RISEBA Lecturer Valērijs Dombrovskis Debuts with 18+ Web Novel “Gobby’s Adventure”
RISEBA lecturer Valērijs Dombrovskis introduces his first web novel “Gobby’s Adventure” – a story intended for young adults aged 18 and over. The web novel combines a fantasy world with psychology and the darker sides of society, exploring what happens when a person sees more than society is willing to accept.
“Writing a web novel is like a bridge between the academic environment and creative imagination. I write about a world where reality and fantasy merge, and where people are forced to make choices that change their lives. This is not a story about good and evil, but about the price of choice,” says Valērijs Dombrovskis.
Valērijs Dombrovskis has proven himself in the academic field – teaching psychology courses and founding the Latvian Cyberpsychology Association. Yet he admits that creative writing has become a way of connecting the scientific with the emotional:
“A web novel for me is a flight of imagination. It is a story that reflects the inner world of people – joy, fear, disappointment, and the struggle against the rules of society.”
“Gobby’s Adventure” tells the story of a teenager, Gobby, who since childhood has been able to see people’s “essences” – their deepest, instinctive parts. Society labels him as different, even abnormal, yet this ability becomes the key to an entirely different reality, one hidden from most people.
The novel introduces 15 psychological archetypes – each with its own way of thinking, instincts, and life strategies. They serve as mirrors in which readers can recognise themselves. These archetypes are not abstract theories, but rooted in real human traits observed in everyday life. The novel’s world is also divided into five social strata: the visible – those living daily life, and the invisible – those who lead and control events behind the scenes. Everyone has their place in this hierarchy, and only those able to communicate with their “instinctive self” can rise higher. Those who cannot remain trapped in the lower levels.
The novel openly addresses the darker sides of adulthood – psychological tension, violence, identity distortion, philosophical themes, and dark humour. For this reason, it is recommended for adult audiences only (18+).
The first two seasons of the novel comprise 20 episodes or chapters, created over a two-year period. Alongside writing, Dombrovskis has produced sketches to strengthen the connection between the characters and the visual world. He has deliberately refrained from using artificial intelligence in illustration, keeping the work authentic.
The novel is available at Gobby.me and on the international platform Royal Road. Future plans include expanding the story into a comic book and, if possible, an animated series.
“I don’t want young people to only read. I want them to engage – to write, to think, to discuss, and to search for themselves,” stresses Valerijs Dombrovskis.
Valērijs Dombrovskis
Director of the RISEBA “Business Psychology” programme, lecturer, writer.
Founder of the Latvian Cyberpsychology Association.
