Be careful what you wish for. A year earlier, with the help of enigmatic industrialist Michael Walker, all of Penelope Drayton Spence's dreams had come true. Now, as one of the country's top journalists, she has discovered what she thought would make her happy was only making her busy. After months of avoiding her, Michael Walker burst back into her life with an outlandish plan to launch his controversial "Hermes" satellite into space. But she soon learns someone just as resourceful and well-financed is willing to go to any lengths to stop the launch. After the Hermes Project's facility in Jackson Hole is attacked, Penelope gets a ringside seat as two of the world's most powerful men go toe-to-toe in a battle of wills that could change the course of humanity. FROM THE PUBLISHER The first book in this series, "The Fourth Awakening" focused on the science and history of the previous awakenings. "The Gathering Darkness" explores what all this means on a more personal level. Penelope, like so many before her, has started down the path toward enlightenment but has lost her way. Throughout this fast-paced thriller are gentle clues and suggestions that readers can use to advance their personal growth. By presenting this science in a Joseph Campbell "myth" format, the authors are striving to capture the timeless "around the campfire" storytelling that will resonate on multiple levels. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Rod Pennington has seven previous novels, including his recent dark comedy entitled "A Family Reunion." It is a continuing series about a dysfunctional family of four of the world's best assassins working as the enforcement arm for a shadowy Zen cabal that has been around for thousands of years. Jeffery A. Martin, PhD, is a Harvard-trained scholar specializing in higher states of consciousness. He is the author, co-author, or contributor to over twenty books in addition to numerous other scholarly and non-scholarly publications, videos, audio, and other media. The methods and science in the Fourth Awakening series that can have an immediate impact on most readers' lives can be found in his recent book, "The God Formula: A simple scientifically proven blueprint that has transformed millions of lives."