Telpher Series – A Future Galaxy Saga

The 24th century is the setting for the Telpher series of four novels when humanity has penetrated a small portion of a very large galaxy. Albeit, just a few hundred star systems within a hundred parsec of each other. They are home to established societies representing all cultures and races. Two pan-galactic governments and economies vie for per-eminence. However they exclude from association a few worlds on the fringes of known space. As well, there are rogue planets who harbor pirates and refuse to join the multi-system leagues. There is unrealized promise in this imaginary but all-to-possible world that is challenged by wrong motives and flawed heroes. The outlook for humanity’s future is not always optimistic. With humans being humans, love and fidelity is sometimes mixed with greed and corruption.

Into this world a succession of courageous female protagonists struggle with their own humanity while attempting to produce a promising future for their children and friends. Resourceful and accomplished men support these women. They learn to embrace a larger vision for their lives and for all people. The result is uplifting science fiction that promises a meaningful destiny for humanity.

Read Brief Synopses Below:

Book 1

Two women…
Two accidents…
Two aftermaths…
Can time bring them together?

Errant technology and unchecked ambition in the quest for interstellar travel combine to entangle the fates of two women centuries apart who have one thing in common: time travel. For one it’s a blessing in disguise; for the other a painful disaster.

Jana Anders, a 24th century starship navigator tries to get her passengers home after the ship’s warp drive fails and sends them into the distant past. Moreover they arrive in an unknown region of the galaxy. Another time traveler who Jana has never met might be able to help her. But time is running out for the two to meet.

21st century astrobiologist Sonja Bellesario uses her telepathic power to listen for messages from outer space that might help her pursue her destiny in the stars. When a message comes she’s not prepared for its consequences. The path forward has unexpected twists. Time isn’t always transparent.

On the planet Verde two scientists develop the Telpher, a FTL starship comm device. But the machine turns out to have capabilities far beyond what they intend. One of them uses the Telpher to promote his ambitions for power and learns an unfortunate truth with no apparent remedy. There might be a link between the Telpher and the warp drive accident that sends Jana Anders into the past. Will the two woman discover the link in time?

Book 2

Jana just wants to return home, to the life she had, to the world she left, to her own time.
But the difficulty lay in getting there, because it is 350 years in the future…

A wormhole sends the ISS Exeter four centuries into the past, to an unexplored star system and a virgin planet. The ship’s navigator, Jana Anders, devises a risky move to return to the 24th century. Most of the ship’s passengers choose to stay behind and colonize the planet. They name the planet Mycenae. Jana returns home successfully and encounters complications. Because in Jana’s 24th century spacetime the colony she left on Mycenae still exists but it is now 350 years old. Worse from her perspective, powerful forces are scheming to plunder Mycenae’s rare element resource without the knowledge or consent of its people. Events force Jana to act because those Mycenaean are descendants of people she knew and loved.

Shawna Tang is a descendant of the Exeter passengers who colonized Mycenae. Her people have forgotten their history due to a devastating plague. But when Shawna looks up into the heavens at night she can’t help thinking there is more. She dreams to be able to learn the secrets of the stars. Ironically, one of those secrets might lead to satisfying her aspiration.

Ethan Styrnak, a geophysicist, comes to Mycenae to catalog its resources, though he is ignorant of his company’s true plans. He meets Shawna and confirms her belief in a human-populated galaxy. During their brief love affair Ethan discovers his company’s illegal scheme to steal Mycenae’s resources. He is forced to leave the planet but promises Shawna to help. It is a promise that he has no idea how to fulfill.

When destiny entwines the lives of Jana, Shawna and Ethan, the battle for Mycenae is joined. The conflict brings together corporate magnates, galactic government officials, and brilliant scientists into a complicated drama with abruptly changing allegiances and undreamed of new technology. Whether the heroes can take advantage of these twists and turns to win through to victory is far from certain.

Book 3

Shawna thought she could escape her enemies by turning to the Archoi.
But the benign though powerful aliens don’t understand who she is. Consequently their help just might make things worse.

In the 24th century a brilliant scientist invents a machine that can open a conduit through the fifth-dimension. The novel device allows instant teleportation to any galactic destination. The Telpher, as the machine is called, requires a uniquely gifted telepath to guide the traveler’s journey. Shawna Tang is one of three known telepaths who can successfully interface with a Telpher.

The Telpher opens up enticing possibilities. Idealists within the Federation of Star Systems see the Telpher as a means to bring humans closer together in a galactic global community with universal justice and peace. It is a noble goal with a doubtful likelihood of success.

But when the Federation commissions Shawna to find and train more telepaths for its Telpher Project it’s an opportunity for her to realize her dreams to learn the secret behind the stars. As well, she wants to bring justice to worlds that, like hers, are denied access to the benefits enjoyed by the better connected core worlds in the galaxy. She has a starship, an able crew, and a man who loves her. And the license to travel to the stars.

But there are others out there who want to use Shawna’s gift to further their vision for social equality by violent means. When things go south for Shawna she meets the Archoi, a benign species that inhabits the fifth dimension who are eager to help her.  Will the Archoi’s meddling in the affairs of humanity spell the end of all of Shawna’s dreams? Or can events bring fulfillment on a scale she can’t conceive?

Book 4

Rosy Tang just wants to have a normal life: happiness, love, children maybe…
But though she appears human she is much more. How she handles that difference will determine the future of humanity.

As a child Rosy discovers she has dangerous powers that can make her prey for people with evil intent. As she comes of age, traveling with a family of galactic traders, Rosy learns the reason for her powers. She must gather others with gifts like hers to ensure a future for dying humanity. Yet she is young and also wants to find a man who will love her for who she is—different yet still human. It isn’t long before she finds that the two goals may be mutually exclusive.

The reality is that beyond the world of her all-too-legitimate desires and conflicts there are unseen powers. Supernatural entities want an different future for humanity than the one she is commissioned to bring about. Few are aware that the higher dimensions of the galaxy are home to vastly superior beings and that these entities aren’t necessarily friendly with one another. Generally, they pay little attention to the insignificant bundles of matter and energy who inhabit lesser realms. But with Rosy’s birth they begin to take notice. In fact, as she takes up her quest, they are driven to take notice because Rosy is not behaving as she was expected to. Ancient enmities have been awakened. Rosy may have her hands full negotiating the fallout from the celestial conflagration her life has ignited.