Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Zilla: M.A. Álvarez brings us a time travelling blend of science fiction and fantasy, Medianical Age. M.A., can you tell us a bit about your novel?

M.A.: Medianical Age: Drifting through the tides of time is my first work to be translated into English. The book was launched on February 28, 2025, the same day as the great planetary alignment of seven planets!

The book includes illustrations by me, such as the one featured on the cover, depicting the characters in the novel. Medianical Age is a play on words composed of medieval, age and mechanical. This is because the story takes place in medieval times and in a distant mechanized future as follows:

One promising day, sometime in the Middle Ages, a deceitful and charlatan surgeon goes to a castle and assures the lord that he can cure his son’s madness by removing a stone from his head. Since childhood, he has claimed to see strange beings, which only he can perceive, and this has led to his confinement by his ashamed family.

In the distant future, a renowned visionary known as K-79 receives an important award for his work in the world of science: the construction of cyborgs from people who were about to die in the past, for different purposes.

Everything seems to be going according to his plans; however, K-79 detects an anomaly in the Middle Ages and discovers that its existence is in danger …

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

M.A.: I enjoy writing historical fiction, and for this novel, I was inspired by the contrast between a bygone era, like the Middle Ages, and a distant, technological future. I wanted to explore the conflict between superstition and science. It also gave me the opportunity to combine different literary genres.

Zilla: Getting historical fiction right isn’t easy! How much research did you need to do for your book?

M.A.:This book required a lot of research, especially for the Medieval period. Fortunately, I am passionate about history, and I love researching information for my books. Additionally, I often attend historical tours, and I have visited many medieval castles!

Zilla: How is the plot structured?

M.A.: The structure of the plot is like a puzzle, where the pieces fall into place in the end, affecting all the characters. This is due to the time travel elements—particularly one that is quite unexpected…

Zilla: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?
M.A.: The book is available on Amazon and you can find more information about it, as well as my social media links, on my website.