The Spirit Clans of Ketchikan

While fishing in Alaska, a young couple discovers a treasure from the ancient past that opens the door to a bizarre present and a parallel world. Over the course of the summer they find themselves questioning their actions while interacting with a colorful cast of characters who skew the presumption of what is right versus wrong. *** From Chapter 1, Northern Spell “The veil of civilization is very thin,” Xhok paused to casually sip his drink. From their vantage point, he and Matt scanned the inlet waters illuminated by a full moon. “Think about it. We have economies reliant on satellites, electricity, fossil fuels, and wildly integrated supply chains. Self-reliance is at an all time low. Take electricity out of a city for three days and you would have total chaos. Refrigerators not working. No elevators. God forbid the internet goes down. Nighttime without lights—an aspect of life many have never experienced—would be an occasion of fear and the pursuit of crime. People packed together would turn on each other like rats trapped in a barrel.” “I couldn’t agree with you more,” Matt answered pointedly with his cigarette. “The veil is very thin. It’s also deceptive. ‘Buy this, it’ll make you happy.’ What a line of horse shit. One of the reasons I left Vegas was the endless facade of material laughter. Nothing felt true.” He tapped his ash into a tray beside the chair. “But that’s getting off topic. Do you think people are inherently good or evil?” “Yes.” Matt laughed at the response. “Typical Xhok. Mr. Neutral. You need to pick a definitive side, man. Ambiguity is for followers. ‘Maybe’ isn’t attractive. So, good or evil. Which one is it?” “What do you think?” “Jesus Christ, you would make a great politician.” Matt reached for his half empty—or is it half full?—wine glass. “Drawing from my own wisdom, I’m going to say we’re inherently good. We don’t start out as monsters but a lot of people end up becoming them.” “But are those monsters merely reflective of the survival of the fittest? One can say we’re inherently good and supposed to love each other but limited resources create conflict. And competition is how we evolve. Even in paradise there’s murder.” “So, to translate. You’re with the ‘evil’ camp.” “Not at all. I simply believe, despite our advances and technologies, at our core we’re just animals.” Xhok finished his drink along with his summary. “Of course you would say that!” countered Matt. “You have the magical ability to change into a bear, a wolf, a raven, and who knows what else.” “That doesn’t make me any more animal than you,” surmised Xhok. *** CONTENT PART I Intro - First Time For Everything 1. Northern Spell 2. An Unusual Catch 3. Strange Guests 4. Down The Rabbit Hole 5. Bar Hopping 6. Spiritual Growth 7. An Evening Cruise 8. The Raven Haven PART II Intro - Early Migrations 9. Questionable Decisions 10. Strange Dealings 11. Rock 'n' Roll 12. Sneak 13. Plans Over Coffee 14. Good Samaritans 15. Into The Mist 16. The Spirit Clans Of Ketchikan PART III Intro - The New World 17. Blue 18. Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction 19. Meeting Across The Water 20. Ground Zero 21. Life And Death Decisions 22. Back To Not Normal 23. Sinking Feeling 24. Last Night CODA Exile In Paradise
ASIN: B09NH3CS55
VSKU: BVV.B09NH3CS55.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Wcisel, Paul
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.