Even "Star Wars" refered to the past... the prequels were inevitable. read or watch-it doesn't take that much brainpower to realise the past had produced this present. I have always enjoyed authors who can link without being totally obvious. Colin does it without missing a stroke. I had never heard of the author or the feature character. "Turbulent Priests" is my first read of the authors collection, yet there is not one hint that Dan starkey had entertained us before, not a single reference to previous titles.....thats quality. Subtly, during Dan's worst moments, he regresses to his experiences long gone-they assist him in the maddest moments on Wrathlin.They urge you to want to know more, but never be as obvious to tout his previous literary adventures. This book is quality, and tells a story that finishes stronger than it starts. The style and unpredictability is refreshing, the depth and suspense is intoxiticating, the questions still to be answered inumerable..and that's deliberate. I would not even begin to tell the story of the book.That is all in the reading and would take another 274 pages to describe in my words,comedy has never been so black, satire never so compelling. Read it,I guarantee it is a must. There are few books that have made me happy to pay the cover price, after reading this I would have paid at least double to start off with