The Multiverse of Max Tovey
by Alastair Swinnerton
Genre: Young Adult Time Travel

Synopsis

Fourteen year old Max Tovey’s world is blown apart when he discovers that his problems are nothing to do with him, and everything to do with being a Time Traveller. Following his mysterious grandfather’s funeral, Max finds himself on a wild journey through first century Celtic Britain, real and mythological, as his every action threatens to change the past, and his future.

Max battles demons – both real and psychological – on his mission to find the legendary Montacute Cross, stolen by his Viking ancestor Tofig, in order to close the gates to the Underworld, and lift the curse on his family.

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Excerpt

“We have to do something!” said Max helplessly. They had swords, but they had no control over the boat as the battle raged away from it.

“Giants, up!” yelled Myvi. “We have the nasty man to deal with, and these monsters are in our way!”

At this, the Giants grabbed their previous passengers, put them upon their shoulders, and swam towards the battle. The Gwragedd Annwn were being beaten back, outnumbered and out­sized, but now Fymbldwn and his friends launched themselves.

“Leave our friends alone!” yelled Fymbldwn, swiping at the Lord Grymnwr with his club and knocking him almost back to the far shore. At the same time, Dwrandwn and the others swam to­wards the rest of the Fomori with one hand and lashed out at them with clubs in their other, while their passengers slashed at snapping jaws and stabbing spears with their own swords, a double edged at­tack, but still they were not winning the fight, for they were at a bad advantage, having to swim while the Fomori floated free of the water.

Trying not to be distracted by the strange sight of his parents’ obviously well-honed sword-fighting skills, Max dealt the Fomori he himself was fighting a savage blow to the head with the flat of his sword, knocking it down into the water, before tugging on Fymbldwn’s hair to get his attention.

“Ow!” said the Giant.

“Sorry Fymbldwn, but we have to get back to the boat!”

“Why? I’m having fun!” said Fymbldwn, swiping out at two Fomori who bore down on them, and knocking them both off their feet. But in moments, they reappeared, angrier yet.

“But we’re not winning!” yelled Max. “Get me to the boat – I have an idea!”

With a little grumbling, Fymbldwn knocked the two Fomori over again, and swam back to the boat, depositing Max into it. Max opened up the sack of fruit, spilling its contents onto the floor of the boat.

“Pull the boat towards the fight Fymbldwn!” said Max.

“But…”

“Don’t argue Fymbldwn – I know how to win this!”

Fymbldwn pouted, looking like a child that had been told off. Max looked at him and threw his arms up in despair.

“Fymbldwn, we don’t have time for this – just pull the boat!”

And so Fymbldwn did, swimming with one hand and pull­ing the boat with the other, and now Max was within shouting dis­tance of the rapidly advancing Fomori, and the rapidly retreating Gwragedd Annwn. The Giants were doing their best, as were their sword-wielding riders, but they were no match for the now massive lake serpent Faeries.

“Get off him you gurt snake… thing…” said Sarah as she stabbed desperately at the Lord Grymnwr, who was bearing down on Max’s father. The wound distracted him from the fight with Owen, but now he turned his attentions to Sarah.

“Oh-oh…”

Sarah fought valiantly, as did her Giant, but Grymnwr was too fast and too strong for them, and now lashed his fearsome tail around the Giant’s neck, and began to squeeze the life out of Giant and rider alike.

“Get off my mother!” screamed Max, taking one of the Odd­wrau berries and dipping it into the lake. Almost immediately it be­gan to swell, and change colour to a very dangerous-looking red. Max threw it as hard as his tired arm would allow, and as the Lord Grymnwr’s devilish jaws opened, and prepared to finish Max’s ter­rified mother, suddenly he found himself swallowing a rapidly en­larging fruit. He only had a split second to register the fact that it tasted like bananas and custard before his body blew apart, his soul consigned to eternal darkness.

About the Author

Alastair has been writing for children’s television for over twenty five years. Among his many credits are ‘The Wombles’, ‘Sabrina, Secrets of a Teenage Witch’, and the Bafta-nominated CBBC Christmas Special ‘The Tale of Jack Frost’, which he wrote, co-produced and co-directed. He was also one the co-creators of Lego® Bionicle®. ‘The Multiverse of Max Tovey’ is his first Young Adult novel.

Alastair lives in Somerset with his family, and spends much of his spare time walking the dog, more often than not at his beloved Ham Hill.

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