YBFREE.comIn Pursuit of Human Interests
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Once 
again, Padwolf Publishing continues to amaze. It seems like in every issue I am commending this group for the fine work the company puts out. Each book has been better than the last. The Fix was great and I loved Murphy's Law, but Destiny's Door by Judith Tracy had to be the best of the bunch. I don't know why Padwolf Publishing does not get the play it deserves? But books like Destiny's Door will have me reading works from their company for years to come.
Destiny's Door is about Donald Thurman, a nerdy kid who loves computers, has a couple of friends, but no luck with the ladies unless he cybers with a gal on the 'Net. One day, while surfing, Donald meets up with a species of extra-terrestrial electron beings on a search for God, who call themselves THEY. THEY hope to find out why they are on this planet, what their names are and how they came to be. THEY look to Donald for help, and he goes all out to help his newfound friends.
Donald helps the beings create a web page called Destiny's Door where people can make wishes and They can help those people, essentially moving closer to God. While this is going on, Donald befriends one of the beings and names her Ariel, allowing her to penetrate his body and take control of it, allowing her to learn all there is to know about human beings.
After Ariel leaves Donald's body, the group attempts to create a human body to live in on the outside world. However, their early attempts fail and now the only way to be like humans is to take over their bodies. Unfortunately Donald knows too much and is a targeted by several beings of THEY, but Ariel comes to his safety. Ariel, who is deeply in love with Donald, decides that in order to be with him she has to occupy the body of a past infatuation to win his love. This opens up a whole new can of issues concerning her species and her own ambition for survival.
This book was just magnificent. The author was able to make you feel for each character despite their choices. Donald was just an everyday guy who doesn't know where he fits into the world. Ariel was an everyday electron that had the same problems. While they were meant to be, it was pretty freaky how the whole relationship worked out. Ariel's dialogue was great. She slowly grows with each page, and more importantly, she grows on you and despite her actions. I also like that there are chapters that contain stories not even related to Donald's. These stories are important though, because they help to explain the power of 'They.' These little one-chapter stories have a Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside feel to them. These tales will creep you out and leave you wondering what will happen next. These stories were intriguing stories and pushed the plot along and actually affect Donald in the long run.
Judith Tracy is an exceptional writer. I didn't expect such an emotional story from what I was reading, but in the end I was all choked up. The end is a surprise, but I must say that I am upset that I have not heard any news of a sequel. I want to continue to read the adventures of Donald or Ariel. I have grown so attached to them. They have become a part of my world and if you read Destiny's Door, they will become a part of yours, too.
Send your comments and or questions about this article to JMinners@ybfree.com.