The Old Soul (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition]

Joseph Wurtenbaugh (Author)

Book Description

'The Old Soul', a 6,000 word novella, is an enthralling blend of science fiction and speculative fiction that chronicles the adventures of That-Which-Had-Been, as it traverses the fearsome wilderness of the micro-universe. As tiny and inconspicuous as it may seem, That-Which-Had-Been exhibits an unexpected and varied gift for survival, as it journeys implacably toward its ultimate destination. Along the way, it meets a rich array of ordinary human beings, some of whom assist it along its way, others who impede its progress, none of whom have any idea of its existence.

From whence comes the strange, but universal, experience of deja vu? Why do some people exhibit a wisdom far beyond their age and experience - persons reincarnationists refer to as 'old souls'? Joseph Wurtenbaugh in this short story offers a fascinating and tantalizingly plausible explanation for these phenomena, presented in a natural setting that brims with adventure and exhilarating possibility. Not to be missed by anyone who enjoys science fiction or thinking outside the box.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Thirty seconds after the death of Charles Filippini, the being which comprised the core of his identity was in full flight." So begins The Old Soul, a wondrous piece of pseudonymous short fiction that--along with the stunning closer to Rajesh Parameswaran's I Am an Executioner--ranks as one of the year's best science-fiction stories so far. A speculative rumination on microbiology, reincarnation, and the joyous taste of fresh strawberries, The Old Soul follows a mysterious organism ("That-Which-Had-Been") on a miraculous journey that yields a beautiful homage to the classic pulp fiction of Asimov's told through the dense vocabulary of Gray's Anatomy. Highly recommended. --Jason Kirk

Product Details

• File Size: 84 KB
• Print Length: 18 pages
• Publisher: G Realist Ink (April 5, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007SNSIFQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,244 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #18 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > Metaphysical & Visionary
  • #60 in Kindle Store > Kindle Singles > Fiction
  • #62 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Metaphysical

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the infinite struggle and the eternal journey April 21, 2012

By S. Richards TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This kindle single was an unexpected treat to read. Although I do love science and science fiction, I'm definitely not overly knowledgable about microbiology and the like; however, that did not keep me from enjoying this little tale. It's the story of a tiny being, something so small as to be insignificant to the human eye, yet so elementally and substantially important as to survive life after life, and civilization after civilization. This is the journey of that small entity, a truly old soul acting on a primordial instinct to seek the light as it leaves its dying human host and struggles to make its way to a new host.

On this strange journey, we follow along as 'it' hitches a ride from amoeba to dust mite, from flea to fly, from one animal to the next, continuing on in its quest to take root in some other being which will give it a rebirth. This story really does make you think of reincarnation, of past lives and memories, and of those times you may have felt as if you had been somewhere before, or felt as if you had a connection to a place far away from your birth, perhaps another place and time in existence.

The being's journey was complicated, making this reader feel anxiety and a great expectation to see just how this would all play out. Although the utimate goal was surely seen, it made that final destination and new home no less remarkable. The Old Soul is a very interesting read, and although a fairly quick read at 18 pages/300 locations, this short story builds the excitement and leads the reader down a curious path of thinking and wondering about that very thing which makes us more than our human body, to consider just what exactly is the soul and how many homes can it have. Really, an incredibly interesting little story, very well written and perfectly balancing science with the unknown and the mystical.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A mind-bending journey at the microscopic level April 20, 2012

By J. Chambers TOP 50 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

"The Old Soul" was one of the most original and thought-provoking stories I've read in quite some time. In some ways it was reminiscent of the film "Fantastic Voyage," where a tiny submarine and crew traveled through a human body. But in "The Old Soul," the traveler was a microscopic entity that had to leave Dr. Charles Filippini's body immediately after his death. The story implied (or at least hinted) that the entity was his soul, which needed to find and inhabit another higher form of life, no matter how long it took or how circuitous the journey.

The details of the entity's journey were fascinating. The term is probably over-used, but this was indeed a page-turner, one that I finished in only half an hour. In one of Tom Clancy's novels, there was a mesmerizing nanosecond-by-nanosecond description of the detonation of a nuclear weapon. Author Joseph Wurtenbaugh's step-by-step account of the microorganism's journey to find another host was equally compelling stuff.

And at the end, you may rethink your beliefs about the significance of a "deja vu" experience.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It, Original and Well Written May 19, 2012

By Swirly Mom

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I came across this sci-fi short story randomly and thought, "Hey, for 99 cents why not?". What a great surprise! This little story of the Old Soul, of That-Which-Had-Been, is one of the most unique pieces of fiction I've read in a long time. While there are very specific descriptions of micro-organisms battling it out and microanatomy, it doesn't read dryly at all. It's a different kind of fantastic voyage. Biology meets spirituality meets science fiction!

The other perk is that the small snippets of human characters are very well written. He manages to do a lot of character development in just a few sentences. I just really enjoyed it and think it is definitely worth your time and your dollar to give this single a quick read. Based on this single, I am now reading his novel Thursday's Child, written under the name Josephine Wurtenbaugh.

More About the Author

'Joseph Wurtenbaugh' and 'Josephine Wurtenbaugh' are the writing names of Frank Dudley Berry, Jr. Both are variants of his mother's maiden name.

Mr. Berry's first novel was 'Thursday's Child', an epic love story that infused a conventional romance formula with a rich novel of ideas. Since a female pseudonym is all but required in that genre, Mr. Berry chose the name 'Josephine Wurtenbaugh'. (The author is married and the father of two daughters.) He still uses that variant for fiction that appeals primarily to women.

Mr. Berry uses the alternate version 'Joseph Wurtenbaugh' for other work. Three short stories, 'The Old Soul','Warm Moonlight', and 'Newton in the New Age'that appear as Kindle Singles, have been published under that name. He has also published a novel 'Alone in the Fortress' as 'Joseph Wurtenbaugh'.

Mr. Berry's notes on these pieces can be found on the blog that is linked to this page.