Special Book Feature & Excerpt – Wonders of the Galaxy: A Collection of Cosmic Tales

About the book

We are a people of stories. We use them to entertain, to teach, and to instruct. Sometimes they warn us of the dangers of wandering too far into the woods, or they can be a detailed story to explain how magnificent landscapes came to be. Story has always been the way we pass time, the way we connect to each other, and most importantly, how we promote our values.

Parables, especially, have a dual purpose. Not only do they keep us entertained, but they also make a point. Consider Aesop’s Fables—tales of talking animals who learn valuable life lessons.

Jesus used parables, too. The people who followed him were hungry to understand life and what was beyond. So Jesus did what every great teacher does—he used the power of story. With common characters and conflicts, he wove tales that made complex spiritual issues easier to understand.

Collected for you here are several parables set in far-away galaxies, on fascinating planets, and in the coldest depths of space. Characters. Conflict. Enlightenment.

Book Excerpt

Destination Kharis by L.G. Westlake (Part Two)

The unexpected sensation knocked me off course, and I tripped on the step at the landing platform. As I stumbled about, bullets pinged off the landing’s wire mesh around me.

I plunged to my knees.

So close.

Basilica Obscura by Jason William Karpf

Sandor felt himself shaking, thinking Jael had unnerved him anew. But the tremor was not a fear response. Talitha and Pastor Neriah felt the growing vibration as well. Dust trickled from the ceiling. The Styx sloshed in its trench. Jael activated a singing wire bolted to a pillar, its copper diaphragm built for voice communication.

“What’s going on up there?” Jael said.

“Disturbance in the bombardment chamber,” the technician said on the other end. “Portal outpost reports signs of critical mass.”

“That’s impossible. The Mothership injects cadmium into any hot spots. It’s automated.”

“Outpost detects no signs of cadmium. The ship’s system has failed.”

“Detonation time?”

“Two hours … maybe less.”

“I want double crews on the Anvil. We may need to modulate flow in a hurry.”

Sandor sprinted after the others. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re about to have an indoor meteor shower,” Jael said. She looked at her daughter-in-law. “You need to tell the people.”

About the Author

Jason William Karpf is a multitalented actor, musician, professor, and Jeopardy champion whose writing runs the gamut from true crime to speculative fiction.

Aaron Gansky is an award-winning novelist and Dungeons and Dragons whiz who lives for his children, coaching football, and watch Marvel movies.

Erica Marie Hogan’s books range from long ago historical dramas to frozen fantasies on faraway planets. Regardless of where the story originates, it comes from the heart—because Erica believes genres are transcendent.

Brett Heaston is the creator of the Message to Kings podcast and the author of The Resilience Awakening. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, a history nerd, and an adventure junkie.

Steve South is a traveler, a karaoke singer, and a profound believer in the power for stories to move people; his first novel, The Queen of Steel and Fire, won the 2019 Minnesota Author Project Award for YA fiction.

L.G. Westlake lives in the “Land of Enchantment,” but also lives a dream life in far-flung galaxies where she regularly charts the unknown; her previous novels have included award-winning fantasies and thrillers.

M B Dahl is a wife, mother, and award-winning author of dystopian adventures. She loves dressing up like a warrior and fighting dragons, imaginary or real.

T.E. Bradford is an international bestselling author, a Selah award finalist, and a self-proclaimed geek who believes her writing is “a little piece of magic” given to her by God.

Travis W. Inman has been a cowboy, a missionary, a soldier, and more in his multi-storied career, and his stories reflect his diverse background. In his spare time, he searches for hidden treasure, both financial and culinary.