What If --?

About the Book

What if a retired couple and their friend acquire the skill to create perfect duplicates of inanimate objects?

What if the three of them become filthy rich by using their skill but decide to keep their ability secret because people would abuse them and the skill if it became common knowledge?

What if their use of the skill leads to them meeting a benign alien who commends their responsible use of something that could harm Mankind that is not ready for the skill?

What if the alien teaches them about other, equally astounding skills that are in common use in the Universe?

What if the three privileged Earthlings learn that the Universe ostracizes the people of Earth because of Mankind's obsessively greedy, violent and dominating nature?

These are but a few of the alternatives James, the methodical, Mary, the impulsive and Cynthia, the practical, have to consider while they make their way from humdrum living as decent law-abiding people to meaningful existence as citizens of the Universe. The three of them are 'no longer Spring chickens' when they acquire the first skill. The amount of living they have done up to then stands them in good stead when they have to decide how to employ their ability to their best advantage and the benefit of others without doing harm or depriving anybody of anything.

The story of "What if --?" is told in a series of light-hearted incidents as the three ordinary Earthlings evolve to another level of existence. Grave matters such as life in space, immortality amidst mortals, alien presence on Earth, the obliteration of all life on recalcitrant worlds, the Spirit, the soul, all get due consideration but the Jammarcyns are far too busy living to be distracted.

About the Author

I’m a retired accountant. Retired means I can write and keep myself otherwise occupied than by pestering my wife. Accountant means I have to be kept out of the mischief of telling others how to spend their money.

Numbers are cold and figures are uncompromising. Business correspondence is either dictating or placating and minutes of meetings leave no room for one’s own flights of fantasy. I earned a living in the harsh world of facts and stories got bottled up inside me while I dreamed to escape.

My characters talk a lot and think a lot to express their feelings. Their attitude to events and an underlying motive is more important than the mere occurrence of events. I like to see what I consider to be good to prevail. I want to express myself in my writing to identify with my kindred spirits – be they accountants or plumbers or housewives or whoever.