by John Newton



by John Newton




DID RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM WIPE OUT THE GREAT LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA IN THE FIFTH CENTURY?

WHAT IF TECHNOLOGY DID THE SAME TO LIBRARIES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY?

In 1995, signs and portents convinced the Guardians of Wisdom and Knowledge of a new danger to the evolution of human intelligence. Two librarians will meet in the past to embark on a rescue mission, a hero’s journey.

Twentieth century historiographer and academic librarian John Newton has his own problems. The sudden rise of digital technology has spawned an aggressive corporation called Digital World. Their plan to digitize all hard copy books and journals may be a threat to the existence of his university library, even the university itself. Added to that, budget cuts are announced. No wonder he’s seeing things.

John goes back in time and meets Yarrl, the cousin of Hypatia who’s head of the most famous library of all time. Worried, she sends them into the desert to find and secure storage space for scrolls and codices. They meet the Desert Fathers, including Arsenius the Great who helps them learn about desert spirituality. Their lives will never again be the same.

an historical fantasy novella

 

 

   

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

                    Map: Alexandria and the Scetis Desert
                    Troubles in the City
                    Troubles in Egypt, anno domini 325 - 514

PART ONE    University Life
                    Chapter 1        Email from Alexi
                    Chapter 2        I Dream of Animals
                    Chapter 3        Daydream
                    Chapter 4        President's Council
                    Chapter 5        Budget Cut
                    Chapter 6        Second Vision
                    Chapter 7        News from Egypt
                    Chapter 8        Library Meetings
                    Chapter 9        Friday Night Movie
                    Chapter 10        Two Codices
                    Chapter 11        After Hours
                    Chapter 12        Kitchen Apparition
                    Chapter 13        Eppie Calls
                    Chapter 14        A Big Problem
                    Chapter 15        Eppie Explains

PART TWO    On the Way to Another World
                    Chapter 16        Lights Out
                    Chapter 17        Hello Punky
                    Chapter 18        Punky Explains
                    Chapter 19        Earth Avatars
                    Chapter 20        Artemus Meets Yarrl

PART THREE    Alexandria, Egypt, AD 415
                    Chapter 21        Five for Breakfast
                    Chapter 22        My Visit with Hypatia
                    Chapter 23        Prepared to Leave
                    Chapter 24        Mount Nitria and Kellia
                    Chapter 25        Akakios Tells his Story

PART FOUR    Journey into the Desert
                    Chapter 26        Desert Monks
                    Chapter 27        Abba Moses at Baramus
                    Chapter 28        Yarrl's Path
                    Chapter 29        We Wait
                    Chapter 30        Arsenius Arrives

PART FIVE    Minds Opened, Lessons Learned
                    Chapter 31        Into the Desert
                    Chapter 32        A Desert Demon
                    Chapter 33        Arsenius Explains
                    Chapter 34        The Guardians
                    Chapter 35        Meaningful Messages
                    Chapter 36        News from Alexandria

PART SIX    Back Home in my own Time
                    Chapter 37        I'm Awake
                    Chapter 38        Ruminations
                    Chapter 39        Consequences
                    Chapter 40        The Next Day

                    At Home, 1997
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