Ohatchee Baptist writes science-fiction novel on biblical principles, fall of man

For Randy Martin, biology is not just a course he teaches at Gadsden State Community College’s Fort McClellan Campus. It is a part of his everyday life. His love for the subject has melded with a love for science fiction and his faith in God, resulting in his first novel, “Introrse: Where the Spirits Speak.”
   
“I liked reading science fiction in high school because I liked to explore new ideas,” said Martin, a member of Boiling Springs Baptist Church, Ohatchee, in Calhoun Baptist Association. “Science fiction should come from real science, like the works of Jules Verne and Arthur C. Clarke. ‘Introrse: Where the Spirits Speak’ is the realization of a dream to write a book that explores science and the spiritual realm.” 
   
“Introrse” is a botany term meaning to face inward. The first in a three-book science-fiction/fantasy series, the novel delves into the idea that all things are possible with God. The plot intertwines science and biblical principles as it explores the connections between the two.
   
“In every conversation with Randy, two things are obvious — his love for biology and his faith in God,” said Becky Haralson, a co-worker at Gadsden State. “In our conversations over the years, he has often said that God put this novel on his heart to show that God is more powerful than we realize.”
   
“Introrse” is about man’s fall from grace on a planet called Hytrae, Earth spelled backwards with a “y” added and a metaphor for Earth at the present time. The main concept is what can happen when a righteous person is given the ability to have any dream fulfilled by God — even creation. One of his characters is temporarily given the power to create another planet. Martin, however, emphasizes that the character does not become God but is merely a vessel that God works through in order to teach this character something about Himself.
   
“The book is based on the idea that God created us to be able to sense the spiritual as well as the physical,” Martin said. “The closer we come to the end of days, the more the line between the spiritual and the physical dimensions is melting away, resulting in people becoming more aware of the spiritual dimension.”
   
Martin continues writing the sequel and teaching biology part time. He also enjoys time with his wife, Pamela, and his children and grandchildren. 
   
“Seldom do I meet people that challenge me with humility through vulnerability and transparentness,” said Bryan Camp, pastor of West Park Heights Baptist Church, Anniston. “Randy Martin is such a person. His walk with God is simple yet profound as he has benefited from personal trials, self-examination and Bible application. His brand of faith in Jesus Christ is relevant and refreshing in today’s culture.”
   
The book is available at www.tatepublishing.com, as well as Amazon.com, and can be ordered through local bookstores.