Life is hard enough the first time.
Would you try it TWICE?
Mark Ferrari’s latest literary fantasy adventure, TWICE—an illustrated online subscription serial—is available for FREE. New episodes go out to subscribers every Friday afternoon (Pacific Time), and are made available a week later to non-subscribers as well on the TWICE site’s Archive Page.
“Monumental. . . . The story is mesmerizing, Joby's angst is palpable, the love of God overwhelming, and the malevolence of Lucifer and his minions terrifying. . . . Offers much to ponder as well as enjoy.” ―Booklist, starred review
An epic fantasy complete in one volume.
Lucifer and the Creator have entered, yet again, into a wager they've made many times before, but this time, the existence of creation itself is balanced on the outcome.
Born in California during the twilight years of a weary millennium, nine-year-old Joby Peterson dreams of blazing like a bonfire against the gathering darkness of his times, like a knight of the Round Table. Instead, he is subjected to a life of crippling self-doubt and relentless mediocrity inflicted by an enemy he did nothing to earn and cannot begin to comprehend.
Though imperiled themselves, the angels are forbidden to intervene. Left to struggle with their own loyalties and the question of obedience, they watch Lucifer work virtually unhindered to turn Joby's heart of gold into ash and stone while God sits by, seemingly unconcerned.
And so when he is grown to manhood, Joby's once-luminous love of life seems altogether lost, and Lucifer's victory assured. What hope remains lies hidden in the beauty, warmth, and innocence of a forgotten seaside village whose odd inhabitants seem to defy the modern world's most inflexible assumptions, and in the hearts of Joby's long-lost youthful love and her emotionally wounded son. But the ravenous forces of destruction that follow Joby into this concealed paradise plan to use these same things to bring him and his world to ruin.
As the final struggle unfolds, one question occupies every mind in heaven and in hell. Which will prove stronger, love or rage?
Available on Amazon.com
This collection gathers 14 of Shannon Page’s short stories previous published in other anthologies. Mark collaborated with her on three of them: “Night Without Darkness,” “Oh Give Me Land, Lots of Land, Under Starry Skies Above,” and “Mad Gus Missteps.”