Crisp, modern science fiction with a deep dose of scientific reality, romance, action, suspense, and drama awaits you within the pages of The Dark Staircase, the second anthology from Jayson Walker, author of Beyond the Kaleidoscope. An arch-villainess spices things up in the shoot-'em-up detective thriller "Deacon Hall," featuring explorations of faith, the paranormal, and romance. In the title story, "The Dark Staircase," a lonely, old man struggles to accept the loss of his wife. In his grief, he is forced to confront his ebbing faith-and the seductive lure of potential redemption. "Fluffy the Devourer" and "Three Bird Song", provide a brief glimpse into worlds that none of us would prefer to visit-even for an overnight sojourn, and especially not overnight. "The Fire Assay," "The Legend of Three Notch Crossing," and "The Hyperlith" offer unique perspectives on the ubiquitous questions of fate, death, and redemption with strong karmic undertones and drama. This collection provides intriguing departures from the gray reality of normal, waking consciousness and presents a journey you won't soon forget.