Armen Pogharian Melds Myth, Science, and Fantasy Into Boldly Original Fictional Worlds

Armen Pogharian

PHOTO: Author Armen Pogharian brings his imaginative tales to life from his home outside Rochester, NY, where he writes, coaches swimming, and explores the outdoors.

From Area 51 to Arthurian Fantasy, Armen Pogharian Weaves Brilliant Worlds

Armen Pogharian crafts genre-blending novels that fuse science, mythology, and history, drawing on a diverse background in engineering, military service, and environmental innovation to inspire future thinkers and storytellers.

Armen Pogharian’s creative trajectory defies convention and delights the imagination. A former engineer and USAF officer with hands-on experience in systems development and top-secret operations, Armen has rechanneled his analytical brilliance into literary innovation. His novels—layered with science, history, and myth—demonstrate not only a rich understanding of complex ideas but a remarkable talent for rendering them into thrilling, character-driven narratives.

In The Misaligned series, readers are treated to a refreshingly original take on Arthurian legend—reimagined through String Theory and starring a 13-year-old girl in upstate New York. Meanwhile, The Warder series immerses us in a vivid, high-fantasy world where intrigue, magic, and action unfold with the cadence of a gripping espionage thriller.

A masterful storyteller who redefines fantasy with intellect and heart, Armen Pogharian turns complex ideas into captivating, character-driven adventures.

At Mosaic Digest, we celebrate authors like Armen Pogharian, whose work dares to blend genres, challenge expectations, and ignite curiosity. His stories are more than fiction—they are intricate, imaginative experiences born from a life of curiosity, exploration, and unapologetic nerdiness.

Your path to becoming an author is quite unconventional, transitioning from an electrical engineer and USAF officer working on classified projects to a writer of young adult fantasy. How have your diverse experiences influenced the themes and narratives in your books?

Engineers and scientists conjure up images of dour data-driven people staring at computer screens or technicians in lab coats huddling over test equipment. In my experience, I saw things differently. I collaborated with brilliant people on complex projects, ranging from penetrating concentrated air defenses to surviving a nuclear strike. I didn’t solve these problems, but my insider’s view of those who did gave me an appreciation for the artistry and creativity involved. My technical abilities didn’t match theirs, but as an author, I wanted to use my imagination to reflect their creativity and inspire future engineers and scientists.

“I wanted to use my imagination to reflect their creativity and inspire future engineers and scientists.” – Armen Pogharian

In the Misaligned series, you intertwine Welsh mythology with String Theory. What inspired you to merge these disparate elements, and how do you balance scientific concepts with mythological storytelling?

I’m an unrepentant nerd with a nearly insatiable curiosity about many things. Applying that nerdiness to history and science, I realized that their Venn diagrams overlap, and that mythology sat in that intersection. While myths have many functions in cultures, one of them is to explain aspects of life that their societies don’t have the tools or knowledge to understand. Arthur Clarke said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” This led to underpinning the fantastical elements of ancient mythology with modern science, offering a unique twist to a familiar tale. String Theory’s multiple dimensions fit perfectly. Because the stories rely on legends, albeit with Arthur as a 13-year-old girl in upstate New York, the books lean more heavily on myth. I use science as a magical foundation, but I don’t dwell on it. However, 𝜋 appears in the story, and nearly every number explicitly mentioned is a prime. As I said, I am a nerd.

The Warders series has recently expanded with The Pyramid’s Puzzle. Can you share insights into the new challenges your characters face in this installment and how it advances the overarching storyline?

The Warders is based on a Dungeons & Dragons world I created during my teens. Each book is like a new D&D campaign with a definitive crisis and conclusion. That said, many secondary storylines and backstory arcs provide depth and breadth across the series. Without revealing too much, The Pyramid’s Puzzle focuses on a backstory arc. Specifically, the circumstances surrounding a 20-year-old failed mission that included Draham, the current team leader, and Eldan, the uncle of team member Toran. New revelations force Draham to confront his failures and complicate Toran’s grief over Eldan’s recent death. It also explores the growing bond between Toran and the third member, Adara.

You’ve mentioned that audiobooks for the Misaligned series have outperformed other formats. What do you think contributes to their success, and how has this influenced your approach to storytelling and audience engagement?

The Misaligned series was initially released by SynergEbooks, from 2012 to 2014. I’m grateful to them, but they were strictly an e-book and print publisher. In 2019, CamCat acquired the series’ publishing rights and issued revised editions in all formats, including audiobooks. CamCat believed in audiobooks and invested significant resources to support them. They commissioned Michelle Babb to narrate the entire series. The combination of Michelle’s large, dedicated following and refreshed editions helped spike the sales. Audiobooks allow me to reach a new audience, but the changes are more in form than in fundamentals. If I fail to write compelling characters and engaging plots, no one will read or listen to my stories.

Your stories often blend elements of science, history, and fantasy. How do you approach research for your novels, and can you provide an example of a historical event or scientific concept that significantly shaped one of your plots?

For the second Misaligned book, I decided to expand the mythology to include the fall of Atlantis and the rise of Egypt. Plato’s Atlantis is likely based on Thera’s volcanic eruption in 1600
BC, which was too late for me. The Sahara Desert was a lush grassland until a sudden change ~6,000 years ago. Changes in Atlantic currents are a leading suspect. I created an advanced civilization in the Atlantic, which was destroyed in a cataclysm, causing the island to sink and altering the surrounding currents. The survivors contributed to the cultures of ancient Egypt and the prehistoric people of the Americas. I visited a local indigenous site to learn firsthand about their culture, lifestyle, and myths.

Reflecting on your writing journey, what do you consider the most rewarding moment in your career, and what lessons have you learned along the way?

It may be a bit cliché, but receiving two offers for the first Misaligned book was the most uplifting moment. After a year of querying without success, I was nearly at the end. Without those offers, I wouldn’t have written any of the other books. I’ve learned many lessons, but perhaps the most important thing is to write what I enjoy and accept that not everyone will like it. Logically, I knew that when I started, but that’s not the same thing as experiencing it. Getting through that made me a better writer and a better human, too.