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A whimsical journey into the realm of off-duty literary characters—and an ode to the power of reading

 At twenty-four, Marina is at a crux in life. “I’m just at the age when time speeds up in an odd way. . . . The winters come closer together and you begin to accept that you’re not special anymore.” She’s cautious of her imaginative tendencies, unsure how she might make a difference in a world that feels increasingly big and small at the same time. At this uncertain precipice, nothing could come as a stranger surprise than waking up one sunny morning on a park bench in an entirely different world. Yet that’s where Marina finds herself: at a place called In The Beginning, populated by characters from literature waiting to be read—or, in some cases, written.

Although Marina is bewildered by her sudden and unexpected arrival in this bustling realm of overlapping possibilities, she soon learns that In The Beginning is facing an existential threat, and she is uniquely positioned to help. So begins her quest to find Pearl, the one person who may hold the key to saving everyone. Delving deeper into this unusual world in pursuit of answers, Marina’s journey leads her into the heart of herself and to a shocking truth.

Ann Druyan packs this compelling adventure story with characters both familiar and new, offering a profound testament to the cosmic powers of imagination and curiosity. First published in 1977, A Famous Broken Heart resounds with wit and wisdom that continue to connect with readers.

Genre-bending stories of the cosmos and the worlds within our own skin

Blending fairy tale and science fiction with the otherworldliness of adolescence, A Preponderance of Starry Beings is a collection for anyone preoccupied with looking skyward. These stories probe the experience of coming of age on the outskirts of the universe, whether that be a small Midwestern town or a distant galaxy, and of weighing earthly obligations against the vast promises of space.

In a sleepy Ohio neighborhood, two girls seek refuge from their homophobic schoolmates in an antiques shop filled with Star Trek memorabilia. On a generation spaceship, children revolt against their parents’ plans to colonize a distant world. Deep in the Florida Everglades, seven sisters must protect their otherworldly mythology when two men arrive to fix the family automobile.

A Preponderance of Starry Beings invites us into a mundane and whimsical world of night islands, small towns, and faith lost and found, where a safe landing matters less than taking the leap.