Paths to the Stars: Twenty-Two Fantastical Tales of Imagination

Paths to the Stars is a collection of 22 fantastical tales of the imagination by an author who has written more than 60 books. Of special interest, at least to this reader, each short story in the collection begins with a paragraph describing a bit about the upcoming tale, whether it was previously published, and, if so, where.

To give you some idea of the variety, here is an attempt at a brief one-line description of each story.

“The Minstrel” tells the story of a young man on a distant world who owns a very strange musical instrument.

“A Little Space Music” examines what might happen if music appreciation is taken to an extreme.

“Strange Harvest” introduces an intelligent vegetable from outer space.

“Wsterlilies” is a story of an artist who pays no heed to instructions given with his new materials purchase.

In “Sins of the Father”, an accident suddenly brings two warring factions together on a distant planet.

“The Path of Souls” follows an alien death ritual to its conclusion.

“Follow a Song” introduces a young bard who discovers a teacher with a message of the need to further his other skills in addition to music.

“Memory Jam” introduces a grandmotherly figure, who isn’t what you might expect.

“The Rescue” has a crash landing on an alien plant with inhabitants who may not all be friendly.

“The Devil’s Architect” is described by the author as “programmable afterlife”,and I can’t think of anything else I need to say.

In “Moon Baby”, readers experience a mechanical breakdown on the surface of the moon, and the first man to be born up there is in charge, sort of.

“The Daydark” is a gentle tale about a young man learning a life lesson when he meets an elderly alien.

“The Wind” is a ghost story, nuff said.

“Lost in Translation” explores the difficulties as two very different interpreters’ attempt to act as translators and prevent a war.

“Texente Tela Veneris” follows a couple as they explore an island belonging to the Goddess Venus, and at least one of them finds meaning.

In “Landscape with Alien”, an artist on a newly colonized planet discovers more than still life.

“Janitor Work” takes readers back to the Moon and another serious accident – travelers beware.

“The Strange One” has a young man heading out from his base on a distant planet and finding an unusual survival solution.

“I Count the Lights” leads the reader back to another alien planet and culture and the struggle to find a meeting of the minds.

“The Mother’s Keepers” takes readers to the inside of a very alien culture.

In “Fairy Tale”, a gentleman finds an unusual creature inside a bug trap in the park.

“Je Me Souviens” introduces a member of an ancient monastic order who still serves at a memorial honoring the last days of the planet Earth.

From the far future and the farthest reaches of space, or close to home, Paths to the Stars is a collection of tales that explore the outer limits, often from an alien point of view. Paths to the Stars can be enjoyed by a wide range of readers.