Chrestomanci - The Worlds

The Worlds

The "The Worlds of Chrestomanci" label on some 21st-century editions alludes to their general setting, a multiverse called the "Related Worlds". The worlds have branched from common ancestors at important events in history such as English and French victories in the Battle of Agincourt, or the success or failure of the Gunpowder plot. Some people can move between worlds, at least in spirit, and twelve Series of similar worlds have been labeled in the English language of the stories. The "real world" is 12B, in some sense a next-door neighbor to 12A, the principal setting for the series and the only world whose British government employs the Chrestomanci.

"World 12A" is reminiscent of Britain during the early 20th century. There are known to be other worlds with British governments, probably all of series 12 and some others; even more worlds have an England in or near Europe. The Chrestomanci has representatives in some other worlds but does not know all other worlds. Indeed, Witch Week is set in a world even closer to ours, yet its existence is a surprise to Chrestomanci Christopher Chant and he cannot easily identify it.