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Jonathan Michael Erickson
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Tales of Dharma (Song of Ancients) Kindle Edition

by Jonathan Michael Erickson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 26 ratings
This novel-in-stories chronicles the early colonists of the Planet Dharma in the distant Andromeda Galaxy. Some are driven by hope, others by trauma and heartbreak—they have come to begin a new and simpler life on a peaceful, uninhabited world. But their stories are not so simple: soon comes the harrowing discovery of an ancient alien technology that will change the course of human history.

A woman leaves her husband and her planet behind chasing her religious faith, while a hundred-year-old atheist encounters an alien consciousness beyond her comprehension; A priest is given a terrible burden and faces his own capacity for violence; In the wake of tragedy, the Ankharra colony rends into pro-tech and anti-tech factions while a pair of young lovers try to navigate the divide; As the years turn to decades, a secret society forms that will shape the future of the Andromeda Colonies.

What begins as a series of separate tales converges to weave a web of human loss and love at the edge of the known universe.
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  1. Print length
    206 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    September 27, 2020
  5. File size
    3.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"What does it mean to "live in dharma"? Tales of Dharma is a story of adventure and bravery. The prequel to the Song of Ancients series, this origin story weaves together the missing links to create a cohesive history of the lands and people of the Andromeda Galaxy. An intimate, rich space opera, Tales of Dharma will make readers ponder lessons of seeking something bigger than yourself and finding a place where you belong." - Book Review Directory

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08J43NKZ4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gold Dragon Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 27, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 206 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1948746083
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 26 ratings

About the author

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Jonathan Michael Erickson

Jonathan Michael Erickson

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Jonathan Michael Erickson has loved science fiction and fantasy since he was a kid. A lifelong learner, Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from UC Berkeley, an MFA in creative writing from Antioch Los Angeles, and a PhD in depth psychology and somatics from Pacifica Graduate Institute. In addition to his writing projects he is also a graduate school instructor, a life coach, a nature enthusiast, an animal lover, and occasionally takes the stage as a comedy improviser. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Learn more at JonathanMichaelErickson.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
26 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Greg Emetaz
    5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling kaleidoscopic saga that defies the pitfalls of most prequels
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I came to this having read the first two books of the Song of Ancients series, but I think it would also be an excellent introduction to them in addition to being a great read on its own.

    Tales of Dharma feels like a collection of interlocking short stories from wildly different perspectives as it vividly chronicles the history of an intergalactic Luddite colonial project, its high stakes engagement with ancient alien technology and resulting social and political consequences. I most enjoyed the way what at first seemed to be disparate stories (even knowing how they would intertwine in the later books) came together rather unexpectedly into a thrilling caper. Erickson digs deep into the emotional lives of these characters as he traces their arcs across the epic and tumultuous canvas that is Dharma, its settlements and their fascinating origin stories.

    Prequels often lack dramatic tension, relying on faint echoes of the conflicts in the primary works. In Tales if Dharma, the echoes of past strife that were always a kind of looming backdrop in the later books come into full relief. Every story is driven by personal, societal and even inter-galactic rifts that make for quite the wild ride as they eventually weave together at its climax.

    Whether this is your way into the series or they brought you to it, you will not be disappointed in this compelling saga that only makes the mesmerizing Song of Ancients universe feel more vast and unexplored.
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  • Scott D
    5.0 out of 5 stars The excitement begins...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2020
    Having read Books I and II of Song of Ancients, I ate up every new detail fleshing out the families, tribes and tensions provided by this prequel. Seemingly separate short stories introducing and deepening characters and places lead to a rewarding page-turner. I have come to trust believable characters with rich inner and outer lives as well as fascinating plot development from Erickson. The prequel does not disappoint.

    This Song of Ancients series couldn't be more timely as we spend more of our lives in virtual spaces. The trajectory to life in the Andromeda galaxy is surprisingly not so far-fetched as characters experience the dilemma of the convenience and stimulation of living on-line versus the more subtle rewards and imposing challenges of living in the natural world. Could a healthy evolution of the mind and soul be a deep respect and complex mix of both?

    Tales of Dharma explores faith, ritual and spirit through multiple lenses without any preachiness or preference. Though I consider myself fairly antagonistic to Christianity, I appreciated Tales of Dharma stretching my notions of the possibilities of that religion as I read about the hopeful feminist Christian colonists on Dharma.

    And finally, the compelling mystery of the ancient relics! Are they out to destroy or awaken?

    (Carrie S.)
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  • Eilia Houser
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great prequel to add depth and understanding to the series
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2020
    I received an ARC of this book; I have been obsessed with this series ever since I started the first book "Relics of Andromeda" almost two years ago now! It is the best combination of sci-fi, adventure, coming of age, and intellectual ideas all thrown together. There are wonderful characters in the series as well as the prequel, all of them deep and understandable, and each one individual in their viewpoints and experiences. I enjoyed this prequel, but would definitely recommend reading the series in order of publishing - Read books 1 and 2 before this one. The prequel is a combination of various stories and characters that played vital roles in explaining how and why the main characters of Relics of Andromeda are who they are and how their world became what it is. It was more enjoyable to me because I know and appreciate the main characters of the series and what they've gone through. I think that this prequel added quite a bit to the world building and storyline in the series and is absolutely worth reading. I cannot wait for the third book to come out soon!
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  • Wordwizard
    4.0 out of 5 stars A prequel that made me want to reread the first book of the series immediately
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2021
    TALES OF DHARMA (Song of Ancients Book 0), by Jonathan Michael Erickson, is a prequel to the series starting with RELICS OF ANDROMEDA. Having read the first book of the series, these tales, backstories, seemed familiar to me beforehand and made me want to reread the first book immediately afterwards with this book at hand for reference. I believe they would also be enjoyable if read first, although they might contain spoilers for what was carefully revealed at the author's chosen time. The book is excellent, but I must deduct one star for lack of copyediting. I would not let that put you off from reading it, however.

    I received a copy of this book from the author with no expectation that I would review it.
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  • Mary Stark
    5.0 out of 5 stars A librarian's recommendation
    Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2020
    I came to Tales of Dharma having read the first 2 volumes of Erickson’s Song of Ancients trilogy. Prior to my plunge into the many-faceted universe of his series, I was, more or less, a newcomer to Science Fiction. I relished the complexity of the storytelling and eagerly consumed both Relics of Andromeda and Labyrinths of Time, astonished by the imagination and ambition of the author’s matrix of cultures and civilizations.

    The novels span centuries and light years, exploring and articulating the adventures of robust, sensuous, idealistic and flawed characters engaged in an adventure that grabs our interest and refuses to release our engagement until the last page.

    To my delight, this new publication, the prequel to the trilogy, steps back to tell the story--the foundation for the trilogy, exploring the heritage of characters already familiar to us in their later lives. It’s like discovering a journal written by your grandmother when she was young. Our appreciation of the characters and the journey they have yet to begin is exponentially increased.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Roberta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Science fiction of the soul
    Reviewed in Italy on December 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book captures insights of the main characters of the Andromeda trilogy with a very delicate and precise vision of their inmost reasons and motivations that spur each one of them to act as they do in the unfolding of the tales told in the books (Relics Of Andromeda; Labyrinths Of Time and the soon to be published third book).
    These portraits are cameos of the souls animating the stories; they are the stories behind the story and each one is narrated in a slightly different style to accomodate and reflect each character’s personality and main traits.
    Nothing of what is narrated in Tales Of Dharma is a spoiler of the contents of the actual trilogy but the book entwines the reader in a web of relationships that will eventually unfold into action.
    Beautiful reading during which the reader may find unexpected resonances with the characters that acquire a deeper and fuller human dimension, a homage to humanity in its quest for Dharma.
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