Mecanimus, signing off.
Added 2025-03-28 14:18:01 +0000 UTCThe Calamitous Bob is complete after 238 chapters, 4 years, and, I’m guessing, around 1.2 million words. It has been a WILD journey and I can only thank you for sticking with me to the end. I started Bob as a comedy and a commentary on tropes even with darker moments and I’d like to think it ended as a coherent epic although I did keep the trope reversal thing. As you may have noticed, the end was a bit on the open ended side but I’d like to believe this fits Bob. The story has never been about giving people a finite and restrained direction, but a space where they might find their own.
Thank you again for everything. I couldn’t have done it without you. Now I will emotionally crash for a week or so but before I do that, let’s talk about the future.
Now what?
Well, first things first, I’m not starting a new series right away. There is a TON of corrections to do. Also, I’m tired, boss. I have been writing over 10k words per week every week, 10 to 11 months a year for five years and now I need some time to let the next story percolate. The Bob tier will remain active until RR has caught up, then at the end of that month I’ll close it. The ‘give me both’ tier will remain active as is until I pick the next story.
For my next story, I’m considering several options. I will post pilots for each in the free tier and gauge reactions, so if you want to stop your subscription but enjoy my work, you can switch to free patron to see if what comes next suits your tastes or not. One thing I’ll say is that my next protagonist will be a man this time for sure. I need variety.
That’s all. Very touching moment for me, I can’t believe it’s over. I really hope you had fun and I’ll see you in our next adventure, if it pleases you.
Comments
Thank you Mecanimus 🙏 I stumbled across Bob just as you were finishing, in early February, looking for a light-hearted distraction from the doomscrolling of the calamity of global politics. Discovered on Amazon, then to Royal Road and finished on Patreon. Viv and her irreverent crew have been a Nous-sent blessing, not only a good dose of humour in trying times but also a perfect character foil to big T, an example of what a good leader looks like, and of the decisive, determined boss lady I'm aspiring to be in my own business. It sounds like it has been an exhausting writing process, but I want you to know it has made a real impact in one person's life. Now off to read Journey!
Sara
2025-05-03 10:33:56 +0000 UTCThis story was by far a top 10 fav of all time. Crazy how far we've come. Was here for Book 1 and it was a Friday tradition to read the released chapter for ages. Good luck in your endeavors, and just know you fucked up my weekly routine lol
Sanetless
2025-05-02 20:18:01 +0000 UTCThanks for an amazing story! Especially the great characters and humor. Devoured the whole series in about a week and a half. Looking forward to what story you choose write next. Two thoughts: 1. I would pay good money for a sequel series revisiting the same characters, kind of like Dumas' Twenty Years After, albeit hopefully much less depressing. Maybe involving an Arthur-and-Viv portal-hopping-train journey with stops for delicious food on the way? One can dream. 2. Not a fan of the depowered protagonist part of the ending, even if it's handled about as well as can be: limited, on a timer, open-ended as to effects, and done with the protagonist's consent. Feel like this trope is so thoroughly contaminated by decades of creepiness that the creepiness leaks through no matter what. Also you've shown us quite well the hard limitations of what a capacity for destruction and calamity and terror can achieve, which Viv recognizes, so not like it's necessary to maintain a balance of power in-setting or create space for interesting conflict. But maybe that's just me.
NA
2025-04-28 18:02:11 +0000 UTCThank you. Bob has been one of my favourite stories ever since I ventured into the LitRPG/Progression Fantasy space and, by extension, RR. It's always sad when a story you enjoy so much ends, but of course that feeling cannot exist without a great story! So thank you, and enjoy your relative rest :)
Zerothian
2025-04-26 16:58:36 +0000 UTCThanks for this amazing time!!
SerIcouldntcareless
2025-04-19 22:05:49 +0000 UTCGood fun, thanks for your hard work.
Paul Birchenough
2025-04-18 10:14:51 +0000 UTCIs this membership type going to be made inactive, or do I have to cancel membership manually?
KnightRider007
2025-04-13 10:53:16 +0000 UTCThanks again for your amazing story!
StuBee3
2025-04-11 10:54:55 +0000 UTCIve been following on RR, but had to come here when I realized I could get the ending immediately. Love your story. I really miss a map though, any kind of map to reference
Lars Bo Theilgaard
2025-04-07 16:59:27 +0000 UTCCongratulations on another finished series your first series doesn't interest me yet but like changeling I'll probably get board enough to give it a try enjoy your rest look forward to see what else you come out with
ItWasIDIO!!
2025-04-04 22:43:17 +0000 UTCGreat story, but I'll echo what others said. Take a break, then come back fresh and write an epilogue. All that effort your put into Bob deserves a better send off.
Zephyr
2025-04-02 23:05:15 +0000 UTCI had a thought, maybe at some point you could do a book of short stories post Oleander? It'd be fun.
Angela Roberts
2025-04-01 20:04:23 +0000 UTCEPILOGUE PLEASE!!!!
Michael M
2025-03-29 22:34:55 +0000 UTCSeemed very… Battle done, Hard stop.
Hayden Leech
2025-03-29 21:30:01 +0000 UTCWhen's the second audiobook coming out?
deus vault
2025-03-29 17:54:24 +0000 UTCOut of the thousands of books that I have read. The calamitous bob was easily a top 10. I will miss waking up Saturday morning to read the next chapter with my coffee. Thank you for the wonderful journey. I will have to buy the books in hardcopy for my wall of books.
Kensgold
2025-03-29 15:45:06 +0000 UTCIt was an amazing story and a wild ride
ZetaGilgamesh
2025-03-29 15:28:49 +0000 UTCThank you for the adventure, I can’t wait to see what comes next after your downtime. Hope the audio book did well enough to continue coming out so we get to listen to it all. Now I need to find another story to read on Saturdays.
Arg
2025-03-29 14:00:31 +0000 UTCThank you for that amazing Journey. You are my favorite author and have been for years(yeah that is weird, how has it been that long?) and your stuff is consistently great. Anyway, to the 2nd point: the epilogue. A lot of people want it (Yeah me too). Despite this sort of ending being funny, it really lacks exploring/expanding some parts of story like the empire, continent and other characters. Not fully tying it up is fine, but painting a direction would be nice. You can taken month or 2 break from the story before doing it Thank you for what you do. Wishing you the best
BramBora
2025-03-29 13:07:51 +0000 UTCThanks for for the epic journey and all your work. It was a really great read and definitely a lot of fun. Your characters are really well fleshed, deep, the pacing is optimal, it's well written and the universe (as well as the other you crafted) are as coherent as interesting. And i find them perfectly coherent so ...
CeldurEylin
2025-03-29 12:09:02 +0000 UTCAh, i wish this story had gone on forever. But then again, we know all how those stories without end... well end. ^^ Thx mecha, it was a great ride. The end since the time skip felt a bit rushed, to be honesty, but it didnt change the fact that i had a great time with your story. Take a good rest, you deserve it. :)
D
2025-03-29 10:18:56 +0000 UTCThank you for 238 chapters of wonderful adventures for Bob. She had such a journey and I was there for all of it. You're an excellent storyteller, and I've enjoyed this immensely. Thank you again and very best wishes for whatever comes next.,
Chris Wilson
2025-03-29 08:33:27 +0000 UTCWell then. I guess it is once again time to comment. Feels like last time I did Journey came to a close. Thank you, chief. I have followed many an author over the years, but you always manage to keep such a high quality of work, while hitting exactly the spot for me, so seeing Bob go, when it still feels like the “new” fiction after Journey gives me tonal whiplash as well as making me happy. I guess I could rant about every single piece and chapter, giving feedback along all the story beads, but since I’ll have to write thousands of words today myself, I’d just like to congratulate you. I’m glad we are here once again, even if I feel that this world had a bit more left to explore than Journey for example. But for now, just take your time. You earned it. And judging from how every project you start turns out to be a Banger for me, read see from each other again at the latest when Nestra gets her Ending. Thank you and rest easy, knowing that what you did is great. Cheers and Toodaloo!
Ulbert
2025-03-29 07:34:29 +0000 UTCI have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Recommended it, quoted it, and reread it. Your sense of humor clicks with mine which means I have laughed my a** off throughout. Thank you. Enjoy your rest, and editing (🥴).
Angela Roberts
2025-03-29 06:17:02 +0000 UTChttps://discord.gg/AV23ScJ2
Adam Davies
2025-03-29 02:48:20 +0000 UTCIt’s been a great adventure. Just like when Journey finished, I feel only satisfaction with the ending. It feels done, in a good way. 1.2 million thanks!
Adam Davies
2025-03-29 02:45:13 +0000 UTCCongrats!!! Thanks for all the book. <3 Enjoy your break. I hope we get to see some of the other ones from last time - if I remember right there was one with like a kid and a ride-along-angel that was super interesting.
Zaeron
2025-03-29 01:51:27 +0000 UTCGreat story, loved the journey! I will say I hope you have an epilogue or a "where are they now" set a decade-ish in the future. It's always so nice to see the consequences of the story and the good/evil that has come about from it.
Aj Riley
2025-03-28 22:50:49 +0000 UTCUnlike so many other serials I've read on Royal Road, this one just got better and better as time went on. I had to subscribe when I couldn't stand waiting for the next chapter any more. Thank you so much for this superb piece of fiction; I've greatly savored it and will look forward to your future work!
W. Randy Hoffman
2025-03-28 22:14:46 +0000 UTCThaks for your work. Being without my weekly dose of Bob will be sad, but we have Changeling to shoote the loss.
Diego Rossi
2025-03-28 21:20:14 +0000 UTCI have to agree. It feels super rushed. This is Star Wars cutting to credits the second the Death Star blows up. I'd really love to see an epilogue chapter.
Bearstronaut
2025-03-28 21:09:50 +0000 UTCLizard people come back... //FATE-PARRY THIS YOU FILTHY CASUALS
NoReTr3aT
2025-03-28 20:30:13 +0000 UTCThank you for the amazing story! I don’t suppose you could compile it all in a single EPUB for us?
Nikhil Majumdar
2025-03-28 20:11:34 +0000 UTCHahahaha that last one would be hilarious. Especially if it’s post-ascension. WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT BITING YOUR SISTER? Yes, grandmother. I SAID NO MORE FISH SAUCE FOR A WEEK! Yes, grandmother. APOLOGIZE AT ONCE! I’m sorry, grandmother. NOT TO ME, YOU OVERGROWN NEWT.
Roombot
2025-03-28 20:10:53 +0000 UTCThank you for the years of effort and enjoyment. And I can see why you ended it here. But is there a chance for a few "some time later" chapters. Movie night with the gods. Solfis soloing the lizard men's next attack. Vivian scolding a dragon that's actually her great grandson?
Robbie Mathieson
2025-03-28 20:02:35 +0000 UTCI can't believe it's actually over *sad*
deus vault
2025-03-28 18:39:58 +0000 UTCGod I'm so happy with what we've gotten at the end. I will be sad to not get those notifications anymore, but with Nestra still up to shenanigans, pretty sure I'll recover. I'm satisfied.
Gwendolyn Simmons-LaRose
2025-03-28 18:36:28 +0000 UTCYeah, the epilogues got journey were great, and even there I felt more would've been better.
BurnNote
2025-03-28 18:24:38 +0000 UTCUnfortunately I agree. I really loved this story and the ending is really disappointingly abrupt. It needs an epilogue to wind down from the battle battle battle THE END that the last few chapters became. As it is now its a bitter ending to one of my favorite stories.
Talion
2025-03-28 18:22:01 +0000 UTCThank you for the lovely story!
Sean Hibbitt
2025-03-28 18:11:45 +0000 UTCENCORE@!!
Flippu
2025-03-28 17:56:59 +0000 UTCit has been a wild ride indeed
Ulsar
2025-03-28 17:17:57 +0000 UTCLooking forward to reading your new stories
Smashadow
2025-03-28 17:06:14 +0000 UTCI don't want it to end! 😭
Kennyevilmonkey
2025-03-28 17:06:07 +0000 UTCHmm. It's very nice seeing the story come to a conclusion, buuuut, I'll be honest. It's a shitty ending. It is in desperate need of an Epilogue. We've been following the growth of the nation of Harrak. Fighting a big blob monster just... Doesn't compare. It felt like you rushed through it since you were sick of writing the story. Fair enough, that, just disappointing. Still. Take whatever rest you need. If you're happy with it, it'll have to be good enough.
Swinter
2025-03-28 16:45:54 +0000 UTCThank you for the story. It was a wonderful journey. The weekly chapter has been a highlight for a very long time. I will miss it.
Birgitte Pedersen
2025-03-28 16:31:18 +0000 UTCThanks for another wonderful story. Its hard to see you writing with a male lead after Journey and Bob, but I look forward to eventually seeing it happen. Maybe Dalton will return? =p I really need to cut back on my subs and general spending so I will transition to a free member for now and see what I want to do when the eventual new story is decided upon. But ill stay connected and keep an eye out. Thanks again for another great story, I enjoyed the ride.
Emily Gurnavage
2025-03-28 16:12:03 +0000 UTCBeen reading since the pandemic, and been loving Bob. I look forward to whatever your next work is.
Sanetless
2025-03-28 16:04:03 +0000 UTCAn excellent ending. I do wish she had one more scene with her paramour.
william wallace
2025-03-28 15:53:48 +0000 UTCEnding feels rushed and abrupt. Please write an epilogue, ending right after the kaiju fight lacks emotional stakes. We care less about the gods/Emeric coming back etc than we do the people of Harrak, so for the ending to be focused on the gods drama rather than the success of the nation feels bad. It feels like there's this entire part of the book that got forgotten and remains unresolved. I want to know how the Hadal, Kark etc are doing.
wong ren
2025-03-28 15:53:36 +0000 UTCThank you for the journey. Mecanimus was great. Take a rest, you more than earned it !
Dee22
2025-03-28 15:50:01 +0000 UTCThank you so much for all the effort and consistency you pour into your writing. Take a break, can't wait for the next story though.
Gernia
2025-03-28 15:37:32 +0000 UTCThis has been a wonderful journey. I am glad I could support you through it. 😊
Enif
2025-03-28 15:33:12 +0000 UTCSuch a great ending. Very much enjoyed. Can't wait for what comes next and Bob will be remembered. Just need to wait a couple months and do a full Reread lol
Leviathon251
2025-03-28 15:30:56 +0000 UTCi've been here since roughly the start of Bob so to see it end is bitter sweet in a way. you made an amazing story, I hope you are proud of it. (Also sidenote, is there a discord? I thought that was a thing and honestly was emberassed to ask about it after like 4 years of not knowing)
ikbenbarry
2025-03-28 15:28:10 +0000 UTCEnjoy your break, well deserved.
Vin Reisling
2025-03-28 15:26:49 +0000 UTCCongratulations - you are an incredible author and many thanks for bringing this one home!
Charles Simon
2025-03-28 15:25:47 +0000 UTCPersonally, I want a centuries later epilogue of a drunk Emeric crashing the Viv-Maranor wedding. Steal-my-life, stea!-your-wife. (Sidjin declined immortality and passed long before.)
Aguy768
2025-03-28 15:14:29 +0000 UTCThanks man, you‘re literally my favorite writer! I‘ve been reading since the early Journey chapters and you‘re simply a writing genius. I hope I will be able to keep reading your books for a lot more years!
Noah
2025-03-28 15:13:39 +0000 UTCAbsolutely take what breaks you need i love your world too much to risk your health!!! Looking forward as ever to tje nest story when you can manage it! Congratulations on finishing the story!!
Jackjargon
2025-03-28 15:09:51 +0000 UTCThanks for the amazing story!
iloverugs
2025-03-28 15:03:24 +0000 UTCHonestly, you deserve the rest. This story has been an absolute blast, and it has been one I've looked forward to practically since its inception. Definitely a favorite, and one I will return to.
HiddenMaster
2025-03-28 15:03:07 +0000 UTCThis was an incredible series, Tftc!!
James Faulkner
2025-03-28 15:01:09 +0000 UTCThank you!
Mason Lau
2025-03-28 14:59:25 +0000 UTCOh, you are in for a treat. Much different than Bob, but still great.
Unwillingmainer
2025-03-28 14:59:17 +0000 UTCIf you would consider doing some epilogue or bonus scene, I would LOOOOVE having one involving Viviane having a last conversation with her father somehow. I feel like it could be a wonderful scene
Maurin
2025-03-28 14:55:11 +0000 UTCWOOOOAAHHHH spoiler alert. I just saw Bob popping up and thought i will enjoy it later when i go home and suddenly i get an omnious "Mecanimus signing off" so of course i need to check it out and learn that 238 will be the last chapter..... i haven't read it yet but i really think you should add some epilogues like how each group flourishes under Vivianne and how the world changed, maybe a pov change to a dozen different people in all walks of life talking and thinking about the difference a couple decades made, maybe add a version of that into a earlier chapter as a bonus so we can feel the change from then to now. You really need ro add some epilogues like seriously since no matter if viv goes god mode or not things will be left open and i do not.belive you could cram all the answers in one chapter, sudden story ends leave a vile taste in my mouth, i would have said this story is at best finished to 75% right now, next 20% would be world clean up, removing old gods, defeating the fate lizards and improving all the peoples lives combined with slow ascend to godhood and 5% epilogue chapters.
Sardeed
2025-03-28 14:52:00 +0000 UTCThank you so much for this incredible story. As always when the last chapter comes it's a bittersweet feeling to say goodbye to all the characters, but it ended on the right note. It feels complete. Merci !
Kor
2025-03-28 14:50:41 +0000 UTCI will miss Bob. Well done on creating something excellent. Also, the title of this post... lad, you gave me a heart attack. I thought you were stopping writing for good, just like that.
Cormac
2025-03-28 14:50:22 +0000 UTCThank you for Bob! I’m so glad I stumbled upon the first volume on kindle, it’s now one of my favourite stories! Now to finally get started on Changeling!
nicoraven
2025-03-28 14:50:14 +0000 UTCDamn, male protagonist? Shame, but understandable.
InLucidReverie
2025-03-28 14:38:04 +0000 UTCBrilliant story! I was worried since you said it would be an open ending long ago, but it isn't really all that open fortunately - there are no real unexplored or open plot lines left, and her future seems pretty clear at this point :D
SDCard
2025-03-28 14:37:32 +0000 UTCStory was and is a banger. Thank you so much for bringing it to our lives. I always feel terrible after finishing a great book, knowing it’s over and whatever I read next will not be the same level. Can’t imagine what it is like as an author. Take some time to rest, you deserve it. From Bob to Journey to Changeling every story has been top tier, I eagerly await the next. Take your time though. Thanks again.
Bum-Sama
2025-03-28 14:37:31 +0000 UTCNo epilogues? You could do what the AH author did and post some epilogues with other PoVs unscheduled. Feels a bit too sudden
RainyCats
2025-03-28 14:37:02 +0000 UTCThat'll do Mecanimus, that'll do. ^_^
Peter Armstrong
2025-03-28 14:36:43 +0000 UTCRest, recuperate, I look forward to your return with a new story. I LOVED Journey, Loved Bob, and currently love Changling. I eagerly await your next story!
Bunny Waffles
2025-03-28 14:36:30 +0000 UTCI do want more but it makes a lot of sense that that's the end. There's no open storylines really and everything is just so satisfying. Thank you very much!
elijah pickett
2025-03-28 14:36:24 +0000 UTCWonderful journey! Very good job all around. Will be looking forward for what's to come
J
2025-03-28 14:35:06 +0000 UTCGreat story, you managed the power arc well and ended right where it all came together. Looking forward to the next!
tdb
2025-03-28 14:34:16 +0000 UTCHuh, this caught me off guard a bit. But I guess it makes storytelling sense to finish it here, rather than doing another arc of fighting against the Nemeti.
steamrick
2025-03-28 14:33:08 +0000 UTCWhat a story. Have I really been reading this for 4 years. Great work!
Lukas Thörn
2025-03-28 14:32:37 +0000 UTCShit man it hurts to see it go but what a journey loved the ending
Bri
2025-03-28 14:29:48 +0000 UTCCongratulations on finishing this awesome Story. It’s one of the best I ever read and I can’t wait to see what the next Story will be.
Dont_like_to_Talk
2025-03-28 14:26:47 +0000 UTCSo few authors I've read in the last decade find their way to a satisfying ending, you've totally knocked it out of the park! Loved the story start to finish, feels wild for it to finally be over. Thanks so much for writing it and congratulations on finishing it!
Joshua Gunty
2025-03-28 14:26:35 +0000 UTCI have enjoyed all of your works and after you have rested I am sure I will enjoy your next. Congratulations on completing an epic
Andrew Moreton
2025-03-28 14:26:13 +0000 UTCI've loved this story since the beginning. One of my absolute favorites. So long Bob, and thanks for all the fish (sauce)!
Patrick
2025-03-28 14:26:02 +0000 UTCTake a break, recenter, and come back ready. We will be here once you are ready. Interested to see what you come up with next. Though it might be jarring to read a story from you with a male protagonist.
Unwillingmainer
2025-03-28 14:25:37 +0000 UTCGet some rest, boss, you earned it. I hope Sidis is still a thing. If so, I know where my vote is most likely going.
Tehd11
2025-03-28 14:24:57 +0000 UTCTake a well deserved rest. Jeez, Bob has been going for 4 years already? Time flies. Thanks for being so consistent with uploads and with basically no breaks (life circumstances aside). You're one of my favorite authors who posts big chapters, so I'm surprised you never took any regual breaks like pirateaba, but they are a MACHINE. Can't wait to see the pilots for the new series.
Django
2025-03-28 14:24:29 +0000 UTCThanks for everything! It was an amazing ending!
Simon Hoerder
2025-03-28 14:22:04 +0000 UTCThanks for a great story, I love your work.
Thomas Todd
2025-03-28 14:22:03 +0000 UTCOof. Heart stopped for a second because I’m still digging Changeling! But we’re good now. Thanks for closing out Bob so well. Journey, too, for that matter. I enjoy movies over television because of the closure, so experiencing a story to its finale is special.
Shimelton
2025-03-28 14:21:49 +0000 UTCHuge congratulations! Your consistency of output and quality has always been greatly appreciated. You have also given two stories complete and satisfying endings which is a major accomplishment. Absolutely enjoy your well deserved break and I continue to eagerly look forward to your next story. <3 <3 <3
Mundane
2025-03-28 14:21:46 +0000 UTCAbsolutely loved every moment of this story. At first I misjudged the title and synopsis. But I got bored one day having caught up on all the other stories I read. The. I was hooked and needed more. I am glad you finished and you deserve a break. Looking forward to the next story.
Stepheb Matt
2025-03-28 14:21:45 +0000 UTCThanks for everything, loved it.
Brandon Yarberry
2025-03-28 14:20:06 +0000 UTCYay, congrats on finishing another one. Hope you have a relaxing break. Looking forward to your new pilots when you put them together.
Biomass
2025-03-28 14:19:55 +0000 UTCThank you so very much for your hard work.
Lord Nesh
2025-03-28 14:19:52 +0000 UTCThank you for this great series. You deserve a well earned rest
LegosFreak
2025-03-28 14:19:51 +0000 UTCThanks for having us on the journey!
Ryan Gerrard
2025-03-28 14:19:48 +0000 UTCGlorious journey.
ACHTUNG
2025-03-28 14:19:34 +0000 UTCCongrats on another story completed :D
Aclys
2025-03-28 14:19:25 +0000 UTCAnd what an end it was! Enjoy your rest boss!
WarStrider72
2025-03-28 14:18:48 +0000 UTC
