West Virginian author George R. Dasher isn’t your regular sci-fi writer. The man has walked the muddy floors of Appalachian caves, worked as an exploration and an environmental geologist, and raced against time as an EMT and as a paramedic. But between the dark of the caves and the light of the distant galaxies, Dasher had carved out a story that transcends genres, rules, and planets.
With the launch of his epic novel Bookwright: Book One of the Vanir Trilogy, Dasher steps fully into the literary spotlight. The riveting tale of a marooned spaceman turned revolutionary is not only the product of imagination; but is also a byproduct of a life lived boldly and off the beaten path.
Pastures to Print: A Childhood like Peter Pan
George R. Dasher spent most of his growing years in a farm located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
His childhood sounds more like that out of Norman Rockwell’s painting or an adventure by Mark Twain. “It was a Peter Pan childhood that cannot be out-classed,” he reflects.
From treehouses and horseback riding to exploring old, abandoned mansions after telling each other ghost stories; there were such activities that created an imaginative childhood in Dasher’s view. “We literally had thousands of acres to play on.” It also came with responsibility. Farming taught him how to work hard, how to operate machinery, and how to show up, regardless of the challenge. “I truly feel sorry for kids who do not grow up on a farm,” he says.
Those values would form the foundation for a winding journey through science, storytelling, and service.
The Many Faces of George Dasher
Dasher is now becoming a novelist after many years of wearing hats such as paramedic, EMT, coal geologist, oil and gas field analyst, and environmental remediation expert.
Each of these experiences opened his eyes to others and deepened his empathy. “We’re all looking for control of our destiny. We’re all looking to do the right thing, even when it isn’t easy,” he says. “Especially as an EMT and paramedic, you saw life in so many different levels of society. Rural WV people sometimes make due with very little money. They have my respect. There is no doubt that influenced my writing,” he adds. His adventures in geology, caving, and the outdoors led him into the deep silence of the Earth and would fill it with words.
He also edits the statewide caving newsletter and has authored more than fifteen scientific caving books, most of which are kept confidential for conservation, safety, and landowner respect.
“Fiction is a whole other ballgame. It needs tension, structure, and crises-big ones. That’s where real storytelling lives.”
The Spark That Built Bookwright
Bookwright was put together during a time of personal crisis. In 1987, after being bought out from a company and losing his job, he wrote as a hobby and vocation. Dasher has drawn from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, Louis L’Amour’s rugged heroes, and the noble resistance of Martin Luther to start crafting the tale of Jarl Hawkins, a space traveler who is marooned on a beautiful planet where warring wizards, samurai-like warriors, Ghost Raiders, and a tyrannical Church play a dangerous game of power.
“I wondered what would happen if a modern man-armed with science and logic-was dropped onto such a planet,” Dasher says. “What if he threatened the ruling institutions by printing a translated bible?” he adds. This is one of the novel’s pivotal scenes.
Not just a high fantasy epic, Bookwright is a story about personal reinvention, courage against oppression, and the spiritual cost of standing for truth.
Jarl Hawkins: A Man for the Ages
The protagonist of the novel Bookwright, Jarl, is more than a survivalist; he is an icon of moral resistance. A mysterious wizard named Kvasir rescues Jarl, but he later finds himself trapped on the planet Vanir – a world of magic, primitive weapons, and political turmoil. Jarl must face not only physical battles but also physiological ones when he loses Kvasir.
Dasher weaves the themes of authoritarianism and censorship, along with faith and free will, through the entire novel. “We all want to control our destiny. We want to do the right thing, even when it’s difficult,” he says.
At the end of Book One, Jarl becomes a threat to culture. Not because he fights with guns, but because he dares to print a sacred text. “That’s real power,” Dasher adds. “Knowledge and the courage to share it.“
The Characters Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet
For Dasher, the characters in his trilogy – Jarl, Kvasir, Kiska, and Janis – took on lives of their own. “They’re fictional, yes, but they’re also people you want to do right by,” he says.
And Kiska? “She is a woman with a bad temper, a horrible backstory, and a sharp sword. People need to stay on her good side,” he laughs.
The love story between Jarl and Kvasir’s niece, introduced in Book Two, adds emotional depth and new layers of urgency.
By Book Three, the action has moved to outer space in a battle against a looming Space Empire.
The entire trilogy represents a journey-from survival to rebellion to interstellar confrontation-with all the heart and wit, and then some explosive stakes along every turn.
Writing in the Dark (Literally)
Most of the works were produced while working full time. “At night,” he says simply. Now that he has retired, he spends his days caving, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and sometimes remembering the unexpected lead that took him to where he is.
There is no rigid timeline. No outlines either.
“I let the story surprise me,” he says. “I’ve had characters I thought were villains turn out to be heroes. Tolkien would be proud, because he wrote the same way.“
The Power of Passion and the Art of Feedback
For aspiring writers, Dasher offers refreshing advice: Don’t just seek praise. “You need friends who’ll tell you when your characters fall flat or when your plot is full of holes,” he warns. “And always use the Oxford comma.“
He also tells writers that they need to live-without the benefit of a computer, cave, hike, pick up a new skill. Real-life passion must come into a person’s writing.
A Legacy in Motion
When asked what he hopes to leave behind, Dasher does not hesitate. “I just want to get my stories out into the world. I do not want my characters dying unpublished.” In honesty, humor, and humility, George R. Dasher has built a lot more than only a fictional universe; he has constructed a bridge between science and faith, earth and stars, despair and redemption. Bookwright holds out the invitation to all of us to take that first step onto the wild, unpredictable planet of Vanir. “Find something you love,” he says, “and throw yourself into it.“
Where to Find George R. Dasher’s Work:
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Bookwright: Book One of the Vanir Trilogy – Available in paperback and eBook through Lulu at grdasher.com
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Author Website: grdasher.com
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For inquiries and updates, visit his author page or connect via America Inspire Magazine.
“Every great story spark another. Let yours be the one that ignites a movement.”
