An epic adventure, Ships of Song, A Parable of Ascension, explores the holographic nature of humanity, integrating science, religion, philosophy and fantasy into a cinematic view of human existence. It reveals the intricate tapestry of a loving universe which orchestrates the delicate dance of oneness with All That Is, offering hope for a brighter future and the realization that we are not alone in the universe. The setting for the Ships of Song is deep within the North Carolina mountains at a date in the not too distant future. The earth has been experiencing violent environmental changes creating a fragile ecosystem and the collapse of the country's infrastructure. Elizabeth, the main character, is overwhelmed by their lack of food and the pending winter. She struggles between hope and despair wondering what will become of herself, her husband, John, and the hundred-fifty refugees who have gathered in their once tranquil valley. The story occurs in a single day with Elizabeth feeling she is called to "witness" the rising sun from the pinnacle high above the community. During her vigil she is unaware that she is whisked away between heartbeats to a place beyond time and space. She thought-walks and "witnesses" the moment of creation, the exploration of the universe, the inhabitation of Earth, their entrapment in consciousness and the long evolutionary process back to humanity's origins which culminate that night in the evening sky. Her day, which began in the fitful sleep of one unable to resolve their life, emerges into a day interspersed with a sense of mystery, magic and hope. Review In this visionary novel, the human mind has embedded memories of its evolution from a hybrid race of earth-dwellers and extraterrestrials. Tracing the lives of John and Elizabeth, a couple who feel compelled to leave the city to live in the hills, the authors introduce the reader to the possibility that we do have celestial guardians guiding us through our lives. Through ten thousand years of humanity's growth and achievements, Michael, Miriam, and many others hover silently and invisibly above our planet in great ships, observing the ebb and flow of our spiritual unfolding. Once in a while a human remembers, vaguely, the sentinels above, perhaps in a dream or while staring into a fire. And to help people remember, the Ships of Song emanate the great Om into the atmosphere. Occasionally Ship-dwellers are sent into the world of humans, as humans themselves. One comes to John and Elizabeth for a single hour, as their child Rebecca, who has drawn them together in the first place as a part of a grand pattern. As the novel reaches its crescendo and then gently draws to a bittersweet close, the reader is left wanting a sequel. Nicely done. (TJE) New Age Retailer