A Psilent Place Below

Dirck Brightstar knows there's something really weird about the caverns. Where did that dream come from? And how is it possible that his mother shared the same, identical dream? Orchestrating a prison break to rescue his father is a formidable task, one even his indomitable friend, Win, thinks is impossible. But if they don't, the unthinkable will happen. They need the bnolar's help but can Cyraria's indigenous race be trusted? With Integrator forces closing in on world domination, if the caverns' secret gets out the Brightstars won't be the only ones who are doomed. But if the dream Dirck and Creena share plays out the consequences will be even worse.

Close families share everything. Including consequences. When one of the HIO’s premier terralogists refuses a job offer from a wannabe despot the chain of suspicious circumstances which quickly follow scatter his family across the galaxy. Torn apart by space and time, will each survive long enough to be united ever again? This Box Set contains the tetralogy's four volumes: Beyond the Hidden Sky (vol. 1); A Dark of Endless Days (vol. 2); A Psilent Place Below (vol. 3); and its conclusion, Refractions of Frozen Time (vol. 4). Also included is The Star Trails Compendium, which covers terms, definition, weather, political structure, and planetary description of the Cyrarian planetary system as well as a chapter by chapter discussion and lesson plan guide for parents and educators who may want to use the series for extra credit reading in STEM programs.

The Star Trails Tetralogy, i.e. Beyond the Hidden Sky; A Dark of Endless Days; A Psilent Place Below; and Refractions of Frozen Time, takes place in a fictitious universe which includes unfamiliar vocabulary, alien races, and numerous planets. This compendium was compiled for readers who requested more detail, such as a glossary of terms as well as descriptions of the political structure, weather patterns, and Cyraria's indigenous race, the bnolar. Topical discussion guides at the chapter level are included as well for those who want to delve even deeper, including book club discussion groups and #STEM educators who could use the stories to stimulate interest in numerous scientific or sociological topics.

Cyraria is a hostile world with weather extremes beyond imagination. With Opposition, the worst portion of the heat season on the way, Dirck Brightstar and his father, Laren take on the challenge of modifying their primitive shelter to withstand the hostile environment in what is rapidly becoming a dystopian nightmare. Their attempt to build a heat exchanger (air conditioner) to maintain a survivable temperature is interrupted when Laren is arrested in a midnight raid and incarcerated as a political prisoner as a part of Augustus Troy's Integration recruiting efforts. Dirck is thus left on his own to fend for his family, more separated now than ever before. His friend, Win, proves to be a valuable ally though his little brother, Deven, becomes the real hero thanks to his strange alliance with an indigenous race known as the bnolar.Creena, another family member separated from the family in a previous incident, experiences increasing trouble as well when she and her 'troid, Aggie and vegemal, Thyron, land on a planet seeking a more capable vehicle for the trip back to the family's homeworld, Mira III, to obtain assistance. Their efforts are thwarted when authorities impound their ship and separate them as targets for government scrutiny and investigation. Creena's options are severely limited and further complicated by Integrator attempts to abduct her, the evil purpose of which she can sense but doesn't understand. With no other choice but to adapt to a primitive and alien lifestyle until her situation is resolved, when it finally comes time to leave she discovers she's grown more attached to this backward world than she ever thought possible.[NOTE:--Readers with a strong interest in science will particularly enjoy these stories in which the author demonstrates numerous scientific principles and their importance through entertaining plot action. This is Volume II of the Star Trails Tetralogy. Enjoying this episode does not depend on reading Volume I.]

This short story is a prequel to Beyond the Hidden Sky (The Star Trails Tetralogy Volume 1) which features Thyron, a flora peda telepathis from the planet, Sapphira. His naterra, or home world, is populated by his species of telepathic walking plants as well as a race of cannibalistic pygmies who recognize their botanical intelligence as superior to their own and thus worship them as gods. The two diverse species have a synergistic relationship in which Thyron and others of his kind provide technical assistance to the natives in their interstellar forays for food in return for protection, albeit primitive. Encounters with humans generally don't end well. Face it, humans are omnivorous and plants a popular source of nourishment. Attempt this on Sapphira, however, and the food chain is likely to change rather abruptly. If you've read Beyond the Hidden Sky you've already met the Sapphirans as well as Thyron and experienced his botanical wisdom. This short story comprises the adventures that led to his appearance in The Star Trails Tetralogy.

May 30, 1978 starts out as a normal night at Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah--until a UFO requests permission to land. Its pilot changes its mind, but by then F-16s escort the rogue vehicle to the ground. A human girl in her early teens and a robot exit the craft, a strange botanical lifeform found onboard by a landing party. The vehicle, robot, and suspicious plant are impounded and transported to Area 51 where NASA astrobiologist, Gabriel Greenley, PhD, is called in to study the lifeform. Greenley's attempt to take a leaf sample results in a vehement telepathic objection from the specimen, indicating it's intelligent and potentially dangerous. He eventually gets his sample and makes a ground-breaking discovery he can never publish, due to his security oaths and research agreement. Eventually, he's confronted by an even worse ethical dilemma that forces him to make a treasonous and potentially deadly decision.

The Dead Horse Canyon Saga Continues. . . When Charlie Littlewolf and Sara Reynolds discovered why her husband, Bryan, was murdered, their lives changed forever. While Charlie swore to avenge his white brother's death, the path to do so remains unclear. His job with Lone Star Operations allows him to use his college education and earn a generous income. However, it conflicts with everything he knows to be right. Is violating the Earth wrong or not? Little does he realize that his work will ultimately return him to the Northern Cheyenne reservation where his true destiny will manifest in ways he never imagined. Sara is determined to fulfill Bryan's last request to expose the government corruption coupled with the lethal forces that stole his life. Releasing the scandalous Top Secret data via WikiLeaks infuriates those with much to lose, who place a high price on her demise. When her response gets too personal, the next attempt to silence her forever comes close to home. While miles apart, each struggles with life-threatening situations as a result of their dedication to Bryan's legacy. Their lives remain entangled through a series of fateful decisions and circumstances that define a future fraught with unknowns for them both.

Family histories are often boring compilations of pedigree charts and dry narratives. Family folklore opens the door to everyday experiences and emotions that bring those involved alive. It's also an excellent way to get children involved in the process and started early on compiling their own personal history. This handy guide provides all the information you need to start discovering, identifying and collecting your own family's folklore. It includes descriptions of which genres are included and examples as well as a memory-jogging checklist and resources for those who might want to take it to the next level.