The Truth Beyond the Sky: Tropical Sci‑Fi

The Truth Beyond the Sky is the first book in the Epic of Aravinda trilogy, and it’s completely free, as an ebook or an audiobook.

This is Tropical Sci‑Fi: island-inspired worlds where the inner journey matters as much as the interstellar one. I coined the term because nobody else seemed to be writing it.

The Story

☄️ What if the key to saving the world was hidden in your mother’s disappearance?

Twelve years after his famous mother vanishes, Zahn discovers an alien artifact that will change his life forever.

A mysterious figure in a shimmering uniform reveals that his discovery is tied to a galactic war against the Vakragha, an ancient species that devours entire stars.

Their only weakness is a mythical Chintamani stone, lost for eons, capable of healing the wounds they cut into space.

Joined by Asha, a sharp-witted technician with secrets of her own, Zahn finds himself at the heart of a mystery reaching back to his mother’s fate. He realizes everything is connected, and the Vakragha are growing a wormhole near his world.

Full of heart-pounding action, jaw-dropping twists, and philosophical depth inspired by the Ra Material, this is a self-contained adventure and the start of a complete trilogy.

Two Ways to Read It Free

What the Reviewers Say

“Readers of the Law of One (Ra Material) books may find familiar the philosophical thread woven throughout…In my view, that makes this book a rare gem in the genre. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the underlying philosophy of the book, the mythos, shares much in common with the best of metaphysical literature.”
~ Thomas Minderle, Author of Fringe Knowledge for Beginners

“Crusoe has a talent for putting us beside the hero on this grand journey… integrating deep metaphysical concepts with some very original and creative science fiction.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
~ Austin Bridges, Asst. Director at L/L Research

“…it was tough to look away. What’s really interesting about this book is how multi-layered it is. At its base, this is a book about a boy who is in search of his mother. However it’s so much more than that. Zahn’s story manages to pull from the world around us, while also incorporating elements of mythology and hero epics. This is a coming-of-age story of the highest caliber.“
~ Jessica Nottingham, HopelessBibliophile.com

“Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and the narration 7 out of 5 stars because it was that good. I definitely recommend this book to sci‑fi fans, and if you have any interest in audiobooks, spring for the audio. You won’t regret it.”
~ Katie Harder-schauer

“This is a great story…Definitely an amazing adventure for all…The descriptive scenes captivate the imagination and one truly feels a part of the story.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
~ River Rose, AudiobookReviewer.com

“I was immediately drawn in by the vivid descriptions…The author has a knack for fully immersing a reader into the hero’s plight, and I felt like I was hurtling through corridors of light alongside Zahn.”
~ Erica Lane, FantasyBookLane.com

“A swift & compelling read! I recommend it if you enjoy science fiction epics.”
~ Michael Coorlim, Galvanic Century series author

Every Other Format

The ebook and audiobook are free above.

If you’d rather own it another way:

• The Data Leak Edition, direct from me, with Zahn’s journal entries restored. The only place to download it as an ebook.
• Audible, the original 2012 edition, professionally narrated by Jeff Hays with an original score.
• Paperback
• Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, and Google Play
• The complete trilogy box set

What’s Next

Once you’ve finished this one, The Island on the Edge of Forever continues the story, and it’s now available as an audiobook for the first time.

And here’s a fun fact for anyone who reads this book:

In my new trilogy, The Truth Beyond the Sky is a book that Zahn writes. It’s a story within the larger story. THE KALEIDOSCOPIC UNIVERSE, the first book of that trilogy, arrives in 2027.

Articles Reviewers Have Published on the Book

• AudiobookReviewer.com
• Allies Opinions
• Katie Harder-schauer
• BookNouveau.com
• Erica Lane at FantasyBookLane.com
• J. Thomas Beaton
• Jessica Nottingham at HopelessBibliophile.com
• Legacy interview at Storydam.com Q&A