The Story
Throughout the galaxy He is known by 10,000 names, but with the swirling confusion that plods before His almost limitless sight, He has never chosen one. For Him, creating humanity seems a paltry skill, for, as any artist knows, skill is judged by what is created, not merely the act. And He deems His creations inadequate at best. One hundred and forty three worlds He has seeded. Beautiful worlds, like jewels spinning on invisible chains, orbiting brilliant, life-affirming stars. And He has tried endless forms of inducement to encourage greatness, from gentle nudgings to blatant crafting. He even gives many of His humans a second chance in Afterlives that run the gambit from sparkling cities of bliss to dark worlds of torture, every combination of advantage and disadvantage, yet muddling or soaring, in egregious pain or endless joy, none of these-creatures seem exceptional. The clay of Creation has grown dark and brittle in His hands, crumbling whenever pressure is added.
Wipe the slate clean and start over? He decides to watch a little longer. Another rotation of His claimed galaxy, maybe two-He has that much time to spare.
On one of His worlds, Verbolana has just died in battle, though He notices this in only the most abstract sense. As He whisks her away to her Afterlife, she is immediately confronted by vivid, unwanted visions from her bitter past. Verbolana was promised the Blessed Amnesia by the pundits of her fanatical religion, but forgetting is not something He allows. And where are the Gods she has worshipped all her life: the Humble Magician, the Graceful Dancer, and the Nimble Choreographer? Is there just this one puny God with His promises of extreme pleasure and comfort?
And what of Trake, her love, left behind on a planet not fit for habitation. How will he fair? Will he ever learn the truth? Will he learn to love again?
As Worlds Burn is the tale of two star crossed lovers; separated by death, each following their own path toward religious and sexual healing. Soaring beauty and every temptation awaits one, while sexual confusion and enlightened self-deception is the only path for the other. As Worlds Burn will leave you wondering where our own lives might be headed, and for what purpose.
