Nyranda Notes
Most of this story is about children, but the word ‘children’ does not mean what it does on planet earth, and is actually used to identify two different things in this story. The phrase, “the children,” is used to identify the six principle characters in the story. More generally ‘children’ is used to identify those who have not chosen to accept the status of adult, and are otherwise known as Nochose. ‘Nochose,’ is both singular and plural, as in “a Nochose,” or, “those Nochose.”
Nyranda
Nyranda is a planet much like earth, but it is not in this solar system or even in this galaxy. In many ways it is similar to earth and human beings are human beings wherever they are found. In some important ways Nyranda is very different from earth; there are nineteen continents, for example.
Having an entirely different history, the culture, languages, and especially politics are very different. In most of this story, assuming the cultural aspects of dress, language, and arts are similar to earth will do no damage to the story. There are some words, events, and cultural aspects that are not similar to anything on earth but they are explained as necessary.
There is no similarity to what is called politics on earth and what serves the same function on Nyranda. In all the parts of Nyranda in which this story takes place, the, “Forbidders,” hold complete power, but it is not like political power on earth. Forbidders hold their power by the imposition of a gross and thorough superstition implemented by means of requiring all adults to choose the nature of their own “adulthood.”
Religions
There are three major classes of religion: Pleonism, Klomanism, and Shealism. Every Nyrandan is required to choose a religion on, “choice day,” or, “decision day,” and that choice is considered the beginning of adulthood with all the privileges and responsibilities of adulthood.
People
“The Children,” or six principle characters, are Jasmine Jackson, Eddy Blake, Lester Moore, Yuwon Lem, Veronica Blake, and Anthony Jackson.
The Jackson family:
Father, Thomas
Aunt, Esther
Natally, younger sister
Jasmine, the middle girl
Anthony, older brother.
The Blake family:
Father, Arthur
Mother, Eustis
Terry, youngest sister
Eddy, middle son
Veronica, next oldest, chemist and “geek.”
Susan, oldest sister.
The Moore family:
Father, Stuart (deceased)
Mother, Terry
James and Earnest youngest twins
Lester, middle son
Franklin, oldest son.
The Lem family of which only two members are in the story:
Yuwon Lem
ToyLin Fogel, Yuwon’s aunt.
Other Characters:
Donald Nast, Moore family friend
Marten Grandon, the children’s friend
Harry Fogel, Marten’s friend and husband of ToyLin (deceased)
ToyLin Fogel, Marten’s friend, Yuwon Lem’s aunt
Quanlo Nuck, friend of ToyLin from Lechakotet
Kimlee Nuck, wife of Quanlo Nuck
Cedric, Dora, Louise, Oscar, and Henry are all those the children met on ChildIsle.
Places
Plembertone, city where the children live.
The black quarry, where the entrance to the tunnel is.
Lechakotet, where ToyLin and Yuwon are originally from.
ChildIsle, island of children or Nochose in the Catastrophe Islands.
Catastrophe Islands, considered uninhabitable.
Terms
Rootaba, thessaline—drug to control burbera (Also a narcotic).
Burbera, parasitic disease found only on Lechakotet.
Nochose—those who refuse to make a choice, or fake one.
Pahpeet—little imp, or little trouble-maker.
Oh Jasta!—Klomanist epithet (Considered an irreverant reference to the Klomanist diety).
Nebers—Nebetrastians, “the unrestrained,” or, “uninhibited.”
Peron—useless, good for nothing.
Bracelet—marriage, similar to earth’s wedding rings, there are no wedding ceremonies.