The Accidental Universe and Other Stories begins with a riff on the oldest tale known to man and then takes us from the beginning of the twentieth century up to the present day and beyond. Some are traditional short stories about one person while others vary the point of view and still others are in the form of one-act plays. Individual lives are explored in different venues and at different times, but they all touch on the search for meaning in a chaotic universe. From the religious beliefs of Christopher Columbus to those of modern evangelicals, from the words of Shakespeare to those of Samuel Beckett, from the paintings of Andrew Wyeth to those of Andy Warhol, and in the lives of grave diggers as well as artists, this unique collection of humorous and serious stories will engage the minds, hearts, and imaginations of readers on an unforgettable journey.