«The Uhlan and The Phoenix» by Roy Snelling

The Prologue has the story starting on another planet in this Galaxy. Its people, including Khe-ee, are seemingly doomed from a forthcoming asteroid strike. The book then continues with the exploration of two apparently separate lives, Walter Löpitsch and Ralph Julius Anderson. In PART I of the book we see Walter Löpitsch, born into Prussian Junker Nobility in the 19th. Century, in Pommerania, Northern Prussia. Sent to Military Academy at the age of ten thence to join a regiment of lancers at the age of 18. Married to Luise, the sister of his best friend, but subsequently carries on an affair with a beautiful gypsy girl. Sees action in both the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian Wars. A proud officer who becomes disillusioned with military life when he has to kill his best friend on the battlefield. Invalided out of the army he returns home to manage his family estate during which time he sees the unification of Germany and the seeds of future troubles. In PART II we see Ralph Julius Anderson, born in London in 1943. Evacuated into the countryside to avoid the German V.1. and V.2 attacks on London at the age of 11/2, re-united with his Mother one year later with the parental bond broken. Spiritually sensitive as a child he is emotionally abused by his father and grows up timid and is bullied at school. As a teenager he has a series of intense and strange dreams. Leaves home at 21 to make his own way in the World and also joins a Mystical Society. Abandons professional studies to become an architect to train for a short service commission in the army. Sees service in Northern Ireland where his best friend is killed. Ralph marries a French woman at 27 who eventually dies of cancer. Becomes more humble outwardly but with much greater inner strength. Events take a strange turn with the appearance of a mysterious friend from the distant past. He then faces a strange future in a World that is rapidly changing on both a material and spiritual level in 2012. A storey of two lives. Or is it? in 2012 when the World is in chaos on the material plane Khe-ee re-appears in spiritual form. What is the relationship between Khe-ee, Walter and Ralph?