For the past eight years British illustrator James Jarvis has ben creating threedimensional casts of characters for the Silas, World of Pain an In-Crowd plastic toy series. Now, inspired by classic cartoons like Tintin and Asterix, he introduces us to a set of new characters in story book form. Vortigern's Machine is a new Jarvis universe full of psychedelic adventures, mystical insights and much magic.

The story sees the adventures of two 12-year-old friends who, when faced with the problems of their 21st century existence, seek the help and guidance of their friend and mentor, Mr Vortigern. Vortigern is a gentleman of great wisdom who lives in a large Victorian house together with his giant orange cat. He is also the owner of a magic slide machine which opens the way into alternative dimensions and mysterious, fantastical worlds. The two friends venture forth into these magical light projections, and in their quest to answer one of life's great unanswered questions, they encounter many new characters including explorers, hippies, a giant angry gorilla, mystical monks and a troll called Kevin.

Somewhere between Alice in Wonderland and Lord of the Rings, with a twist of eccentric English humour, Vortigern's Machine will cement James Jarvis's universal appeal.