In this story, volume two of the spiritual/sci-fi series Strangers in Strange Worlds, author James Haselton takes his readers on another journey of exploration - this time to planet Mars. Seven astronauts barely begin their exploration of the planet before encountering something wholly beyond their comprehension, something for which no training could have prepared them, something which immediately threatens their very survival in an environment which could hardly be more hostile to human life. As the explorers struggle with both the environmental challenges and the unexpected - literally the invisible, they are forced to confront the possibility that there must be life on this barren, sandy rock. While fighting for their very lives, most of the crewmembers begin to realize that they have been sent on this mission without certain key facts, one of which is the true goal of the mission. It quickly becomes apparent that not everyone in the crew has the same priorities. The questions raised are as profound as life itself: What is life? How could life have begun and evolved in such a forbidding place? What right do humans have to interfere in the lives of other worlds? And finally, what could happen when we do?
About the Author: James Haselton was born in 1949 in the small town of Rochelle, Illinois, about 80 miles west of Chicago. He graduated three times from Northern Illinois University, twice from the School of Music then finished his formal education with an MBA in 1985. While working on his music degrees he wrote many experimental compositions for both electronic media and traditional instruments before setting that aside - along with musical performance - to pursue a career in information technology. While his IT work was interesting, it was never his primary interest. Since his late teens Haselton has continuously searched for spiritual Truth. This search began in earnest with the study and practice of the various forms of yoga along with research into the history of religion especially in India, Tibet, Egypt, Greece and other ancient cultures. His interest in yoga led him first to Transcendental Meditation then a couple of years later to Eckankar via the writings of Paul Twitchell. Haselton has also spent decades searching out the best in written science fiction and fantasy, especially sci-fi, and merging that experience with his primary interest. Since retiring in 2014, Haselton has been writing novels, orchestrating classical works originally composed for the piano or other instruments, and continuing his inner studies. His most recent novels explore the subject of Artificial Intelligence and its theoretical future impacts on humans. But what he finds the most interesting about AI is its limitations and its relationship to consciousness, human and other. Haselton's current writing project is the spiritual sci-fi series, Strangers in Strange Worlds.