King of the Universe by Mark L. Casper

About the book

Cdr. Jason Goodall, veteran astronaut awakened by the tender cry of his daughter Alana, gazes toward her room. He becomes mesmerized by the sight of his beloved, but deceased Aunt Rose hovering about, waving to him, smiling warmly. He is convinced that it is not a dream.

The event remains affixed in his mind the next day during liftoff, with his copilot Denis Washington, on the maiden voyage of the Columbus Space Shuttle. Though biblical words are transmitted from an unknown source that only he can hear, he holds steadfast. It is the year, 2008. A disaster unfolds as the shuttle breaks up. The pilots eject from the escape pod, but they and all of the debris slam into the Atlantic waters.

"Why can't you hear me?" Jason screams, as he remains in an I.C.U. at Bethesda Hospital. Tormented by this predicament, unable to be heard by the living, Jason is confused, then becomes tranquil each time his soul is instantaneously transported to galaxies light years from Earth. Guided by Great Spirits that appear as pulsating specks of light, the final remnants of repentant homonids who's souls have been passed into newborns, Jason (the protagonist), is contacted by his deceased, Uncle Nat. They witness the "Big Bang", that creates the universe.

Dr. Hermann Friedman (the antagonist) neurologist of Jason, obsessed with the cryogenic experiments at Hamilton Hospital is a megalomaniac. The first to succeed in growing complex nerve tissue, Friedman and his beleaguered assistant Dr. Vladimir Putov, conduct inhumane experiments in the recesses of their dungeon-like lab. Nat and Jason witness ancient events on Earth. Jason is told that God has chosen him to be A Messenger. Though Jason questions his own worthiness, he learns that the Lord has shown him great mercy and that his is his destiny. Friedman and Putov steal and freeze Goodall's body. Vladimir murders the overtly curious hospital janitor, Bill Grover. Tom Rutsky, the rattled security guard commits suicide.

Via the words of the Five Books of Moses and the telepathic skills of the Great Spirits, Goodall learns that there are millions of planets throughout the universe that support humanoid habitation. That there are millions of planets throughout the universe that support humanoid habitation. That they have been visited by prophets and are in possession of the Torah; That these extra terrestrials, like-Earthlings, evolved from the same D.N.A. scattered to distant galaxies, as comets collided with the planets. Goodall is only one of millions of Messengers who will pass their souls into millions of Final Messiahs, among the celestial bodies. Goodall's robed soul returns to Earth, and is placed on a path that will take him to Hamilton.

Unique powers, allow him to create a flash fire that reduces the secret laboratory to ashes. Jason traps Friedman in the confines of his vehicle. Though the deceased can never be seen by the living, Goodall's righteous words case the wicked neurologist to go insane. Chased by F.B.I. agents, Friedman's car plunges into the Delaware River. Goodall returns home to Connecticut. There he passes his soul into his son, David, as Heather, Jason's wife, and Alana become frightened by the lightening flash that results. Unaware of David's transformation, but concerned for his well-being, they take him to see their family physician, Dr. Stein. Surprised by the negative findings of the Cat scan, the Dr. is nevertheless befuddled by David's admitted encounter with his father. A desperate drug addict breaks into the doctor's office. Stein suffers a fatal heart attack. David incapacitates the perpetrator's mind, removing his life sustaining energy, and restoring it to Stein. The astonishing event restores his mother and daughter's faith.

About the author

I am a graduate of Brooklyn College of N.Y., where I majored in Microbiology. In addition, several electives were taken with the greatest emphasis in English literature, creative writing, and theology. After completing my studies there, I enlisted as an officer in the U.S. Navy. I graduated dental prosthetic school while in the service, and did extensive research on bio-hazardous substances on behalf of the E.P.A. and O.S.H.A. I have had numerous articles published, several within American Dental Association Journals, and others for the American Medical Association, regarding toxic materials and their impact on the human body. I also was fortunate enough to find the time in the evening to follow up with my insatiable appetite for writing, by taking literary, postgraduate courses at Temple University.

In 1981, I became owner of Casper Dental Laboratories, specializing in cosmetic dentistry and dental surgical implants. I enjoyed great success for seventeen years, and was fortunate enough to become a clinician on the lecture circuit. During this period, I have had numerous articles published within the journals of the National Association of Dental Labs.

On June 30, 1998, a very bad accident left me with a serious, disabling injury to my back, and so I was forced to retire from the dental profession at the age of forty-four. My ability to persevere through major back surgery and a plethora of follow up procedures and to maintain a positive mental attitude, has afforded me the opportunity to continue with my love of writing each day. My unrelenting determination, experiences in dealing with both adversity and triumph, and my faith in God, undeniably has influenced my writing skills and technique.

I have written often for the Bucks County Courier Times, as a freelance author, and have made it my business to continue to master the art of writing by attending numerous classes at Rutgers University. I am a published member of the National Writers Union, and am a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America. I am proud to say that I have previously written two novels with the genre of being in the area of science-fiction. DISTRAUGHT MINDS is laced with political overtones, while the other, FLOWERS AND BEYOND, expands our horizons in to the future as humankind desperately seeks to survive on Europa, an inner moon of Jupiter.

Most importantly, I have just finished my third novel of which I am most excited about. It is titled, KING OF THE UNIVERSE. It also falls into the genre of science-fiction, but I crafted it so that it is an action packed thriller, with strong philosophical themes. This is the novel which I destined to write, a work that from the very beginning gripped me so spiritually.

I read voraciously, and the authors who I admire most are Carl Sagan, Robin Cook, and Michael Crichton. I enjoy the works of Dean Koontz and Tom Clancy very much as well.

I am happily married and have two children, a lovely daughter who is sixteen, and a very energetic thirteen year old son. We reside in a single house in the suburbs, just outside of Philadelphia. I have several hobbies that I am deeply involved with. I love astronomy and spend consistent time with my son peering at the stars and planets with our telescope. I have taught some classes on business and writing at my children's schools, love watching sports, and getting lost in captivating sci-fi moves, etc. As a young boy, I loved writing poems. I must conclude that with all of the twists and turns that life has to offer, I somehow have held onto my dream like a treasure, and that is to one day be a published author with a string of bestsellers.