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Robert John

@whatiseewhen

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Storyteller.
London artist/writer/creator and author of #ldnreimagined and spec fiction novel #DysmasOrbis AVAILABLE NOW USING LINK IN BIO

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What happens when a visual world becomes a story… and then comes to life? 🕷️

This December, step inside the world of Dysmas Orbis as it leaves the pages of the novel and enters the gallery.

From visual art to written word, discover a hidden London through immersive installations, original artwork, projections, sculpture and live readings.

Presented by Inayat Publishing and Zari Gallery.

📍 Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia, Central London
🥂 Launch night: 9 December 2026
🖼️ Exhibition: 10–20 December 2026
🎟️ £10 on launch night · Free entry throughout the exhibition

An alternative London awaits.

RSVP: info@inayatpublishing.com

#DysmasOrbis #ZariGallery #ImmersiveArt #LondonArt #UrbanFantasy InayatPublishing ArtExhibition LondonEvents @zarigallerylondon taken in Zari Gallery by @whatiseewhen

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6 days ago

Dysmas Orbis by Robert John which is launched tomorrow, is a speculative urban fantasy that follows homeless teenager Sol and Amicus, the man who has raised and protected him.
When violence occurs everything Sol has known, including the city he lives in, starts to unravel and change. Sol begins to realise that secrets have been kept from him, including a hidden London, and his world is not what it seems.

I liked the writing style of this novel - it was atmospheric and tense and I enjoyed the way the parallel London gradually revealed itself to both the reader and to Sol. It is beautifully descriptive and the addition of the author’s artwork, including the gorgeous cover art, allowed me to vividly imagine this alternative version of London.

There is a really interesting story behind Dysmas Orbis. It started as a series of illustrations, a body of artwork called What I See When, which author Robert John produced in response to his father’s experience of Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s dementia. The artwork reimagines London as a parallel city with spider trees and flower lamp posts and from this artwork Dysmas Orbis was born.

A gripping and fast paced read, it is the first in a planned five-book series. I look forward to discovering more about this world.

Thank you so much @whatiseewhen for sending me your novel - I really enjoyed it. Swipe to see some of the beautiful artwork.
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#bookstagram #bookreview #booklover #reader #books by @whatiseewhen

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2 months ago

Okay, so this is it… the book is finally real.

DYSMAS ORBIS
Not all of London can be seen.

This started years ago with a series of surreal images of London that I created. Over time, that visual world started developing its own characters, places and stories, and eventually became a novel.

It’s a speculative urban fantasy, but don’t expect the usual fantasy stuff. There are no dragons, elves or wizards.

Instead, there are spider trees, flower lamps, giant machines and a version of London that feels strangely familiar, but not quite right.

At the heart of it are themes around identity, belonging, relationships, displacement and how we experience the world around us. There’s also a very personal thread running through it, inspired by my dad’s battle with Parkinson’s and dementia.

This is the first book in what I’m planning as a five-book series.

DYSMAS ORBIS launches Friday 28th August.

What do you think is hiding in London that we don’t see? 👀

And tag someone who you think would be intrigued by this world.

Supported by Balham Boxing Club & NJT Market / Not Just Things
@balhamboxingclub @njt.notjustthings

#DysmasOrbis #BookReveal #BookReveal2026 #NewBook #BookLaunch taken in London, United Kingdom by @whatiseewhen

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2 months ago

Just got a test print of the illustration for the upcoming immersive show:

9th December, Zari Gallery
Links in bio

And OMG!!!! Look at the quality!!!! Thinking I will open mount these on some thick black card. The paper texture is outstanding!

Thinking A4 may well be the size, it pulls you in.

Have you seen the illustrations at the back of the book?

Use the link in my bio to get a copy! :)

Comment and let me know what you think

#ldnreimagined #dysmasorbis #whatiseewhen #londonart #booksbooksbooks taken in Zari Gallery by @whatiseewhen

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11 hours ago

Debut novel review

Dysmas Orbis by Robert John @whatiseewhen .
Robert John is an artist and writer from London and this book is the literary form of his LDN Reimagined visual art series. His work is inspired by his father's battle with Parkinson's Dementia and asks the question what do we really see around us and how does it shape who we become. The main protagonists of the story are a fifteen year old boy named Solomon (Sol) and his Uncle Amicus. They are living rough on the streets of London seemingly invisible to those around them. But things are not what they seem and their difficult day to day existence is interrupted and made even more perilous when another London beneath their own begins to bleed into Sol's reality. The story follows Sol as he navigates this new London that is filled with danger all while also discovering his place in this world and his own.

This book drew me in at the start and the author's descriptions of the settings really helped form a visual picture in my mind. My favorite part of this story was Sol's relationship with his Uncle Amicus. Amicus would do anything in the story to keep Sol safe and really wants the best for him. My favorite quote from the book was from Amicus when he tells Sol, "I will stand between you and the burning sun so you may sleep in the shade of my shadow." I feel like this really captured how much Amicus cared for his nephew and how far he would go to protect him. As the story goes on I think Sol also begins to realize how important their relationship is and where he is really meant to be. The other thing that I loved about this story was the descriptions of the alternate London where things are almost the same but just a little different and unbelievable. There are trees that are not really made just of leaves and bark and I loved the Crawlers who look like a cat in our reality but we're something different entirely and had some special powers. This is the first book in the series so I am hoping in the next one that we will get more backstory on the Mortalis Guard, the Guardians, and on the above and below of the alternate London.
#debutauthor #bookreview #urbanfantasy #dysmasorbis by @whatiseewhen

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3 days ago

Dysmas Orbis is @whatiseewhen debut novel, an intriguing mix of urban fantasy/surrealism set in modern day London. For me the star of the novel is the relationship between our main characters, Sol and Amicus, which explores the tension of growing up within an unsafe environment and how Sol as a teenager is rebelling against it while also needing and wanting his guardian at the same time. As a fantasy lover, I enjoyed the fantasy elements (always love a magical cat creature) and found the example of homelessness, and how Sol and Amicus are treated on a daily basis as part of that community, poignant. Excited to see what Robert does as he continues the series! And special thanks for me free digital copy :)
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#dysmasorbis #surrealism #fantasy #bookworm #debutnovel by @whatiseewhen

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a month ago

This week, we’re spotlighting Robert, the artist and storyteller behind @whatiseewhen and his newly released debut novel, Dysmas Orbis. 📚✨

Robert’s work has long explored memory, perception, and the unseen through his visual art. After years of building that world through photography, illustration, and storytelling, Dysmas Orbis became its literary continuation, bringing those ideas together in an entirely new form!

With more than 25 years of experience in design, Robert approached the physical book as part of the creative process itself, carefully considering everything from the paper and finish to how the illustrations would sit on the page.

Swipe through to learn more about the story behind Dysmas Orbis, why Robert chose Mixam to bring it to print, and the advice he has for other creators working toward their first book.

Head over to @whatiseewhen to explore more of Robert’s work and pick up a copy of Dysmas Orbis now! 🖤

#MixamArtistSpotlight #SelfPublishing #MixamPrint #IndependentPublishing #BookDesign by @whatiseewhen

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2 months ago

On 28 August, I’ll be standing up to talk about a journey that began with an idea, some drawings, and a question that I couldn’t let go of.

For years, I’ve been creating work that imagines another version of London — a city existing alongside the one we know, shaped by the things we see, the things we overlook, and perhaps the things we simply cannot perceive.

That visual world grew through What I See When, exhibitions, and eventually became LDN Reimagined, published by Unicorn Publishing Group.

But there was always another question waiting for me: who lives there?

That question eventually led me to Dysmas Orbis.

Writing this book has taken me somewhere I never expected to go — from visual artist to novelist, and now, through Inayat Publishing, into the world of independent publishing.

On launch night, I’ll be talking about that journey, the world behind Dysmas Orbis, and how years of artwork eventually became my debut novel.

I’m excited. I’m nervous. And honestly, I can’t wait to share it with you.

📖 Author talk by Robert John
📍 Balham Boxing Club
📅 Friday 28 August · 7pm

The evening will also feature a live reading by singer and actress Francesca Mepham, a conversation and Q&A with art critic Tabish Khan, signed books, an exclusive A5 art print, complimentary drinks and canapés.

Tickets are free — RSVP via the link in bio.

Supported by @balhamboxingclub & @njt.notjustthings

#DysmasOrbis #BookLaunch #IndieAuthor #LondonAuthor #SpeculativeFiction taken in Balham, London, England by @whatiseewhen

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2 months ago

The Q&A — In the Ring

A few final shots from my conversation with Tabish Khan at the Dysmas Orbis launch, right there in the boxing ring at Balham Boxing Club. 🥊

A massive thank you to Tabish for coming along and holding such an engaging and thought-provoking Q&A. I really enjoyed the conversation and the different ideas we were able to explore around the book and its world.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to capture the audience questions or some of the other sections of the Q&A, which is a real shame, but as I said before, you had to be there to experience it.

These photographs are a few moments from the session that we did manage to capture.

And once again, a very special thank you to @londonartcritic , and to @balhamboxingclub and @njt.notjustthings for hosting us and giving us such an incredible setting for the conversation.

#DysmasOrbis #TabishKhan #BookLaunch #Balham #IndependentAuthor by @whatiseewhen

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a month ago

🌈Title: Dysmas Orbis

✍️Author: Robert John

📚Review: I just finished "Dysmas Orbis" by Robert John and honestly, I’m still thinking about this one. 🖤 I went into it not really knowing what to expect, and somehow that made the whole experience even more interesting.

I really liked Sol. There was something about his character that made me want to know more about him and what was really going on around him. His relationship with Amicus was also one of my favorite parts. You can feel how protective Amicus is of him, but at the same time, you can tell there are so many things he isn’t telling Sol. 🥺❤️

The setting was probably what stood out to me the most. It’s London, but not the London we normally imagine. There’s this weird, almost dreamlike side to the city that slowly starts appearing, and I loved how strange it felt. The spider trees and flower lamps were such unexpected details! 🌙🌸

I also really enjoyed the themes about memory, belonging, and how sometimes there can be things right in front of us that we simply don’t notice.

And after learning where the idea for the story came from, it made the whole book feel even more personal to me.

Definitely a very different kind of read, but in a good way. Mysterious, emotional, strange, and definitely a book that stayed in my head after I finished it. 📖🖤✨
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#books #bookstagram #book #booklover
#reading taken in New York, N.Y. by @whatiseewhen

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14 days ago

A little more of the story behind Dysmas Orbis.

I recently sat down with Liam at @theshoreditchradiopodcastlive to talk about the journey from What I See When and LDN Reimagined to Dysmas Orbis, the inspiration behind the story, hidden London, perception, and what it means to take an idea from visual art into fiction.

Really enjoyed the conversation and the chance to talk about some of the things behind the book that don’t always make it onto the page.

🎙️ Listen to the full conversation with Liam on Shoreditch Radio.

🎧 Link is https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Em9GlNP5142Jmuub49b04?si=MRVHBt61Sfeo1PadJGdRPg

📖 Dysmas Orbis is available now from all major booksellers and at dysmasorbis.inayatpublishing.com

Have you listened to the story behind the story yet?

#DysmasOrbis #RobertJohn #ShoreditchRadio #LondonBooks #UrbanFantasy by @whatiseewhen

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24 days ago

The setup.

Before the doors opened and the launch night began, there was a lot happening behind the scenes.

Turning a boxing gym into a space for Dysmas Orbis, setting everything up, arranging the books and artwork, and getting the food and drinks ready — it was amazing to see it all come together.

A huge and very special thank you to Tasha, Tony & Winston of Balham Boxing Club, and Not Just Things, for all of your help in making the night possible and allowing me to use your space.

I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better place to launch Dysmas Orbis.

A few shots from the setup before everyone arrived.

Then the doors opened…

#DysmasOrbis #BookLaunch #BalhamBoxingClub #IndependentAuthor #behindthescenes taken in Balham Boxing Club & Community centre by @whatiseewhen

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a month ago