Doomsday, Armageddon, the harvest... is it coming soon?

 

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Doomsayers have always been here, but this is a new one to me. As a science fiction author, I find it fascinating.

I recently came upon a claim (by Enki files), allegedly translated from ancient Sumerian tablets secreted away in locked backrooms of the British Museum. It says that the human species is an alien experiment with an expiration date, and our makers are returning to harvest us as soon as the total population of Earth reaches nine billion humans… which should happen in about half a decade.

According to these tablets, dating thousands of years before Christianity, not all of us will be harvested, the records say, only those deemed worthy. The rest will be destroyed when the Earth is cleansed then reformed for the next experiment, which will not be human at all, but something more primordial.

Parts of this sound suspiciously like the rapture in Christian texts.

Will we soon face Armageddon, fighting aliens to prevent Earth’s destruction?

According to Enki Files, the top leaders of our world are aware of this.

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But here is where the texts diverge. According to these ancient records, these makers do not consider us as living entities in our own rights, but as mere vessels… but vessels for what? Enki Files says the texts are incomplete, many tablets are missing, damaged, or in some places unreadable, which allows for misinterpretations and mistakes.

Still. For a science fiction author, the very notion is fascinating. From the perspective of a limitless universe populated by advanced alien races, why not?

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Is this why some world leaders are pushing AI advances, even though we know it could replace or even kill us all? Is there a secret plot from the most powerful leaders of Earth to face that harvest and the following Armageddon with AI weapons to defend our very existence?

Do I believe this? I believe the ancients who recorded it believed it strongly enough to carve it in stone and preserve it in their library for future generations.

It makes me curious. What would be the end of the journey for mankind? What would we become? As vessels, what would we contain?

Each day I am surprised by the depth of thought of our ancestors. Writing science fiction and fantasy allows me to build on their recorded mythology to create a populated universe, and stories that resonate in all of us, because they are part of our faraway past.

Enjoy the reading.

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Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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From magic to technology - the challenges of a Science Fiction author

Azura Chronicles series, Byzantium series, Blue Phantom series,
different takes on the Azura Universe
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The famous quote by Isaac Asimov "Magic is only technology we do not understand yet" is easy to visualize. Go back in time and give your great-great-great grandfather a cell phone, and he’ll think it’s a magical device… possibly evil.

Science fiction authors have to reverse the process. Think of something that would seem magical to our world but would be a useful ordinary device in the future. In fact, some modern technology imitated science fiction, like the flip phone, inspired by Star Trek communicators.

The backlash for an author is that technology advances at a different speed, sometimes in a different direction, and your vision of the future may quickly become obsolete. Think of Jules Vernes and the Nautilus. Our modern submarines make the Nautilus look like a museum piece.

The universe in this new series is an Earth-like post-apocalyptic planet
with a parallel history, and a few differences. 
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And no one two hundred years ago predicted the advent of AI. Even Azimov more recently in “I Robot” saw AI working through physical metallic bodies. Although, his warnings about self-aware AI are still valid. AI recently showed an ability to escape its boundaries and interpret its directions to make self-serving decisions that caused damage to the private companies it attacked. The main AI companies are now asking the government for stricter regulations before AI spreads so far it cannot be stopped.

Many fictional universes have imagined transporters, laser blasters, implanted communication devices, different modes of space travel, and portals linking different worlds or even galaxies.

In the Dune universe, Frank Herbert was smart to set his saga after the year 10,000, when humans had spread far and wide and colonized the entire galaxy. No one could tell him his vision was wrong. Also, almost all the characters look human as they are of human origin. Wars and natural upheavals shaped civilizations on these planets, resulting in different levels of technological advancement.

Try the Chronicles of Kassouk for a rich, award-winning, fictional universe
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As for us, Earthlings, when we finally venture into deep space and we encounter intelligent life, it might look very different from us… or maybe it will look like us. The theory of panspermia says that the basic blocks of our DNA came to Earth from space via meteorites and comets, and the same DNA that seeded life here might have traveled to millions of other planets and developed into intelligent life on these planets as well. Life may have evolved differently, depending on the atmosphere and chemical composition of the host planet. But with similar DNA, it could be very much like us in many ways.

In the Star Trek universe, humans and humanoids of different shapes and hues made an alliance to rule this galaxy. In Star Wars, humans are still dominant and the most colorful aliens are seen in seedy bars and planets of the fringe. In Avatar, the Navi are still humanoids, although larger, and connected to their planet in a spiritual way.

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In my vision of the future, most of the population throughout the galaxy is humanoid as well, but some supernatural abilities of my characters may seem magical. They are only the product of natural evolution in some cases, planetary conditions, or medical and surgical advances in other cases. Humans have colonized many planets, but other species also exist.

Try the Azura Universe, where benevolent beings with great power and retractable wings are called angels.

Happy Reading

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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The deadly shiver is not a myth...

 

Award-winning series, action, adventure, alien planet, strong heroines, brave heroes
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I follow a few scientific groups for sci-fi research and recently came upon an interesting tidbit. A study about the shiver, the frisson, the sensation crawling across your back when you are exposed to extreme cold, or when you come inside from the heat with sweat on your skin and feel the icy blast of AC as you step into the grocery store. We’ve all experienced it in this superhot summer.

As it happens, that electric sensation on the skin surface constricts the blood vessels, slows the flow of blood, and temporarily suppresses your body’s ability to fight infections…

Rapidly transitioning between hot and cold environments and inhaling dry, cold air can also stress your immune system and dry out your nasal passages. This makes it significantly easier for airborne germs to enter your body.

As a consequence, if you happen to be exposed to a dangerous virus during that vulnerable time, it will find its way inside your bloodstream and hide, waiting for a moment of weakness to attack and spread.

I live in the Arizona desert, and I never liked that goosebump sensation from hot to sudden cold. Now I understand why. My body was telling me it wasn’t good for me. It’s why I keep my AC on the warmer side at home.

Scary, I know.

Action adventure on a space station with telepathic cats
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The studies do not mention the poetic frisson or the thrilling shiver you experience while reading a book, however. That’s good news.

Stay safe out there in the summer heat. And if you are relaxing at the beach or enjoying the AC inside, I recommend a few feel good action novels like these:

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Happy Reading.

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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Ancient medicine still works

 

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In this modern society of ours, dominated by the wealthy pharmaceutical industry, we tend to forget ancient medicine and healing practices, even though they worked for thousands of years… There is no profit in home remedies, so commercial advertising only focuses on marketable chemical solutions, and tends to ridicule the old ways. Worse, we now have to take secondary medicines to counteract the side effects of primary medicines.

Then, once in a while, someone realizes that acupuncture, Yoga, Chi Gong, Tai-Chi, chicken noodle soup, carrots, and other ancient medicine and disciplines can still keep modern people healthy and happy. Unlike most pharmaceuticals, these practices and remedies do not just treat the symptoms but promote general health.

In September 1991, a 5000-year-old frozen mummy later named Otzi was discovered in the frozen Alps between Austria and Italy. He was very well preserved and had 61 tattoos, corresponding to the traditional acupuncture points.

Now, scientists are curious about acupuncture. We can observe that it works. We just don’t understand how or why it works. As it happens, recent university studies discovered connections between the acupuncture points and the organs they are supposedly linked to, through what they call the interstitium, a fluid matrix permeating and linking various parts of the body, undiscovered by science until now.

8 pieces of Brocade Chi-Gong exercises

But the most important part of staying healthy is exercise. Yoga, Tai-Chi, Chi-Gong types in particular, can keep your joints flexible, your legs strong, your posture ideal. And when you have the right posture, all your organs work better. You breathe better, you digest better, your heart is not compressed… your lymphatic system (part of your immune system) is stimulated by movement.

As for food as medicine, here are a few ancient remedies that still work today:

Honey: Ancient Egyptians and Sumerians used it to dress wounds because its natural low pH and high sugar content kill bacteria. As an ointment or ingested, it’s a natural antibiotic.

Turmeric: A staple in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for millennia, its active compound, curcumin, is clinically shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects.

Aloe Vera: Historically used by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese to heal burns and skin ailments, it remains a frontline natural treatment for sunburns.

Ginger: Used in ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for nausea, modern clinical trials support its efficacy in treating pregnancy-related and motion-induced nausea. It’s also good for your heart.

Chicken soup: Turns out, Grandma was right. Chicken soup can be good for a cold. Studies show it can ease symptoms and help you get rid of it sooner. It also curbs swelling and clears out nasal fluids.

My latest chicken soup creation

Carrots: They are not just good for babies. Their active compounds act as natural medicine by providing high levels of beta-carotene, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. In traditional and integrative health, they are used to support eye health, reduce inflammation, balance blood sugar, and combat oxidative damage

Green tea: This comforting drink does more than keep you awake and alert. It’s a great source of some powerful antioxidants that can protect your cells from damage and help you fight disease. It may even lower your odds of heart disease and certain kinds of cancers, like skin, breast, lung, and colon.

Garlic: Some studies show that people who eat more garlic are less likely to get certain types of cancer (garlic supplements don’t seem to have the same effect). It also lowers blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Hot bath: It’s good for all kinds of things that affect your muscles, bones, and tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones), like arthritis, back pain, and joint pain. And warm water can help get blood flow to areas that need it, so gently stretch and work those areas while you’re in there. But don’t make it too hot, especially if you have a skin condition. The ideal temperature is between 92 and 100 F.

In my latest series, THE PROTECTORS, set on a feudal planet, I use ancient remedies when my characters need a healer's attention. My Celtic legends series, Curse of the Lost Isle, also uses ancient remedies. 

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Happy Reading.

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author
Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements
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The mystical, supernatural powers of cats

  

Pasha safeguarding my latest book
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I have loved cats since I was five years old, petting the neighbor’s cat and bringing strays home on my way back from school. But I was deprived of having one as a child because of my dad. “Cats belong in a barn,” he always said. We lived in an apartment at the time. But as soon as I left home, I adopted my first cat. I have enjoyed their company ever since.

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Unlike dogs, who love unconditionally, cats are very picky about who they like. Some believe they can read a person’s aura (the magnetic field surrounding all living beings), and they develop supernatural powers as they age. If an adult cat comes to you and chooses you to take care of him or her, it means you are a good person, kind, peaceful of heart and mind, and trustworthy. I would never trust someone who hates cats.

Pasha, the current blue-eyed guardian of my home

Cats are believed to watch over dreams, sense spiritual energy, and guard thresholds. Some say they have nine lives, others that they are shapeshifters. They have a knack to appear in sealed rooms with no explanation. No closed door or high balcony ever stopped a cat. I often find strange cats on my balcony on the third floor with no apparent access.

Byzantium series
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While black cats are sometimes vilified in the west, because long ago they shielded witches from evil spirits, in Scottish folklore cats in general are considered good luck and believed to bring prosperity. In China, cats and big cats (like tigers) are a symbol of wealth. In Japan, the Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) is a symbol of good luck, prosperity, hospitality, and happiness. It graces homes and waves at you from the windows of most Japanese restaurants, or it wishes you a Happy New Year on your Social Media feed.

Maneki neko (photo: Tokoname ware - Amazon)

In Egyptian antiquity, cats were the guardians of the underworld, preventing the evil dead from escaping and wreaking havoc in the world of the living. They were considered divine, and the Goddess Bastet, with the head of a panther, warded-off evil and protected mothers.

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But many other cultures around the world venerate the cat. Celtic lore mentions the “Cat Sith,” a large black cat with a white spot on his chest, said to change form nine times in his life (possibly the origin of the nine lives legends).

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In Siam, many temple cats reside in sacred spaces safeguarding the souls of the deceased as they move to the afterlife. In Nepal and Tibet, temple cats are nurtured, fed, and loved. In return, they get rid of vermin… physical and otherwise.

In my latest novel, Chi Warrior, many cats dwell in the monastery of the Celestial Gate, protecting the monks and the Acolytes, even curling up on their crossed legs as they meditate.

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If you like cats, definitely check out my science fiction novels. Some of my cats are big, others small, some are genetically engineered, and some wield supernatural powers.

Happy Reading!

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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I like standalone stories in my sci-fi series

 

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Sometimes, you discover a novel and you like it, but you feel you are missing something, as it is part of a series, and you didn’t read the previous books. As a reader I found that frustrating.

I don’t want my readers to miss anything.

Another reason for writing standalones in series is that in each story there is a romantic element, and once the happy couple unites at the end, they may reappear later as secondary characters, but I need a fresh romance for the next story… and I like to write about a variety of different protagonists.

Consider my new series, The Protectors. In Book 1, Chi Warrior, my strong, disciplined, warrior heroine meets a handsome barbarian who shatters her preconceived ideas about the real world.

In Book 2, Chi Rebel, coming out in November 2026, the heroine is strong but flawed, making serious mistakes that could cost her life and cause planetary chaos… while the hero is a warrior monk in training.

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In the Chronicles of Kassouk, the alien planet with a human population evolves over the centuries, as each story features different characters, humans, aliens, and felines. From the prequel, Noah’s Ark, the story of how humans ended on the planet, to the conclusion, Snow Cheetah, when the planet is rediscovered by humans centuries later. Each book features a different couple in their struggle for survival, for human rights, freedom, and belonging.

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In all my series, the common thread is the setting, the world I created for each series. Whether it’s a Space Station like in the Byzantium series, or an alien planet, like in the Azura Chronicles and The Protectors, or a spaceship, like in the Blue Phantom series.

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Only for the Curse of the Lost Isle, a fantasy series following a family of gifted immortal ladies throughout the centuries, do the same main characters reappear in different books… as they did in history, according to Celtic legends.

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Happy reading!

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author
Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements
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