Sidewise Musings in Paperback

Volume Five in the Ifscapes Multiverse, Sidewise Musings, is now out in paperback as well as ebook! This collection's story "Seven Against Thebes" is one of the longest Ifscapes in the series. It was an especially fun and intriguing exercise in world-building, with quite a few mythological Easter Eggs and ancient-world crossovers to be found below the classic-sci-fi surface of the story ("below the surface" . . . if you've read the story, you'll see the intended pun!).

From the book description: 

"How many Mercurians does it take to change a light-bulb in a far-away citadel of lights? What really caused the literal downfall of Atlantis? Does a meeting of artificial intelligence and asteroids really equal a new empire? Ifscapes teases these questions and more as the series travels underground, upside-down, sidewise, and otherwise in the latest collection of meta-myth science fiction and fantasy short stories.

"Inverted and retroverted worlds meet with remote non-human resources, chronological catastrophes, fantastic islands, and robotic antagonists in just a few worldscapes, timescapes, and landscapes of If. Is it when in Rome that you do as the Pallentinians do, or was that in Babylon, or even in Troy? Are the enemies at Thebes’ gates or in the palace halls? Which came first, Socrates or the dialogue? Volume Five in the multiverse of Ifscapes, Sidewise Musings ponders the boundaries and puzzles the pundits with a whole new array of meta-myth manuscript discoveries, athwart adventures, and oblique obstacles of space and time."

The Martians Want Their Planet Back, and They Want It in Paperback!

"Needless to say, it wasn't long before news of the case leaked to the media. How often did the mysterious Martians file in Intersolar Court?”

Or as you might rightly ask, how often does anyone file in Intersolar Court?

More often than you might think . . .

Already ebook, now out in paperback: The Martians Want Their Planet Back!

What do solar lawsuits and librarians have in common with dragon-slayers, the Voynich Manuscript, and a robotic voyage into the unknown? Find out in the fourth installment of the Ifscapes series, featuring ten more short stories that delve into the sideways science fiction multiverse of space, time, and if.

A Many-Turning Multiverse, Paperback Edition

There was once a universe. And another. And another. Each of them with multitudes of worlds and adventures on their way to history, epic, and myth — or paperback.

Ifscapes 3, A Many-Turning Multiverse, already in ebook, now in paperback!

Following in the footsteps of Ifscapes: Empires and Androids, this free-standing multiversing volume of Ifscapes returns to the fluctuating, fervent, and fantastical realms of reimagined ancient Greek and Roman mythology and legend. Exploring the worlds of what if, what would have been, and what might be, these twelve short science fiction and fantasy stories put a spin on classic tales and characters, spanning past, present, and future in a full array of covert conspiracies, mass-scale invasions, serial satires, excursions to far-away forests and far-flung world-ships, and more.

A Braxleydale Scholar Comes to Paperback

Meanwhile, otherwhere in the elsewhen in ebook and at last here in the actual now — out in paperback!

A Braxleydale Scholar and Other Eccentricities (Ifscapes Vol. 2)

From the book synopsis:

Singularity, sentience, and scholarship? Satirically esoteric and fantastically apocalyptic worlds of the multiverse come to life in this collection of ten short science fiction stories. 

In this volume of Ifscapes: 

- experience the first sweet moments of artificial intelligence 

- visit the gate at the end of the world 

- go to college with an extraterrestrial 

- ride the roller coaster at Earthland, recently voted the galaxy's favorite theme park 

- learn how to buy and build your very own planet (systems available on optional upgrade) 

Whether you’re interested in preventing the next dystopia or probing the depths of a black hole, the range of serious and tongue-in-cheek stories in this second installment of Ifscapes are designed to fire the imagination and escape the confines of reality. A Braxleydale Scholar and Other Eccentricities features a wide breadth and depth of whimsical science fiction. What would a new self-aware lifeform look like? Where do paper boats fit into the mystery of missing planets? How does Earth turn into a galactic center of recreation? It’s your choice how you tackle the future when the sky's not the limit. Be inspired, amused, driven, or pedantic with this collection of not-so-earthbound entertainment.

Available for Pre-Order: Apollonius' Argonautica (Lombardo and Polsley)

What a pleasure to announce that our new translation of Apollonius' Argonautica is now available for pre-order through Hackett Publishing and Amazon! Always thankful for the privilege and joy of joining my dear friend Stanley Lombardo on a translation project, I’m looking forward to the arrival of the Argonautica in print on September 15.

If you've never followed along on the legendary voyage of the Argo, Apollonius' third-century-B.C. (Hellenistic) epic is an exciting read with twists and turns that set the stage for many other famous episodes in ancient mythology, including the tragedy of Jason and Medea (e.g., Medea by Euripides), the saga of Heracles (a.k.a. Hercules) after his labors for Eurystheus, and the origin stories of heroes' whose children would fight in the Trojan War (i.a., Peleus, father of Achilles).

We're grateful to the amazing Tara Welch (University of Kansas, Classics) for her wonderful introduction to Apollonius' tale of Jason and the Argonauts. Thank you also to Brian Rak and the team at Hackett for their hard work in bringing this book to publication!

Now Available: Ifscapes 11, Hercules Under Contract!

Announcing Ifscapes Vol. 11, Hercules Under Contract, now available on Amazon Kindle!

In Volume 11 of Ifscapes, the multiverse takes its cue from Herculean adventures featuring monsters, mystery, manipulation, and more. Will the shadowy Eurystheans succeed at annexing whole systems? Can the HERCULES Contractors survive their assignments against all odds? And what does the Loch Ness Monster have to do with long-forgotten empires?

In this volume of Ifscapes:

- join ambitious androids on an epic lion hunt

- watch seasoned gladiators battle in unheard-of arenas

- get special insight on the Museum’s Heran exhibits

- question intergalactic witnesses to a massive time heist

- dive into a deadly ocean’s murky depths

- compete with AI monsters and cybernetic organisms

Unrealities, parallel worlds, and alternative adventures meet the mythological exploits of Hercules (Greek Heracles, of course) and the intricacies of galactic conspiracies in this collection of classic science fiction and meta-myth short stories. In Ifscapes 11: Hercules Under Contract, adventures range from far beyond the small print, taking underdog heroes and unexpected explorers to whole new realms of time, space, and realities in the what-if multiverse.

Shown Approved Update

Thank you to the team at Wipf & Stock for the wonderful new flyer promoting Shown Approved!  The book is now available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.

The Sky Is Our Song Update

 Coming this February and Available for Pre-Order Now:

The Sky Is Our Song: The 'Phaenomena' of Aratus' (University of Chicago, 2025)

What a privilege to be a part of this project with Stanley Lombardo and Walter Michener!

Merry Christmas!

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

- Isaiah 9:6-7

Announcing Ifscapes, Vol. 10: Something Earthlings Notice!

Now available on Amazon: Something Earthlings Notice, Volume 10 in the Ifscapes series! 

Ifscapes celebrates its literary “decade” of possible worlds, alternate histories, fantastical what-ifs, and wondrous would-have-beens, spanning a kaleidoscopic multiverse of landscapes and timelines. What unexpected events unfold when ruthless porch pirates hit the plainland? Can Human Resources and Customer Service help locate a missing world in time to save the warranty? And who says pushing planets is like pushing pencils, anyway?

In this volume of Ifscapes:

- transform Earthling tragedy into Titanian triumph

- investigate an enigmatic bank robbery gone sideways

- issue receipts from an undiscovered future

- follow along with secret agents out to rescue a weary universe

- witness first and last contact from the ground up

- peruse the want ads for the perfect galaxy-trotting job

Dystopian battles behind the scenes, unseen extraterrestrial invasions from unseen realms, library stacks at the end of the world, everyday routines changing the fates of universes? Farmers, bookworms, schoolchildren. Product designers, soldiers, settlers, paraplegic astronauts. Something Earthlings Notice ranges from the outrageous to the ordinary to the biggest to the smallest, uncovering cosmic collisions of prosaic proportions. Mass extinction on a minute scale, advanced technology from antiquity, time travel at a standstill, and hints of empire in the most mundane. In Ifscapes, Volume 10: Something Earthlings Notice, impossible details become possible-world tales and cerebral unrealities spin into adventurous realities . . . if the people of Earth will take the time to notice.

Ifscapes, Vol. 1 Out in Paperback!

 Now Available in Paperback!

Ifscapes: Empires and Androids

A MULTIVERSE OF SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY THE ANCIENT PAST AND FUTURE

- Chronocommuter trains for legionnaires, merchants, media moguls, and robots

- Earthling Chronicles of extrasolar space

- ancient Rome’s TV favorites, from “Three Hundred at Thermopylae” and “Psammetichus II Knows Best” to “A Day in the Life of Alaric”

- epic time-travel struggles between Palamedes and his nemesis Odysseus

- startling ET insights from bestselling researcher Ovid

. . . and more in these twelve reimaginings of Greece and Rome

To learn more Ifscapes: Empires and Androids, or to discover more of the expanding Ifscapes multiverse on Kindle and in paperback, visit the Ifscapes homepage on Amazon.

Shown Approved Endorsements: Thank You!

Thank you to Alex McFarland and John Morden for their endorsements of Shown Approved!

"Three decades of global ministry have resulted in contacts with thousands of people.  Without question, Dr. Cara Polsley impresses me as one of the most inspiring and insightful communicators whose work I have had the privilege of reading.  Here most recent book, Shown Approved:  Philadelphian Christianity and Jesus’ Letter to the Church is a powerful resource for all who seek truth and who are serious about their personal growth in Christ.

Polsley’s research is as convicting as it is informative.  Even if you have been a Christian believer for years, her presentation of “Philadelphian Christianity” will inspire your heart and equip your mind in Biblical truth.  Experience the book Shown Approved and one whose research is a gift to the 21st century church, Dr. Cara Polsley.”       

- Alex McFarland, best-selling author, educator, broadcaster

"Shown Approved is another masterpiece by Dr. 'Cara' Polsley, weaving together her vast knowledge of biblical history, her amazing grasp of the truth of scripture, and her love for Jesus and those she coins as 'Philadelphian Christians.'  This is a fresh look at Jesus' letter to the church at Philadelphia found in Revelations 3:7-13.  Journey with Dr. Cara as she reveals Jesus' heart for them and for us as budding Philadelphian Christians."

- John W. Morden, transitional interim pastor, Next Step Church Services

Now Available! Shown Approved

 Now available through Wipf & Stock Publishers, on Amazon, and wherever books are sold:

Shown Approved: Philadelphian Christianity and Jesus’ Letter to the Church

"What does Jesus value and seek in believers' hearts? In the midst of turbulent current events, what do flourishing, faithful individuals and church groups look like, and how can we personally pursue a more meaningful, intentional Christian lifestyle that pleases the Lord and anticipates Jesus' imminent return for his Bride? Addressing these questions and others through a scriptural lens of hands-on application, Shown Approved walks readers through Jesus' letter to the ancient church of Philadelphia in Rev 3. One of only two positive role models in Rev 2-3, Philadelphia is a Christ-first, Christ-focused example for believers today. Applying Jesus' commendation of Philadelphian Christianity as a call to action and a guide to bold, abundant life, Shown Approved offers encouragement and direction in an increasingly confused culture, connects end-times prophecies to daily living, and serves as a roadmap for healthy, humble, and mission-minded faith."

Now Available for Pre-Order: The Sky Is Our Song

Now available for pre-order through University of Chicago Press, Amazon, and other places where books are sold: The Sky Is Our Song, to be released on January 20, 2025 (translator Stanley Lombardo; contributors Cynthia "Cara" Polsley and Walter Michener).

Coming This Winter! Stanley Lombardo's Aratus, Second Edition

Coming this January from the University of Chicago Press:

The Sky Is Our Song: The "Phaenomena" of Aratus

Second edition

Translated by Stanley Lombardo

With Contributions by Cynthia "Cara" Polsley and Walter Michener

From the book description:

"An ancient Greek guide to the heavens, translated in a new accessible modern English edition. . . .

With this edition, renowned translator and amateur astronomer Stanley Lombardo renders Aratus’s poem in reader-friendly vernacular English verse. Complete with endnotes, an accessible introduction, and astronomically accurate illustrations, The Sky Is Our Song brings this master poet’s celebration of the sky to a twenty-first-century audience, inviting new readers to follow Aratus on a visual journey through star signs, moon phases, weather phenomena, and all wonders of the heavens."

It's a privilege to be part of this project. More to come later this year!

Eleven Years Ago, But God

“He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death” (Ps. 68:20).

Eleven years ago today, after a serious car accident, I was dying on the roadside — but God intervened.  In the wake of an ensuing spinal cord injury, countless physical issues, and untold miracles, I’m thankful for and humbled by the Lord’s faithfulness.  It is an even more indescribable blessing to know that whatever else might have happened in that accident or in the days since then, I can trust Jesus Christ as my eternal Savior, knowing that my future is secure in Him.

“He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion” (Ps. 111:4).

Each breath is precious.  Take time today to consider what you believe and why.  Your life is a gift.  Use it wisely!  “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9b).

Book Endorsement from Dr. Greg Ammons

Thank you to Dr. Greg Ammons for his endorsement of A Primer on Messianic Prophecy!

"Cynthia C. Polsley has written masterfully in her work, A Primer on Messianic Prophecy:  A Bible Journey Through the First and Second Comings of Christ.  Detailing the First and Second comings of the Messiah, Polsley walks the reader through the importance of the background and details of the advents.  Then, the author unfolds the Messiah’s Millennial Kingdom and the eternality of the same. 

In the section on the Messiah’s First Advent, Polsley insightfully records the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus and how they relate to His future coming.  In the Second Coming of Christ, she speaks of both the Rapture and the Revelation of Jesus in a scholarly, yet devotional, manner.  She approaches the Rapture thoughtfully from the Scriptural imagery of a thief and bride.

Later in the book, Polsley details the importance of the millennial kingdom to the reign of Christ.  In a picturesque way, the author describes the stages of a Jewish marriage in the Messiah’s taking of His bride.  Finally, she includes appendices of how to become a Christian, the importance of the Jewish feasts to the Messiah’s reign, as well as the Old Testament tabernacle and its significance.

Polsley’s work is readable for any believer, yet scholarly enough to serve as a textbook.  She weaves the authority of Scripture deftly with strong historical and extra-biblical sources.  As both a pastor of a local church and adjunct university professor, I highly recommend A Primer on Messianic Prophecy for both the pew and classroom."

- Dr. Greg Ammons

Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Garland, Texas

Adjunct Professor, Dallas Baptist University

Happy Leap Day! Book Announcement: Battle at the Forks

On the fourth anniversary of Ifscapes, Volume 1 (Ifscapes: Empires and Androids), announcing Ifscapes 9, Battle at the Forks!  From the book description:

Lunar tourism, near-apocalyptic and dystopian outcomes, space colonization, cybernetic networks and robots, and clever extraterrestrial invasion ruses meet at the corner of Greek tragedy, enigmatic archaeological artifacts, crash landings, mysterious creatures, interplanetary politics, and ancient space battles in this short story collection of science fiction meta-myth and alternate historical fiction. Spectacular moments deciding imperial fates? Ingenious individual intrigues changing the course of solar systems? The many crossroads of history, historical fiction, alternate history, possible worlds, and would-have-been worlds split in the antiquity of the ancient future still to come in Ifscapes, Volume 9: Battle at the Forks.

Book Endorsement from James Stitzinger, Jr.

Thank you to James Stitzinger for endorsing A Primer on Messianic Prophecy!

“This essay is an excellent overview of some of the future biblical events of our Lord and Savior in a rich and fascinating way. The study offers a refreshing and clear distinction between the future returns of our Lord as laid out in the Scripture. It resists the temptation to spiritualize what Scripture has made plain. This work is enthusiastically recommended to those wishing to sort out these issues and build on them.”

—James F. Stitzinger, president, Books for Libraries

Book Announcement: On the Cybernetic Circuit

Now out on Kindle!  Ifscapes, Volume 8: On the Cybernetic Circuit

From the book description:

Ifscapes 8 makes the rounds of galaxies and motherboards in the newest installment of the series, On the Cybernetic Circuit. Can a robot really replace a human explorer or astronaut? Will artificial intelligence take over, or is it a figment of the cyborgs’ imagination? Where do AI, androids, and Andromeda meet singularity, sentience, and Sol? From big questions to the big top, the Ifscapes multiverse marches on, sweeping the systems at home and abroad.

In this volume of Ifscapes:

- sail the high seas with unexpected companions

- enjoy an insider’s view of adventure sports and exploits in outer space

- reconsider human nature through a robot’s eyes

- terraform new worlds far distant from the Solar System

- watch artificial intelligence develop from the inside out

- upgrade from settlers’ habitations to epic galactic palaces

Space colonization, star alliances with extraterrestrial visitors, android bureaucrats, and robotic upgrades all feature in this collection of science fiction stories. Interplanetary warfare, incipient empires, shaky federations, and mysterious expeditions are the latest victims of AI-generated mishaps . . . or are they? Plumb the innovative depths of artificial intelligence, natural language processing, human error, convergence, and more in the developing databanks of Ifscapes Volume 8, On the Cybernetic Circuit.