Colonel (and Mayor) Ed Houy’s nature trips from a small village in Central Texas to the rough landscapes of Central Texas proved valuable – and fascinating – in more ways than one. When Ed passed, he left a series of 20 manuscripts in a secret basement room, perhaps inspired by events he experienced in his military and post-military career and, apparently, those Central Texas outings.
A dozen years after Ed’s passing, I was approached by his cousin and wife to help them sort through these manuscripts and assess their literary value; I was immediately intrigued! Ed’s story of the Domes of Titan – and how he was escorted there by time travelers – was just a prelude to a series of chronological events taking place in our galaxy in years to come. A window, if you will, into Earth’s place in an epic tale of life’s attempt to maintain, well . . . life.
These manuscripts offer a glimpse into humanity’s challenge to uphold the values and constructs of burgeoning societies that differ in backgrounds yet still hold Earth and its inhabitants dear. These stories, intertwined between decades and centuries, lead readers on a journey as old as time in a three-dimensional space.
Ed’s descriptions and attention to detail leave me scratching my head as to whether these are finely crafted imaginary tales – or something more. And that’s a skill that an editor doesn’t often experience in their work. Was Ed trying to tell future generations something he knew? Something he lived?
I’m honored to be Mayor Ed’s editor posthumously. And if Jed Yuoy is watching from a Dome somewhere in our Galaxy: Thank you for reaching out to Ed . . .
Sarah Mayor
HOUY BOOKS