I am science fantasy novelist Alan J. Garner, published by SynergEbooks. Check out my Chosen Trilogy (The Chosen One, Chosen Too & Three Times Chosen) as well as Wizards' Goal, the first volume in my Terrath series.
<p>“<em>We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”(</em>Teilhard de Chardin<em>)</em></p><p><span style="line-height:1.6em;"><em>Involution-An Odyssey Reconciling Science to God </em> is as layered as a French cassoulet, as diverting, satisfying and as rich. Each reader will spoon this book differently. On the surface it seems to be a simple and light-hearted poetic journey through the history of Western thought, dominantly scientific, but enriched with painting and music. Beneath that surface is the sauce of a new evolutionary idea, involution; the informing of all matter by consciousness, encoded and communicating throughout the natural world. A book about the cathedral of consciousness could have used any language to paint it, but science is perhaps most in need of new vision, and its chronology is already familiar.</span></p><p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">The author offers a bold alternative vision of both science and creation: she suggests that science has been incrementally the recovery of memory, the memory of evolution/involution</span><em style="line-height:1.6em;">.</em></p><p>“<em> Involution proposes that humans carry within them the history of the universe, which is (re)discovered by the individual genius when the time is ripe. All is stored within our DNA and awaits revelation. Such piecemeal revelations set our finite lives in an eternal chain of co-creation and these new leaps of discovery are compared to mystical experience</em>” (From a reviewer)</p><p>Each unique contributor served the collective and universal return to holism and unity. Thus the geniuses of the scientific journey, like the spiritual visionaries alongside, have threaded the rosary of science with the beads of inspiration, and through them returned Man to his spiritual nature and origin.</p><p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">The separation between experience and the rational intellect of science has, by modelling memory as theory, separated its understanding from the consciousness of all, and perceives mind and matter as separate, God and Man as distinct. This work is a dance towards their re-unification: Saints and scientists break the same bread.</span></p><p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">All of time and all the disciplines of science are needed for the evidence. Through swift (and sometimes sparring) Cantos of dialogue between Reason and Soul, Philippa Rees takes the reader on a monumental journey through the history of everything – with the evolution of man as one side of the coin and involution the other. The poetic narrative is augmented by learned and extensive footnotes offering background knowledge which in themselves are fascinating. In effect there are two books, offering a right and left brain approach. The twin spirals of a DNA shaped book intertwine external and internal and find, between them, one journey, Man’s recovery of Himself., and (hopefully) the Creation’s recovery of a nobler Man.</span></p><p><span style="line-height:1.6em;">From the same review “</span><em style="line-height:1.6em;">The reader who finishes the book will not be the same as the one who began it. New ideas will expand the mind but more profoundly, the deep, moving power of the verse will affect the heart.</em></p><p><em>(Marianne Rankin: Director of Communications, Alister Hardy Trust)</em></p><p> </p>
My wife encouraged me to become a novelist. Up until then I was unsuccessfully writing and illustrating children picture books, all unpublished. But I had a hankering to sink my teeth into more meatier writing, resulting in The Chosen One. Michelle, my greatest advocate and critic, perused the first draft and commented that it was " a bit of a dry read". Drawing upon my cartooning roots, I rewrote the book and injected my own brand of wit. And so, through the traditional working process of trial and error, I discovered and developed my style as a Science Fantasy humorist.
<em>"</em>The Chosen One<em> by Alan J. Garner is traumatic, dramatic, and enjoyable to read...I have only good things to say about his novel."<br /><br /></em>Book Reviews by Crystal Adkins<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><em>"I thoroughly enjoyed this novel...</em>The Chosen One <em>is good fun and well written."<br /></em><br />Iain Duffy, The Northern Advocate<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em><br />"Local author Alan Garner has a wicked sense of humor. Garner's skilful blend of fact and fiction will hold your attention."<br /></em><br />Dave Pope, HB Today<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><em>"...intelligent, enjoyable, very readable book."</em><br /><br />Reviewed by Smith for Aukon's Science Fiction Book Corner<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em>"From the outset </em>The Chosen One <em>lets you get lost in the fantasy of make believe and is very compulsive reading; a hard book to put down."<br /></em><br />Bruce Le Grange<br />Mornington, Australia<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em>"I have read</em> The Chosen One <em>and enjoyed it very much. I thought it was</em> <em>well written and well crafted."<br /></em><br />C.D. Weyland<br />Auckland, New Zealand<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em>"I honestly recommend</em> The Chosen One<em> as well worth reading and look forward to further books from this author."<br /></em><br />Mrs. P. Fuller<br />Queensland, Australia<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em>"Wonderful descriptions from a skilled wordsmith. A well written book with a glossary full of explanations for the younger reader."</em> <br /><br />G.Woollett<br />East Sussex, England<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em>"A really good read, roll on the movie!"</em> <br /><br />B.Overend<br />Hastings, New Zealand<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em>"...is a well written novel about the life and death struggles of a group of prehistoric animals. It is an unusual mix of prehistory, fantasy, and science fiction all rolled into one.<br /><br />Alan has a great sense of imagery and wordsmiths it seamlessly into a book that is hard to put down."<br /><br /></em>Michael Holderness<br />Auckland, New Zealand<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><em>"An intriguing tale, combining fact and fiction, past and future, skilfully woven together.<br /><br />With the computer graphics now available, this story is the ideal vehicle for an animated film. Hopefully, someone with foresight will do so."<br /></em><br />V. Horton<br />Hawke's Bay, New Zealand<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------