Book 3

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Eric von Schrader

Science fiction Books with Imagination and Fun

A Universe REVEALED

Book 3 of Intersecting Worlds

A secret makes you play its game. And when you play it, the secret wins. Always.

How do you keep the biggest secret in history, especially when a master spy is snooping around?

In A Universe Revealed, Diyami Red Hawk is pursuing a sacred mission to build a new Native American city at the ancient site of Cahokia. But his success is based on a lie. If anyone finds out, will his project come crashing down?

For years, Jim Collins, a financial genius and a superb poker player, has been haunted by the mystery of his father, who was “very famous, but you’ll never find anyone who has heard of him.” When he meets Billy and Carol Boustany, he feels hope for the first time.

They introduce him to Diyami, who desperately needs his strategic wisdom after an adversary from the past re-emerges with new threats. Together, Diyami, Jim, Billy, and Carol come up with a plan to defeat the secrets. It brings the Intersecting Worlds trilogy to an astounding conclusion.

What readers are saying

"Eric Von Schrader’s newest installment to his Intersecting Worlds trilogy, is titled A Universe Revealed and it is, well, a revelation. Von Schrader’s character driven storytelling continues a journey that is total fantasy, yet it is anchored by vulnerable and flawed human nature, realistic and hopeful goals, and a trust in mankind’s better angels. The impossible situation is satisfactorily explained in the course of a complicated set of circumstances that is slowly and skillfully unpacked. The reader is rewarded with lofty conclusions that are not only sensible, but they prompt the reader to cheer the characters on, without reservation. Throw in the many references to real St Louis places, and add in an inspiring dream for Cahokia and Native Americans everywhere, and stir up some cleverly funny references to contemporary media, politics, and sports, and the revelation is complete, and a universe is revealed! I highly recommend this trilogy, and the new third piece to Von Schrader’s Universe puzzle."

"This is a fantastic book that pulls you in and makes it hard to put down. I really enjoyed this book, just as I did the others. This one I thought the author did an especially good job focusing on other characters, building more interesting backstories, and having a great ending. As a St. Louisan I find the trilogy extra interesting but really I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys alternate universe stories. "

Stephen

"This is a must read for fans of our favorite alternate universe, St. Louis, Cahokia, and beyond. a logical end to the continuing story if what might be with many familiar locations in different viewpoints. "

Timothy

Opening Chapter

The Bookstore

The turnout wasn’t bad. On a foggy evening in June 2012, twenty people crowded into the small San Francisco bookstore to hear Carol Boustany read from her alternate history novel, Dispatches From An Imaginary World. She had done five of these events and this was the first on the west coast. She and Billy decided to make a trip out of it; they planned to see a Giants game and spend a few days in the wine country before returning home to St. Louis. While she was reading, Billy was checking out a nearby record store for vinyl LPs by obscure 1980s bands. He had attended all of her previous events, so he could skip this one. They would meet for dinner afterwards.

Carol began with the opening sentences of the book: “This is the story of a world that doesn’t exist, but maybe once did. A world where the barrier between reality and imagination is thin and permeable. Where you can wake up on one side of that barrier and fall asleep on the other.” She read excerpts from different parts of the book, stories of a fictional city in a fanciful twentieth century. There were heroes and villains, disasters and celebrations, beauty and deceit. The small audience applauded when she finished. One woman stood up and said, “When I close my eyes, I can see the places in your book, like they’re real. I would give anything to go there.”

Carol chuckled. “Thank you very much. So would I.”

She sat at a small table to sign books. A handsome older man with bright blue eyes stood in the line. When he handed his book to Carol, she asked “Who should I make it out to?”

“Jim Collins.” He paused while she wrote. “I’ve waited years for something like your book to come along.”

“That’s quite a compliment. Thank you.”

“I especially liked your character, George Adrian Matthews.”

“He’s one of my favorites too.”

“He reminded me of my father.”

“That’s interesting.”

“My father’s name was James Whittemore Hines.”

Carol’s pen stopped in mid-signature. A tiny blotch of ink seeped onto the page as she blinked for a moment. “What did you say?”

“James Whittemore Hines.”

The color drained out of her face. “Uhm … the book comes from my weird imagination. It’s just fiction. Nothing more.”

“Really? I would greatly appreciate it if we could talk.”

“Not now.” She gestured to the line of people behind him.

He handed her a slip of paper. “Here’s my number. Call me.”