Joseph Koncelik

The Twins of Demeter Joseph Koncelik

Two hundred years from now, the earth is past the point of recovery from exploitation by humankind. Pollution of all kinds, human-induced climate change and overpopulation, have all contributed to the generally held belief that the human species will be nearing the end of days on earth. An international collaboration of scientists convinces governments that investing in the creation and construction of massive spaceships and sending these ships to inhabitable worlds somewhere among other galactic so-called Goldilocks Zone planetary systems is the salvation of the human species. The journey will require a century to reach Antares 987, a planet orbiting a star named Demeter. After years of design and orbital construction, three starships-Andromeda, Aquarius, and Cassiopeia-are completed and ready for launch in the year 2222. Aboard these vessels are three thousand unborn children in stasis chambers, divided between the three ships. Three female cyborg organics, connected to artificial intelligence, are on-board capable of operation of the ships throughout the journey-and one male, brought aboard for the purpose of teaching three ideas central to the creation of community: empathy, compassion, and sacrifice. Without this teaching, it is deemed community will fail when new generations are born, based upon the example of earth's human history.

The story, a saga of a kind, is divided into three parts. The first covers the journey and the establishment of community. The second part posits the idea that humankind is God's ultimate evangelist and that faith is abundant throughout the universe among all living things-including unknown inhabitants of the planet. The third part confronts humankind with the necessity of continued vigilance and a failing planet. The only alternative is an exodus to another world, a world with many dangers and challenges. It also establishes the continuance of evangelism through calling and confronts the children of the stars with the additional presence of other beings.

The Twins of Demeter was written with the intention of creating a science fiction that emphasizes positive opportunities if the human species chooses to seek refuge somewhere else in God's universe. The book is devoid of the "little green men" concept of extraterrestrial life-forms. The text builds upon the premise that humankind is God's ultimate creation who flourishes when faith is part of everyday life and community is the sustaining foundation of survival and progress as a species.