Kirjahaku

What if Humanity had not been guided in its spiritual evolution by the founders of the major religions of the past? Why this series of historically periodic interventions by the 'Manifestations of God' such as Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, and now Baha'u'llah? What if instead, we had been guided by a dynamically interactive, ever and omnipresent Avatar?Three friends in Northern Canada; a half-German-half-Tahltan, a full-blood Gitxsan, and an Indian, walk out of our world into an alternate version of our world ruled and guided by something that can only be described as the disembodied Avatar of God, manifest in a variety of forms around the world.What devastating losses must each of them embrace in leaving the world as they know it? What brutal adjustments to their moral and cultural perceptions must they accomplish to assimilate? And ultimately, what solitary and lonely path of sacrifice must each walk in order to adapt and integrate into a world of that kind? Do they even have a choice?Is the Avatar actually an agent of God, or just nature's way of evolving the human race? And in the final analysis, just what does that Avatar thing hope to achieve anyway?

Told from the point of view of a historian tasked with summarizing the generative influences of the most seminal moment in the history of an entire inter-planetary species, this story explores the convoluted mechanics of what some might call the Divine Intent, and which others may call the workings of an indescribably complex clock-work universe.On another world, a civilization far evolved beyond us in intellect and science is nonetheless spiritually and socially stunted. Violence and war have been unknown to them until recently. They ask, "How can this be endured or dealt with, or even survived?" To find this answer they send an involuntary student to a distant world (Earth) inhabited by similar beings that seem inured and adapted to violence and war. If they don't learn the answer they are likely destined to disappear from existence. But is the student's answer more deadly than the threat itself? Inspired by a messianic vision she is viewed by some as being the manifestation of the Divine will, and by others as the very incarnation of all they feared and hoped to avoid. She is either the coming of hell on Galrote or perhaps the only salvation of both the conquering and the conquered.

Whenever I set out to write a story it is inevitably inspired by what I call a "Big Question". A small question would be, "What color car should I buy?". A Big Question would be, "What is the meaning of life?".This is a collection of 4 fictional tales that explore Big Questions about the role of Humanity as it fumbles its way beyond Earth.Clay ManTHE BIG QUESTION; What will be Humanity's role in the universe if we don't somehow get it together and evolve into a socially responsible creature?Ira, Searching for ProfundityTHE BIG QUESTION; Why are there so many stikingly similar legends and historical allegories found around the world despite eons of cultural isolation and independent social evolution?The Hadrite StudentTHE BIG QUESTION; If those great Personages of history, Who were, or claimed to be, or were reported to be Manifestations or Avatars of a great Universal God, or even if they were simply the mechanistic creations of a clock-work universe, shouldn't They influence more than just this one little planet?Pesky and the ParticleTHE BIG QUESTION; Why is religion so hard? Why does it feel like it wants people to be anything but what they naturally are? Is that by design? What possible purpose could God, or the Clock-work Universe, or whatever it is out there, have for evolving such self-loathing, cranky, warlike critters as us?

Pesky and Festus were just two more disenfranchised, lonely losers in the world until they made the acquaintance of Ardy, an artificial intelligence in the service of a thoroughly alien species who thoughtlessly harvest the products of our broken, human hearts. Between them they manage to wield a clear perspective on life, God and the universe at large. They present a lovely, childlike, simple approach to their own existence and a lively but simple sense of humor. They live content with basics. As envoys for the Human race, they manage to negotiate an agreement with the aliens on behalf of an unaware humanity. Standing firmly on an uncompromising detachment from the socio-political vagaries of their moment in human history, they ensure that humanity's future will never be limited to just what is known.

I've always been fascinated by the magical, creative quality of language. I'm not talking about the creative abilities of a user of language, but rather the magical 'influence' a word or an expressed thought construct has on the mind, beyond the intent of the one who expresses it. We all live in a world of isolation where the only way we have of knowing that there is a world around us, populated by others somewhat similar to ourselves is by the impressions we receive from our five senses and the only thing that allows us to connect with each other in a meaningful way is language, and the meaning of language is PROFOUNDLY infuenced by the way it is expressed. When we need to communicate something which words alone are unable to encompass, we turn to the language of the inexpressible, poetry. And this book... well... this is me trying to say stuff.