seemed things couldn’t get any stranger, a sixteenth-century sea captain sails his ancient ‘ghost’ ship onto the beach. Together, they sail off on a mystical ocean voyage to a couple of virtual islands supposedly in the South Pacific, where he witnesses and, at times, participates in several important life lessons.

Near the end, these encounters help prepare him for a new challenge in the interior of a mountain, where he falls deep into a dark tomb of fear. After being rescued by a mysterious stranger wielding his Excalibur sword, he continues on to where his life is about to be transformed in the following chronicle, Mystical Romance. 

5. Mystical Romance is the fifth chronicle in Elysium’s Passage, which will surprise the reader with a romantic twist of how love is expressed in higher realms. From this lofty perspective, everything about intimacy is understood as within, so without.

After escaping his tomb, James, the narrator and protagonist, makes his way through a maze of tunnels until he arrives at a large oak door, which he opens with the golden key he had been given. There, he steps into Elysium’s Passage’s Great Hall, where his life and recent achievements are celebrated now that his eyes have been opened to perceive a fascinating interior world of wonderment… and romance.

To say more might risk diminishing the multitude of delightful surprises as circumstances begin to open to The Elixir, where James is about to re-enter his earthly body’s existence.

6. The Elixir is the sixth chronicle of the Elysium’s Passage series that prepares James, the narrator-protagonist, to awaken and return to his body in London. Before that can happen, however, his off-world friend presents a mysterious equation, enshrouded in a light code frequency, that will stimulate multidimensional DNA strands within him.

Much of this narration is centred in London, where his nurse unknowingly becomes involved in how the Elixir’s equation finds its way from a taxi cab driver to higher echelons of science. There are many twists in how she unwittingly brings the Elixir to the attention of mathematicians and physicists, after which they eventually discover how to code the equation into a laser ray to stimulate his fall-guy body into full consciousness.

Ostensibly a new Adam, he is destined to return humanity to a higher multidimensional existence. How this happens is filled with intrigue, as is his shocking return to his earthly body.

 
­­­­­­7. The Return is the seventh and last chronicle in the series, where James, the narrator and protagonist, has re-emerged from Elysium’s Passage as he readjusts to life in the third dimension. Many of the events from the previous novels are woven into an exciting, fast-moving, action-packed narrative spanning several countries.

 At first, it seems all memories have been lost, with his fall guy’s brain not being aware of what happened to him while in his coma. As a consequence, it takes a while for him to be convinced that he had been out of his earthly body for almost a year.

Through some rather unexpected events and evidence, along with his girlfriend’s urging, he comes to realise much of what occurred. It takes a while for his mind to catch up with the changes made in his heart during his stay in the alternate realm. But after experiencing several harsh realities, he discovers what he became within while out of his body. Gradually, he comes to understand the many challenges that lie ahead for him in fulfilling his future mission on Earth.

This book is filled with adventure, romance and personal intrigue that ties together all six previous narratives of the Elysium’s Passage series.

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READER REVIEWS

The following comments are among the first Amazon reviews of Elysium’s Passage: The Summit. All are Five Stars! Others reader reviews are included below, along with excerpts from two professional reviews. To read full reviews, go to READER REVIEWS on www.elysiumspassage.com

"Quietly, gently, and without imposition, the Author unfolds the pages, creating an intricate, interlocking bridge spanning the chasm between mind and heart. Renewing, refreshing, restoring. In my bereavement, it was vigil and light…"

"A delightful mix of fantasy, reality, conjecture and humour; Mr. Meyers draws the reader into the story with a gentle narrative that captures imagination, leaving one anxious to get to the next page drawing you into his exceptional world.”

“Excellently written with an exceedingly deep understanding of this world and the next. The characters are very well written and engaging. I can't wait to complete this book!"

“Takes the reader on both a philosophical and spiritual journey, a journey that at times is both disquieting and tranquil. James, a British Philosopher can be irreverent and caustic, traits that should have left me cringing, but instead made me laugh out loud. Elysium’s Passage is a fun, enlightening and remarkable book.”

“This is a masterful fantasy, becoming a real possibility, as the reader is drawn into the story. The Summit leaves you anxious for the next book in the series, yet also leaves you totally satisfied with the world you have just visited. Genius! An exciting, yet calming, experience that is not to be missed."

"There was hardly a page on which I did not find at least one sentence worthy of hi-lighting for future reference. In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, James, whose personality and passionate verbal exchanges with the other characters, kept me coming back for more. I am reading the book for a second time while I wait for the next one in this series to be made available."

 “N.G. Meyers has clearly put a great deal of research and thought into what the afterlife may look like and I like his perspective. It’s an altogether welcoming and exciting vision. The book gives one a great deal to think about and a reassuring confidence that the end of our lives is truly the beginning of life in the next. I highly recommend it."

“The humour interjected into a serious discussion makes me laugh out loud. Totally unexpected....l may be in the presence of at least a master, if not a genius. A fair ride into reality... seeking that which is unseen, yet absolutely real.”

“An engaging story of adventure embracing man's deepest desire to search for meaning and purpose, N.G. Meyers takes the reader on an adventurous thought provoking journey. This book has substance. It is a perfect blend of adventure and fantasy combined with spiritual philosophy. It ignited my imagination. The author magically weaves a good story laced with wit and humor together with deep philosophical wisdom. This book has it all!”

“An evolution in thought is triggered by many fresh philosophical themes which could inspire readers to re-think their reality and former ideologies that have dictated their lives… the author fires readers’ imaginations to view what could be possible when spirit vacates the body.”

“This is the book spiritual seekers have been waiting for. For me, it was a great read and increased my inspiration to live every day with a heightened sense of purpose. I highly recommend it.

“The Summit is capable of hooking readers and luring them to search for Book 2 to discover more about Dr. Philip’s surreal trek into the mysterious unknown universe. This thick book is well worth the read and to share…”

“Mind-blowing statements and speculation (‘…everyone is a non-physical thought form conceived in the Mind of God, preserved for all eternity because God’s thoughts never die…’). Many will find Meyers’ journey up the Mountain intriguing—and possibly even life-changing.” (BLUEINK REVIEW)

“In its effort to grapple with fundamental questions about the meaning of life, it raises questions that have echoed throughout the ages, including about where we come from, where we are going, who we are.”  (CLARION REVIEW)

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VIDEO INTRODUCTION

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CONTACT INFORMATION & SOCIAL MEDIA SITES

 

FACEBOOK: Elysium's Passage Novel Series, Elysium's Passage Public Group page, Elysium's Passage Author's Page, or to my personal page https://www.facebook.com/neil.meyers.1 

EMAIL: nmeyers@shaw.ca 

BLOG POSTINGS: https://digitalbloggers.com/articles/elysiumspassage