What they're saying about Thing FIRST CONTACT!

"THING: First Contact is one of the most engaging and intellectually stimulating sci-fi books I’ve ever read. Kendall Williams takes what could have been a straightforward first-contact story and transforms it into an intricate blend of science, philosophy, and politics."

"The writing is cinematic, yet deeply philosophical. The stakes feel real, and the questions raised about artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the unknown linger long after the last page."

"THING: First Contact is not your average alien encounter story. It’s bold, visionary, and challenges the conventions of the genre."

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When amateur astronomer Jason Hall makes a stunning discovery, a massive object from interstellar space exhibiting intelligent behavior entering our solar system, there are those who think it's all a stunt. But as the reality sinks in and nations grapple with the implications of this first alien encounter, humanity finds itself divided over the enigmatic message Jason brings back from Arkan, the alien intelligence of the Ark. Is it a beacon of hope or a harbinger of doom?

 Read an excerpt below:      

Jason is at the White House...trying to explain! He is being questioned by Gabriel Forstman, NASAs Chief Scientist...

“Now Mr. Hall, you were saying, I believe, that you had a deep discussion with Mr. Arkan about the state of our universe. About multiple universes. Would you be willing to expand on that?”

“Thank you sir, and yes I would. It’s very important...but first I would like to clarify some things about Arkan. Please understand that it’s not Mr. Arkan, it's Arkan, just that, the name he picked from my thoughts just as he did the term Ark for what you call the Object or the place that I was on...or in...however you want to call it. I can’t even say if he is a he...or if there is a Ms. Arkan.” I laughed. “I believe he formed himself into what I saw...and heard, based on what my thoughts told him I was expecting him to be. You see, I did not want to think of him as it. An IT.” I looked around the room. “Do you understand?”

There were nods and the President said, “Thank you for clarifying that. Please go on.”

“Thank you Mr. President...so about multiple universes.” I looked back at Gabriel Forstman. “Sir, Arkan does acknowledge a multiverse. He put it as a question. It went something like this, ‘In your multiverse and presumably in my multiverse, there are parallel universes, right?’ I answered, ‘according to the theory.’ He said that there were in fact parallel universes and that that was why he brought me to the Ark. He said that as the Ark was approaching our solar system it detected several parallel universes...emanating, yes that’s what he said, ‘emanating’ from our solar system. He said that there was disharmony between these parallel universes. He said, ‘when his own universe overlaps with an incompatible universe that is out of harmony...not only with his universe but with its own universe and with its parallel universes also, that that was a problem.’ I asked him...no it was more an exclamation. I was indignant I guess. I said, ‘You have a problem with our universe! ’ Do you know what he said?” I looked around the table. Some were nodding while others had their arms crossed. Buller for one. They were all intent. Waiting! "He said, ‘One of your universes will destroy itself.' "

Praise for Thing BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

"THING: Between Two Worlds is a rare gem in the sci-fi genre. Kendall Williams has taken the classic themes of first contact and interstellar exploration and elevated them into something entirely new and unforgettable."

"Jason Hall is one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve encountered in a long time—his journey is filled with pain, discovery, and profound transformation. And the way Williams tackles the philosophical implications of first contact? Utterly fascinating."

"The writing is sharp, the pacing is perfect, and the twists? Unforgettable. This is the kind of book that makes you think, keeps you on edge, and leaves you yearning for more."

"This book deserves a spot among the best sci-fi novels of our time."

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With the Ark orbiting above, among the awe-inspiring landscapes of Mars, Jason embarks on a journey to discover who he was before and who he might become. In the mysterious Dome, he encounters the origins of human destiny woven into the very fabric of time itself. He must follow where destiny leads, but is he ready? Can he chart a course toward a brighter future? Or is humanity forever tethered to a dark past that is irreversibly altered? 

Read an excerpt below:   

What happened, I wondered. I opened my eyes and looked around. There above me was the triangular base of the lander with its petals extending outward. My right arm was numb. I felt different and then I heard it, the light fluttering and soft buzz. It had to be watching me. Panic was rising in my throat. Don’t move, I thought. My right arm ached from the elbow to the shoulder. It was numb below the elbow. Do I even dare move my fingers? I felt deflated somehow. Chilled! What I called instinct in the past, told me to remain motionless.

How long I remained that way I can not say, but then I noticed the petals attached to the triangular base of the lander starting to move upward. There was a soft whirring as the motors folded them up. Then it came in a flash. Distract the drone, distract the drone… I unfolded myself and tried to sit up. My right arm was unresponsive. I threw my other arm forward, pivoted sideways and was on my knees. I was still under the lander. The Chinese drone was nowhere to be seen. My right arm hung limply at my side. Fear… for the first time, the first time on Mars.

I was out from under the lander and looking around… Where was Robin? And then I heard fluttering and buzzing above me, like birds or giant insects, there they were…circling and darting at each other. A soft clunk came from the lander as the three petals closed and locked. Robin and the Chinese drone continued their dance above me. And then there was a loud clatter as one of Robin's landing struts made contact with the Chinese drone’s rotors…it darted away… Robin followed, and now they were going off in the direction that Robin and I had come from when he brought me here. They went on out of sight beyond the bluff.

I stood surveying the scene. I looked down at my arm. It was limp like it was no longer a part of me. I tried to wiggle the fingers. Nothing! The panic rose in me like I was someone else. The loneliness I had only just begun to feel was back…and the feeling of her. Becky! My being cried out for her. I looked at the lander sitting all closed up on its pedestal and cried out, “Speak to me…speak to me!” The Dome, must get to the Dome!

Jason has Become and must return to that point of being embedded in the fabric of time, the doorway to the soul of that dark being...evil personified. Now he must choose, but can he? Is it even a choice? Human destiny is inextricably entangled with Arkinian destiny and Arkan has his own ideas. They play the Game as equals and part ways, each on their own mission! Jason holds the key to human destiny, but now he faces what may be the final choice... Beyond reason!

Read an excerpt below:

We are with Jason...

The thing that was not there is of no matter and as we pass along, the murdered are not there, and the groaning and murmurings are faded in the misty shroud which for a moment hangs as a wisp in the growing light. And then it too is not there. Where the trenches filled with bodies were before, healed as having never been, the earth closed as never having been opened, wildflowers grow and in the gathering light the chirping of birds might be heard as of the coming of spring. Janet has made a bouquet and reaches down and picks up a tiny shoe. She puts the flowers where the tiny foot would be and puts it back where it was.

“Now you know,” I say. We are at the veil. It has lost its black luminescence and shines pearlescent in the light. “Hold hands and ask Stella, she will take you through.” They look at me in a way they never have before. They are experienced and know their mission. I speak to them now, the old I gone away. And gone away too, all that has been. We go forward together. "Go now and pray for me. My time has come!”             

About The Author

Kendall Williams writes mind-bending, high-concept speculative fiction that seamlessly fuses his narratives with deep philosophical inquiry, offering a rare blend of cosmic mystery and multi-dimensional intrigue within a science fiction framework. His books are not just stories; they are experiences that pull the reader into intricate realities, prompting us to question our humanity, human destiny, and time itself.

Crafting intellectually unsettling, but plausibly charged science fiction,  he immerses the reader in the profound and often dark implications of first contact with an alien intelligence. His work challenges our perceptions, blending high-stakes adventure with time travel, ancient philosophy, and contemporary political intrigue, creating stories that are eerily resonant with our own world.

Kendall invites you to explore the depths of the human psyche and to ponder the enigma of existence itself in the face of an alien encounter. Join him on a journey through the fabric of time!                               

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