Writers enter new worlds with every story they pen. But what would happen if one were trapped within the stories they created?
This question is at the heart of the newest book from Brain Lag, The Many-Storied Man by Arlene F. Marks. Jay Ellis finds himself in an apartment building with no exits, populated by his own short stories, and with no memory of how he got there. Comedies, thrillers, shoot-’em-ups, heartwarming tales, and more—the worlds in this building are many, but the stories move in only one direction: towards the outcome he already wrote.
As Jay explores his boundaries and discovers the rules of this building, however, he learns that some of these characters are more than they appear. And something is threatening the existence of the entire structure, and Jay’s life.
The Many-Storied Man takes Brain Lag in a more literary direction than ever before in a tale of mystery and self-discovery. Ed Greenwood, Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association Hall of Fame author and creator of The Forgotten Realms, says of the book: “Ready for a story that is very different? And really fascinating? If you are, this one is BRILLIANT. Ever wonder who scripts all of our lives?” Marks’ writing has been praised as “intelligent and original… full of surprises and psychologically realistic characters” (Amazing Stories), “vast and amazing” (Booklist), and “so much character stuffed into so few words” (Ottawa Review of Books).
The Many-Storied Man will be releasing December 11, 2026 in trade paperback (400 pages, ISBN 978-1-998795-34-5, $28.99 CAD) and ebook (ISBN 978-1-998795-35-2, $7.99) formats.
Toronto-born Marks retired from a career in teaching and now writes full-time from her home in Collingwood, Ontario. In the past ten years, she has written over a dozen books, including the cozy mystery Remains to be Seen and space opera The Stragori Deception. In addition to writing, she shares her expertise at various workshops around the Georgian Bay and events like CollingWord (Collingwood, Ontario, November 7-8) and The Word on the Bay.
The Many-Storied Man is Milton, Ontario-based science fiction and fantasy publisher Brain Lag’s 62nd title. It will be the publisher’s fifth and final release of 2026 and eighth book from Marks, following up Adventures in Godhood (2021), Imaginary Friends (2022), Weekends Can Be Murder (2022), The Earthborn (2023), The Bloodstone (2024), The Stragori Deception (2025), and Remains to be Seen (2025). Another book by the author for projected 2027 release has already been signed.
Media inquiries and requests to contact the author can be directed to publishing@brain-lag.com.
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