This science fiction anthology is composed of six short stories, as follows:

"Herald"
This is a story about a relatively unknown inventor who develops delusions of grandeur that turn out be true.

"Just Missed Me"
This is a story about a mysterious galactic ambassador sizing up the competition.

"Something Slipped Up"
Suppose one of the true movers-and-shakers of the world slips up and accidentally grants you your wildest dreams. Read on--.

"Keeper of the World"
Is the world as common place, and as easily defined, as we take for granted? Consider this tale before deciding.

"Shaman"
This is the beginning story of a possible future series of tales about a Shaman-born Native American that is prepped by an ancient immortal, for a special roll in the future and destiny of Earth’s Homo Sapiens Culture.

"Intelligence"
Are humans the only intelligent species on this planet? Think twice before answering.

I am something of an eccentric recluse, more by habit than by inclination.

I grew up in Ballinger, Texas, a small town in West Central Texas, near Abilene and San Angelo. I graduated Salutatorian of my Ballinger High School Class of 1969. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics with a minor in Math, and an equivalent minor in Chemistry, from Austin College, in Sherman Texas, in 1973.

I have lived in the local San Antonio, Texas area for most of my adult life.

I am currently disabled. But I occupy myself by playing with electronic gadgets, by taking continuing education courses at a local junior college, and by reading, writing, and drawing.

Just Missed Me:
Chapter 2
Not phased in the Slightest

The ambassador walked to the entrance of the roofless, abandoned and partially demolished, adobe-like residence, and made as if to leave it. But just as he was about to set his first foot outside the entrance, he instead paused at the last possible moment, and froze his motion, as though he were a statue.

And, at that very instance, a huge stone slab, weighing more than two hundred kilos, and that had been an integral part of the entrance’s upper arch, fell to the ground on the exact spot where the ambassador’s next forward motion would have placed him.

"’Just Missed Me," the ambassador said, smiling to himself, as he then proceeded to step over the huge stone and continue on with his inspection of what appeared to be a long abandoned village, now crumbling apart in decay.

Ambassador Alguno Faux had been inspecting villages, and moderately larger towns and cities all over the planet, with more or less the same preliminary conclusion. It appeared that the planet’s intelligent inhabitants had long since left it, by a means as yet undetermined, for a purpose as yet unknown, and to a destination as yet unforeseen.

As the ambassador headed away from the small village, and back along the trail, through the forest, leading to his star ship, with the intention to go on to the next town or city for additional inspection, he uncharacteristically leaped far up and well over a patch of branches and leaves that had recently fallen over the trail, at some point after the last time that the ambassador had used the trail to enter the village, and which now covered a three foot area of ground, where his next step would have taken him.

Now, having landed on the other side of the area that was covered with branches and leaves, Ambassador Faux picked up a small branch and used it to push into the covered area. As a result of his poking into the pile of branches and leaves, they suddenly gave way, and fell more than sixty meters into a gapping crevice that had opened along the path, since the last time that the ambassador had used it.

"Just Missed Me," the ambassador said, again, as he smiled to himself.