The Temple of the Exploding Head

Book V in the Temple of the Exploding Head series begins in a strange place.

Carahil and Mabs (the infamous Cat Goddess of Zall 88) have journeyed to the Library of Time, a distant place where they have heard the story of all beings lives are written out from beginning to end and may be read like a book. Carahil and Mabs are gods (Carahil being a Nargal and Mabs being a Wind-Walker) but they have little knowledge of the intricacies of Time. Mabs is pregnant with their children and they’ve come to the Library to determine how best to raise their children; as gods or as unsuspecting younger folk.

At the Library, they meet the Proprietors: a mysterious pair named Fiddler Crow and Queen Wendilnight. They are admitted and allowed to see the story of their lives.

…And Carahil is appalled at what he sees. An Age of Blood where the Gods are gone and an insane evil spirit has lease to do what he pleases leading, eventually, to the end of the Universe. Carahil sees himself framed for crimes he didn’t commit, and then, of all things, he sees himself being eaten alive in a city of Many Forms.

The Proprietors see Carahil’s distress. He asks them if he can do something about this, if he could “fix” this bad future that’s coming. Fiddler Crow tells him it’s not possible to change the future and he will simply have to live with it.

However, Queen Wendilnight takes pity on Carahil and offers to help him in return for their service at a later time. Carahil and Mabs agree, and Queen Wendilnight shows them into the Time Tunnel Room. There, Carahil comes face to face with the time tunnel responsible for creating the bad future: the Temple of the Exploding Head and the Horned God who lives there.

copyright 2011, Ren Garcia and Carol Phillips