Mightier Than the Sword #1

A Note to the Reader
 
This book is unlike any other book you’ve ever read before. What’s written on these pages is happening right now. To you.
 
That’s right, you.
 
This book is about you and what you’re doing right now—but not what you think you’re doing and not where you think you’re doing it. It’s about another you in another world.
 
Confused? That’s natural. We don’t fully understand it, either. Scientists are still trying to get to the bottom of how one thing can be in two places at once. If you’re curious about how such things work, we encourage you to read up on quantum physics and then explain it to us.
 
But not now! You’re already too deep into this book. One hundred twenty words deep, to be exact! And now even more! But don’t waste your time counting words to find out if we can count or not—your life hangs in the balance!
 
Sorry, did we forget to mention that? Well, it’s true. The other world you are in right now is a bizarre and dangerous place. Nothing is as it seems. Survival is not guaranteed. It will take every ounce of your courage, wit, and luck to get back home in one piece.
 
Scared? Tempted to put this book down and never touch it again? We don’t blame you. It’s scary to be fighting for your life in a strange world filled with terrifying creatures and unbearable puns. But to that we say: Too bad. Deal with it. Someone has to do it, and that someone is you.
 
And this isn’t just a ploy to make you keep reading. Although that is a good idea. We wish we had thought of that. We can’t think of everything. What did you expect? Omniscient narrators? Hardly! We don’t know everything about everyone, but we do know what’s happening to you. And right now you need your help.
 
So go grab your pencil and keep it handy. You will need it. It just so happens that in this other world, a pencil is all you have to draw the line between life and death. We suggest you don’t use a pen for three reasons:
 
1) You have a pencil in this other world, so show some solidarity with yourself. If you don’t, who else will?
 
2) You may want to write incredibly gross, rude, or otherwise socially unacceptable things. We encourage you to do so, if you’re into that sort of thing, but you may want to erase the evidence, so no one knows what a sick mind you have.
 
3) You may want to write down your most ingenious ideas. It’s a good idea to be able to erase them in case the prying eyes of lesser minds want to borrow your brilliance without paying you for it.
 
Regardless, we’re out of time. The clock is ticking, and you’re about to wake up!