This week's reading recommendation is A.D. Sui's *The Iron Garden Sutra*, a meditative horror sci-fi/fantasy that blends locked-room mystery with deep philosophical questions. The story follows Vessel Iris, a death monk from the Starlit Order whose mission is to perform funeral rites for the dead so their souls may reach their ultimate destination.

Iris arrives at the ancient ship Counsel of Nicaea expecting to perform his duties for long-deceased passengers, but instead finds living researchers and a jumbled mess of bones. The ship, though appearing as a ghost vessel, is alive with vegetation and gardens that once supported its human inhabitants. Iris shares his mind with an AI companion, creating a dynamic reminiscent of an old married couple as they investigate strange pings from an unknown presence.

As the researchers begin disappearing one by one, Iris questions his faith and purpose. The book's strength lies in its combination of compelling murder mystery elements with existential contemplation, making it more than just a locked-room thriller. *The Iron Garden Sutra* launches The Cosmic Wheel series, offering horror sci-fi fans a thought-provoking read that explores mortality, belief, and the unknown.