With a breathtakingly simple and yet profound handful of symbols, Conrad has created a flexible and precise system for analyzing the inner structure of stories. With this lens he lays bare the absolute essence of all the imaginable story forms, from fairy tales and quest stories to tragedies, riddles and koans. It's a powerful tool for storytellers and scholars and will change forever how you view the simple but profound act of saying “Once upon a time..”
Christopher Vogler, author of The Writer's Journey
“A scholarly and intricately detailed analysis of the writing process.”
Joan Singleton, screenwriter/producer
Winner of a Firebird Award for New Nonfiction 2022
Shortlisted for The People's Book Prize 2022