Category Archives: Historical

Action, Historical, Military, Reviews

The Patriot (2000 film)- a Review

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Success can be a curse sometimes. In creative endeavors, a tremendous success can overshadow subsequent artistic accomplishments. Within Christendom, Mel Gibson may be most frequently associated with The Passion of the Christ.  In the secular world, however, his zenith of success (as both director and actor) was Braveheart in 1995. It was such a blockbuster that a following tour de force, 2000’s The Patriot, is often wrongly compared to it, and unjustly slept on.

Although the two films share at least one theme, The Patriot is its own movie and was not intended to resemble Braveheart.

I had opportunity to re-watch The Patriot recently and was struck first by what a masterpiece of filmmaking it is. After that, what most surprised me was how much it enthralls today’s younger generations. Homelanders, who are hard to convince that anything which occurred before acquiring their first smart device could possibly be important, assume the American War of Independence took place in 1976 and the Civil War involved Martin Luther King. But this movie resonates with them, and it’s possible they might just learn something about America’s history from watching it.

DIRECTION/ACTING:

Director Roland Emmerich previously enjoyed summer blockbuster success with the alien invasion flick Independence Day. In this production,  he did not tweak Robert Rodat’s screenplay, which was the right call.

Emmerich coaxed believable and nuanced performances out of most of the cast. One exception was Lisa Brenner as Anne Howard (Gabriel’s love interest). I don’t know what else she’s done or how well she did it, but for whatever reason her delivery just doesn’t strike me as invested or believable. Gibson and Heath Ledger (playing his oldest son, Gabriel) however, are dynamite in their respective roles. Ledger, especially, excels in the scenes calling for understated performances.

The opening sequence is perhaps oversold. We know Benjamin Martin’s (Gibson) sons are excited to receive mail, but it smells like the director and cast getting high on their own supply–which can be a pitfall for any group inside a creative bubble.

The film score is not catchy or especially memorable, but is competent and adequate, accentuating suspense and action scenes just as much by what it doesn’t do as by what it does. Emotional scenes are where it is most obvious, walking the line between powerful and sappy.

THEMES:

What this film shares with Braveheart, thematically, is the desire for freedom. In both films it remains mostly an abstract concept. In The Patriot, the importance of freedom is accentuated by the lack thereof, depicted in the abuse of power by William Tavington (Jason Isaacs), commander of “the Green Dragoons.”

Tavington murders prisoners of war, terrorizes civilians by burning down their homes, and forcefully conscripts freedmen into His Majesty’s service. Put another way, he represents a system that doesn’t recognize natural rights to life, liberty or property.

Whatever his moral failures, at least Tavington knows the right hand/arm signal for “halt.”

Similarly, the yearning for liberty manifests by implication through the character of Occam (Jay Arlen Jones), a slave who is sent to fight in his owner’s stead. There are no scenes of his life as a slave or his treatment, but all Americans have grown up hearing the stories and there really is no need to rehash the injustice of human beings treated as beasts of burden to be bought, sold, and “owned.”

At one point, Gabriel follows his father into a Rebel encampment and finds an abandoned American flag on the ground. It is faded, tattered, torn and threadbare–much like our republic (for which it stands) currently is. Gabriel picks it up. An exhausted, cynical fellow American tells Gabriel, “It’s a lost cause.”

This is a double (perhaps triple or quadruple) entendre. That sentiment surely was present during our country’s fight for independence, after a string of defeats against the world’s most powerful empire. It is also in sync with the “black pill” sentiment of today, as we are on the brink of losing our American birthright forever. Is freedom worth fighting for, even when the odds look impossible? When it looks like a lost cause?

In one of those understated, nuanced performances I mentioned before, Gabriel stubbornly keeps the flag and tucks it into his satchel, to be repaired, turning his back to his black-pilling countryman.

In subsequent scenes, during downtime in bivouac, Gabriel faithfully works to repair the flag. In one notable such scene, Gabriel has a brief conversation with Occam. “People call this the New World; but it’s really the same as the old one,” opines Gabriel. But they’ve got a chance to build a new world, he continues–a world where a man’s rights are protected regardless of who his parents or ancestors are. His rights are recognized simply because he was endowed them by our Creator. And while he pontificates on his vision for a new world where freedom is the rule (not the exception) the camera moves in close on Gabriel’s hands sewing that tattered flag back together.

Later, Benjamin finds the flag his son had repaired. Benjamin was forced to join the conflict. He fights for revenge and for what’s left of his family. Gabriel, however, fights for the cause (independence and freedom). Benjamin will later proclaim that his son was the better man.

Late in the film, having made peace with the French military advisor who served as something of a minor antagonist for most of the movie, Benjamin signifies their new frendship by exclaiming, “Vive le France!”

Major Jean Villeneuve (Tchéky Karyo) responds by reminding Benjamin what the struggle for independence (and America itself) is all about: “Vive la liberté!”

When Benjamin rides out to join the American force marching to meat the British for the climactic battle, he flies the flag that his son restored. The Rebels cheer. Benjamin has transformed from a farmer fighting for personal (perhaps selfish) and immediate motives, into a patriot. He now fights for the Cause, so his countrymen and progeny will enjoy the blessings of liberty long after he is gone.

It’s doubtful that screenwriter Rodat had studied generational theory, but The Patriot is in harmony with it nonetheless.

The American War of Independence was our republic’s first fourth turning–the historical winter season of the saeculum. The Nomads serve as the tough, brutal field commanders who lead the young, collegial Heroes into battle, and to victory.

Benjamin Martin would have been from the Liberty Generation (Nomad archetype). He cut his teeth in the French & Indian War (as did George Washington), and carries even to the film’s present day a suppressed savagery to rival that of the Native warriors he fought both alongside and against. This is symbolized by the Cherokee tomahawk he has kept hidden away in his old war chest. When he joins the fight against the British, he digs the tomahawk out of storage and proves that he still knows how to use it with deadly expertise, despite not wanting to.

Son Gabriel is Republican Generation (Hero archetype) and demonstrates his cohort’s peer personality perfectly. He is confident, optimistic, a team player, altruistic, self-sacrificial, eager to marry and start his own family.

Gabriel may not appreciate enough what a barbaric business war is, but his younger brothers are even more naive. Thomas’ pastime is painting lead figurines of soldiers, fears that the war may be over before he is old enough to fight in it, and breaks into his father’s war chest to examine the souvenirs. He poses in front of the mirror wearing his father’s old uniform jacket, with the aforementioned tomahawk. Thomas will learn the hard way that war is not a game and there’s nothing romantic about it.

CHARACTERS:

Benjamin Martin is a reluctant hero from the classic mold, but with no small measure of tragedy in his life both before and during the story. A widowed farmer with seven children, he aspires to build furniture and forget the violence of his past. He both witnessed and committed atrocities fighting on the British side in the French & Indian War. He wants to avoid war at any cost not just to protect his family, but because he fears the bloodthirsty savage within himself, which awakens in the heat of battle. It makes sense why, in this “hero’s journey,” he rejects the first “call to adventure.”

Gabriel Martin has a lot of his dead mother’s personality in him, we are told. Like his mother, presumably, he serves as the voice of conscience to counterbalance the wild, barbaric warrior side of his father. He is the Robin to Benjamin’s Batman–a calming influence that motivates Benjamin to be a better example, to remind him of what he should and should not be fighting for (the Cause, or revenge?) and that good men are as quick to show mercy as they are to rage against injustice.

Aunt Charlotte is a little undeveloped. Sister of Benjamin’s dead wife, he and she have feelings for each other, but it’s handled so subtly that when their passions come to the surface, it seems almost that the romance came out of nowhere.

Major Villeneuve is technically an ally; but there is bad blood between him and Benjamin. In the last war they fought on opposite sides. Benjamin is infamous for an atrocity he committed against the French at Fort Wilderness. A personal vendetta against the British is what drives Villeneuve in this war. He and Benjamin have similar motives for fighting this war, but that alone is not enough for them to bury the hatchet (no pun intended).

William Tavington comes from an esteemed British noble family, but his father squandered his inheritance. So Tavington’s career, reputation, and future rest solely upon his victories in battle. This is offered as the excuse for his brutal war crimes. As in many epic tales, this villain is like a dark reflection of the hero. Benjamin Martin may have turned out identical to William Tavington, without the civilizing influence of his wife and children.

General Cornwallis is portrayed as a preening military genius, whose pride is his downfall. He knows better than to do and allow what he does, but his ego clouds his judgment. Otherwise, he could have been a civilizing influence on Tavington and, so far as this narrative goes, dealt Washington and the Continental Army a decisive defeat.

I’m commenting on Dan Scott (Donal Logue) and Occam together because they represent the duality of young America. Occam stands in for one of our founding principles: that all men are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, to include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Dan Scott only agrees to fight for the Cause after being shamed into it by Anne Howard; but clings to his prejudice against Occam. He is offended to be serving with a slave, distrusts him, and views Occam, at best, as a target for ridicule.

“What in the hell you gonna do with freedom?” Scott sneers at Occam at one point, implying he’s too stupid (maybe even subhuman) to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The discrepancy these two characters signify is not a trivial skeleton in the American closet. Just one saeculum after our War of Independence (IOW the next fourth turning) over half million Americans would die fighting each other to resolve the contradiction.

Dan Scott, who begins the story as one of the least admirable men, has the most distinct character arc (next to the protagonist himself).

These two characters star in a subplot that is poignant and touching, even after all the race hustling and identity politics that unraveled what racial harmony America once enjoyed. That unraveling started just eight years after the release of this film, though today it seems to have been going on forever.

HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Speaking of slavery and race relations…

The War of Independence erupted in Massachusetts. After Lexington and Concord, other northern colonies joined with them. But even with all 13 colonies fighting, it was still an unlikely long shot against the world’s greatest empire. It might have been impossible without the southern colonies.

The leadership of those southern colonies were not willing to give up their slaves. A compromise was reached: the southern colonies would join in the War for Independence, if they were allowed to pass and follow their own laws as states in the Union–including laws regarding the institution of slavery.

South Carolina was one of those southern colonies, and where The Patriot is set. In an early scene, Benjamin Martin takes his family to Charleston, SC, where an assembly has been called. Eight colonies have already joined the rebellion against the British Empire. Patriots and loyalists gather to debate as to whether South Carolina will be the ninth.

Once all arguments are heard, the South Carolina assembly votes for a levy to form a Continental Army–in effect, a declaration of war.

Benjamin Martin eventually becomes a brevet colonel of volunteers. Both the strengths and weaknesses of militia fighting against a force of professional soldiers is highlighted throughout the movie. The Minutemen perform well under fire when using guerrilla tactics. But they and the Continentals get their teeth kicked in when they meet British regulars in the open field fighting in mass formations, European-style.

Benjamin Martin is loosely based on “the Swamp Fox,” Francis Marion, plus other Americans who fought the British. But spergs can pick this film apart for the creative license taken with historical facts.

What historical movie could not be picked apart for its inaccuracies?

IN CONCLUSION:

Realism (or lack thereof) notwithstanding, The Patriot is a brilliant film. It might piss off British apologists/anglophiles/modern day British loyalists, but its overall message and supporting themes speak to the heart of an American. Including young Americans.

It’s been long enough that Braveheart no longer casts such a long shadow. With the MAGA movement uniting people across multiple demographic demarcations, now may be the perfect time to rediscover this film and let it shine.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Today, the Black Friday Based Book Sale begins. My novel Tier Zero will be discounted to 99 cents for the sale  at Amazon and all other  E-Book stores. I’m probably crazy for doing this, but my entire Paradox Series, assembled in a digital “box set,” will also be on sale for 99 cents. Pick up your copy and relax with some great reads for Thanksgiving weekend!

Historical, Military, Reviews

Dudley’s Fusiliers by Harold R. Thompson

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DUDLEY’S FUSILIERS – Empire and Honor Book 1 by HAROLD R. THOMPSON

A review by INFAMOUS🦀

 

~We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother.

~William Shakespeare: Henry V

War-based novels can be a slippery slope for different reasons. The challenge usually consists of striking that fine balance between 1) historical accuracy and 2) a compelling story that comes off as captivating and rich in relatable characters.

I feel like Dudley’s Fusiliers manages to achieve success in certain aspects while failing (and I use ‘failing’ very loosely here) in others. Canadian author H. R. Thompson has definitely brought us a story of honor, glory, and sacrifice that pays homage to those men on the battlefield who kept marching forward against all odds and-let’s be frank-against all sanity at times!

 

NO POLITICS, JUST WAR + MAIN CHARACTER:

Thompson doesn’t focus much on the politics of mid-XIX Europe or the ins and outs of why the Crimean War took place. He rather looks at the unfolding events from the point of view of the common soldier. 

Our protagonist is young British lad Dudley, who from a young age adopts a romanticized view of the ‘art of war’. The Duke of Wellington being his all-time hero, Dudley even names a tin soldier of his ‘Wellington’. Wellington becomes his best friend well into his adult life and through the war.

STRENGTHS:

Thompson is outstanding at describing the battles of the Crimean War, particularly the Battle of Alma. We see everything from the point of view of main character Dudley in vivid realism and in all the fine details of military strategies, tactics, and pre-WWI trench warfare.

We also witness the ill conceived notions and romanticism of not just the British army, but those of the French and Russian army as well. This is very important because we don’t need those fundamental aspects to be thwarted by some progressive agenda to make 19th century soldiers think like 21st century Orange county residents, if you catch my drift.

 

WEAKNESSES + SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:

Where I think Dudley’s Fusiliers falls short is in creating a substantial supporting cast for Dudley. His fellow soldiers could be more fleshed out but instead they’re all given just a few lines here and there and very general descriptions:

 

“He felt closer to them than to anyone he had ever known. Closer than to Isabelle, closer than to Martha. Closer even than to his family.”

 

That’s great, but we as readers don’t get to fully share that experience because of thin characterization. What that does is that when some of them perish in battle, we are robbed of the full emotional impact because we never get to know them as well as Dudley does. Thin characterization reduces an otherwise brilliant war story to a good but not GREAT war story.

 

BARKER STEALS THE SHOW:

The only secondary character we encounter that in my opinion ‘steals the show’ is Barker, a giant of a man even feared among his own ranks. A seemingly remorseless bully who we’ll find out has a great story to tell which explains why he behaves the way he does, and why his ‘dehumanization’ has taken place to begin with. In fact, I’d even dare say that most readers will be more eager to follow the whereabouts of Barker than Dudley’s. He’s just that cool cat, somewhat rough around the edges, but who you will want to be by your side when all hell breaks loose in battle.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

If it wasn’t for the outstanding fashion in which the author brought this all home in the closing chapters, I might have been dubious on whether to read Book 2 (Guns of Sevastopol). But if you, like me, have 1) a heartbeat and 2) a passion for keeping the memories alive of not just the war heroes but of war events in general, then reading the next book is certainly in our queue.

Thompson is not just a good writer but the real deal when it comes to the subject of history and wars with the experience to back it up:

 

“While attending university, he spent his summers working at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, a Victorian- era fort in his native Halifax, Nova Scotia. There, he was a member of the 78th Highlanders, an historical re- enactment of the fort’s British Army garrison.

 

Dudley’s Fusiliers brings forth the brutality, death and mayhem of the period of the mid-19th century with glory, respect, and accuracy. And I applaud that!

🦀

Fantasy, Historical, Reviews, TRENDS DIE OUT; LEGENDS LIVE ON

Ghost King by David Gemmell

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TRENDS DIE OUT/LEGENDS LIVE ON:

GHOST KING by David Gemmell

A review by INFAMOUS🦀

 

David Gemmell might not be one of the most popular sword and sorcery writers perhaps, but his work truly has been a gift to those of us who admire captivating characters, well thought-out plot lines, and the ‘magic’ of fairy stories of old,  combining  history and fantasy uniquely.

Ghost King in many aspects could be loosely compared to the legend of King Arthur, but only on the surface. Once we take a deep dive into the core of it we realize that this is an original and exquisite tale that should be shared and praised throughout the ages.

PLOT:

The kingdom of the Romano-Britons finds itself without a king when Brigante King Eldared murders King Aurelius in a hunting ambush. However, Prince Thuro, son of Aurelius, manages to escape and with the aid of very powerful and unexpected allies regroups to regain his father’s kingdom and take back the throne.

As you can see, the general plot line is pretty straightforward but where Gemmell excels is in making this story unique by presenting characters that are not flat or one-dimensional and sub-plots that we might not expect, yet  ‘make sense’.

 

TEEN CHARACTERS: 

Prince Thuro and Laitha are first introduced as teenagers. Commonly teen characters, as written in modern times, come off as insufferable due to either being portrayed as exceedingly talented and self-confident for their age or as nitwits with low self-esteem. Not here!

For example, when Thuro is asked who he really is, his answer is:

 

“I am a young man, barely of age, who needs wise counsel from trusted friends”

 

How could we not get to side with a character like Thuro? He is ignorant/innocent, inexperienced, and he knows it. While he does not quit on his task to regain the throne from the usurper he realizes he can’t do it alone and he is conscious of his age and limitations.

 

SECONDARY CHARACTERS: 

Other characters that we will find intriguing and well defined throughout the story are:

  • The three retainers Victorious, Gwalchmai, and Caradoc, who manage to survive the ambush on their king and ride back to their homeland to regroup and raise an army.
  • The Enchanter Maedhlyn, who allegedly inspired the building of Troy and took Alexander “to the brink of domination”. A ‘Merlin’ character who seems to have had influence over several historical figures according to the lore of Ghost King:
  • Demigod Culain, who turns out to be Thuro’s grandfather and makes the critical decision to give up his immortality out of sheer love
  • King Eldared who engages the Soul Stealers, terrible wraiths of doom with invincibility and great speed to usurp the throne
  • Prasamaccus the crippled brigante who saves Victorinus from the threat of the Atrols (giant creatures sent by Eldared)
  • Goroien the Witch, who constantly requires the sacrifice of pregnant women in order to maintain her eternal youth

 

And of course we gotta have a legendary sword… The Sword of Cunobelin, lost when the king was murdered. Thuro must rescue it in order to reclaim the throne.

PROSE:

Gemmell is very clear with the prosaic style he decided to adopt in the foreword:

 

“The language used is relatively modern, and undoubtedly there will be some students who find it jarring to read of arrows being ‘fired’, when of course the expression evolved only after the introduction of matchlock muskets.”

 

This is the best move any author can make when choosing a style of language for a similar epic fantasy tale. When unsure, write in the most neutral style you can manage. Don’t try to be Shakespeare and don’t try to use modern XXI slang either. When you use a neutral language you let the reader’s imagination take the driver’s seat, and that’s a good thing.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

If you don’t know David Gemmell, grab a copy of Ghost King and be delighted with high quality epic fantasy that is compelling, imaginative, but also well thought-out and professionally presented. The blend of history with fantasy is exactly what I personally appreciate more than anything, and that’s why we will cover book 2 soon:

The Last Sword of Power

Don’t miss it!

🦀

Fantasy, Historical, Interview

Interview with the Brothers Krynn

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Interviewed by

🦀: Both of you gentlemen are like writing machines, with a very extensive body of work. So why did you choose Crown of Blood as your first published title?

 

Joseph & Daniel: It seemed a short project and one we both liked, so we just did it. 

🦀: The book revolves around the bloody history of the crown of Caledonia (now Scotland). Why did you decide to focus on that particular region to develop your story on?

 

Joseph: Because we’re part Scottish and since I first began studying Scottish Medieval history & folklore I developed a strong sense of kinship with the Scots, and could not resist developing something of a mythology for them. 

🦀: Even though Crown of Blood is structured into short stories, they’re all part of a larger tale. Did you feel like this wouldn’t have worked as well if it were to be presented as just one long story divided into chapters instead?

 

Joseph & Daniel: No, it would not have worked half as well, due to us having to stick to one overall narrative/set of characters rather than dancing between all the characters that we follow the perspective of in the story. That, and it would have been even more confusing in our view. 

🦀: As a reader progresses into the book, more characters and more names are being introduced, and sometimes many characters have the same names as their predecessors. Did you not consider that at some point things could get a little confusing for readers in general?

 

Joseph: Yeah, and it’s why for the sequel and next edition we’re planning to add a family tree and a map. 

🦀: I was particularly fascinated by the ‘three crones’ that keep appearing here and there throughout the book. Who are they really and what are their origins?

 

Daniel: The three crones are from Shakespeare, they are the three hags that corrupt Macbeth in the play, except we’ve set them up in our world. As to their origin, not sure we’ve fully developed all the ideas for their backstory, but we’re currently working on it. 

 

🦀: Today there seems to be confusion about what the image of the classic knight should look like. If you had to condense the elements that cannot be altered from the model of the classic knight, how would you do that?

 

Joseph: Honourable, intelligent and bold, and utterly devout. I’d say Aragorn, Roland and also the likes of Conan the Cimmerian are all good examples of classic knights. 

🦀: With modern feminism, we have seen a rise in both literature and entertainment to create female heroines, soldiers, and knights. These women are basically doing what men do in every aspect. Do you think that is how we ought to portray ‘strong women’?

 

Joseph: Nope. We ought to portray women as feminine. We can portray women as fierce warriors but must never forget to write flawed and human women, who struggle just as men do but who have a certain femininity about them. Honestly feminism has ruined female heroes. 

🦀: Speaking of strong women, it is no secret that my all time favorite strong woman is Joan of Arc. But she never even killed one man in battle (though got wounded herself on the battlefield twice) and she is not known for her skills in combat or sword fighting. Yet her strength humbles me and inspires me daily. Why is someone like Joan not praised today (not even by women!) despite the fact that our society is constantly looking for superheroines for inspiration?

 

 

Joseph: Because for one thing Jehanne was a pious woman who looked to God, and society has lost touch with God. What is more is that Jehanne was a gentle woman who loved her nation, and to love one’s nation is also out of style in our modern times. Jehanne thus represents everything that is antithetical to modernity and liberalism; a pious, kindly, feminine and nationalistic woman who sacrificed for others. 

🦀:  When can we expect your next official publication to come out and what is it going to be about?

 

Daniel & Joseph: Not sure…Joe’s hoping to have Darkspire Conspiracy published some time next year. And we’re thinking around January or February to have Crown of Blood Part 2 finished and hopefully published. After that? We’re also hoping to publish around December the first book of Olympnomachi, a massive Silmarillion epic Joe’s been working on for years. 

 

🦀: Thank you Joseph and Daniel, I’m very proud of you and what you are doing is perhaps even more noble than you can see right now. Your writing tells me that NEW LEGENDS are being made!

🦀

Fantasy, Historical, Reviews

Crown of Blood by D.L. & J.C. Chaput

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CROWN OF BLOOD by by Daniel Leo Chaput & Joseph Claude Chaput

Reviewed by

Crown of Blood was the result of the combined minds of brothers Daniel and Joseph Chaput, also known as the Brothers Krynn on Substack. Bros Krynn are perhaps the most prolific and inspiring authors on Substack, just now passing the 1000-sub mark, and deservingly so! Their body of work is as extended as it is inspiring. From their essays to their short stories to their news articles, these two are constantly researching and writing!

Their first published book is a collection of short stories which are all linked by a common thread: the bloody and violent history of the crown of Caledonia (now Scotland). Each short story is written by either Daniel, or Joseph, or both, in a relentless chronological fashion, and each story is accompanied by short poems, also written by the authors.

 

CONTENTS:

 

    • In the Valley of the Dark River: where we learn of the fall of king of the Caleds, Mael-Martin after an impetuous and disastrous military strategic decision.
    • The Final Supper: King Domnall, frustrated at ruling a kingdom in dissent, shows weakness that his family sought to take advantage of, and ultimately ends up being assassinated.
    • The Man who thought himself King: Ringear, brother of the late King Domnall, now High King and monarch of the Eastern region, deals with the phantoms of his deceased relatives, including his own son.
    • Brother against Brother: King Achaius kidnaps Princess Isla, not knowing that a Northman temporarily serving as head of his guards will get in the way.
    • In the Shadow of the Longwoods: Duibh, son of Ringear, now king, has a strange meeting with the three mysterious crones who prophesy his fate.
    • Death in Hallowed Halls: Newly appointed King Domnall son of Ringean is counseled into gaining the support of the clergy to keep in power.
    • The Fall of the Two Kings: Padraig, with the aid of Mormaer Adaidh, infiltrates King Ketill disguised as a monk in order to claim revenge on his brothers.
    • The Blackcrow-Fields: Achaius III son of Ketill-with the aid of Uncle Siomon-orchestrates an attack on newly established high king Padraig, to avenge his father.
    • To Defy a Dragon: Achaius III is set upon attacking Razenth in the North despite the counseling of Cinaed to abstain from taking the offensive.
    • The Black Mormaer: newly appointed high king Baltair, brother of foolish Achaius III, decides to heavily tax his kingdom in order to raise an army, only to be taken prisoner and ultimately die in captivity.
    • A Dagger in the Night: prince and soon to be king Amlaib falls in love with bard Jehanne despite court gossip surrounding the event.
    • The Mid-Autumn Hunt: Amlaib II succeeds his murdered father to the dismay of Cinaid II who was sure he’d be the one to gain the crown.
    • The Triumph of the Thistle: Siomon MacCausantín returns to claim the crown from murderer-turned-king Cinaed II.

 

BACK TO TRUE MYTHOS:

What sets this book apart from most of what I’ve read lately is its unique blend of the historical with the mythological. And so as we read all about the fascinating history of Medieval Scotland, we will witness the introduction of mythological characters such as the dark elves, the dwarves, and even dragons. But this is done in a way that has not been done before. Today we see an oversaturated market for the  fantasy fiction genre, but very few classic ‘fairy stories’. By fairy stories I’m referring to stories more resembling those of Roland The Knight, King Arthur, or Sigurd, to name a few. 

PLOT:

The stories you will read all revolve around a seemingly cursed crown of Caledonia. You will read of the three mysterious crones (witches?) who prophesied the death in blood for each subsequent monarch to hold the crown and how the curse will affect not only the high king but those around him, in some very unpredictable ways, and from one generation to the next.

 

HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT:

Initially these stories were supposed to be part of the appendix of a novel Joseph Chaput was working on when his brother Dan became so fascinated with the characters that it transformed into its own project (similar to what has been done with some of Tolkien’s material).

A WORD OF CAUTION:

I must point out that due to the very nature of the work in dealing with genealogy and each story presenting descendants after descendants, readers must be cautious not to get thrown off by all the names and locations they will encounter. Particularly when many of the characters are named after their predecessors, it can be hard to keep track of who is who, jumping from one story to the next. I found myself having to go back and forth to make sure I could identify each next character accurately. Those of you who are into history and the study of genealogies should be fine or even appreciate it.

 

LEGENDS IN THE MAKING:

On a personal note, I must say that the Bros. Krynn and I truly speak the same language (not French, even though that’s their first language!). I mean the language of TRUE LEGENDS! 

We live in a world where progressive modernism is trying to grab those legends, myths, and fairy tales of old, and twist them to suit their deranged fancies. Bros. Krynn are a bastion of truth, honor and respect for what came before us, and they are able to capture the essence of myth and legend within an accurate, undefiled, historical setting.

BUY THIS/SPREAD THE WORD:

This book is not getting the attention it truly deserves on the market right now and I encourage you to pick up a copy and leave a review. At the time I picked up mine there was only ONE review on Amazon! Help us change that!

There is NO OTHER author/s out there who is doing what the Bros. Krynn are doing, in terms of writing true mythos in its purest form. 

Though Crown is their first official publication, Bros Krynn plan on releasing part two early next year and a full-length novel called Brotherhood of the Gemstone, a “Scottish Lord of the Rings of sorts” (Joseph Chaput).

New LEGENDS are in fact being made!

🦀

Fantasy, Historical, Reviews

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

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A review by 

I was at first on the fence about whether to upload this review or not. But hindsight I felt like this could serve as a lesson on:

  1. What to do
  2. What not to do 

…as a fiction writer. 

 

Let me first go on record stating that Christopher Buehlman is an objectively GOOD writer. He knows how to build a world with interesting characters and plot lines, at least judging by Between Two Fires, the only book of his I’ve ever read so far.

The issues I found in this book, however, are significant and my suspicion is that these are more a result of the worldview lens Buehlman applies to see the world through, and Christianity in particular.

 

PLOT:

The story catapults us into XIV plague-ridden France where the lives of three seemingly different characters converge under some very special circumstances:

  • Thomas: a former knight with a grudge
  • Delphine: a young orphan girl with strange supernatural gifts
  • Matthieu: a priest with personal secrets

When Thomas saves Delphine’s life, he doesn’t realize that he has also committed his sword to not only protect the young girl but to also aid her in a mysterious mission allegedly imparted by the angels of Heaven themselves. In their journey, Pierre Matthieu, a priest addicted to wine and with same-sex attraction tags along, having nothing else left in his hometown now devastated by the plague.

Their journey will create a strong bond. Working together just out of mere survival, these three main characters start to care for one another genuinely.

HISTORICAL TIME AND PLACE:

What I really appreciated about BTF is how the description of medieval France is well executed.  The towns, rivers, bridges, houses, palaces, all feel accurate. This comes to no surprise since the author majored in History with a minor in French, and it shows. For a guy from Florida, US, to write about period France in such an accurate manner, I couldn’t ask for more verisimilitude, honestly. Well done.

This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.

NEGATIVE REMARKS:

  1. The author delights in the use of profanity, coarse language, crude jokes, and seems to have some weird obsession with anything related to feces and genitalia.

I understand that some of the characters might not be ‘saints’ (pun intended) but there are ways to communicate certain data to the readers without being so graphic to the point that it seems as though the author actually revels in this excessive graphic language. Reality is that it is NOT essential for plot or character building at all, and it just becomes annoying and ‘cheapens’ the overall quality of the book.

This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.

2. The author, throughout the story, seems to be taking jabs, albeit subtle, at the Christian faith. Whether this is intentional or the result of general biblical ignorance on behalf of Buehlman, that’s debatable. But he manages to reduce the Christian faith to nothing more than a pagan set of beliefs adept for backward people without a thinking brain.

For example, when Delphine tries to get Thomas to swear less:

 

Delphine “Maybe God would be more generous if you swore less.” 

Thomas “God starves babies sometimes, and they don’t swear at all.”

 

Of course the author can say that this is simply part of the character, but similar examples are found over and over throughout the book. Maybe the author thinks those are clever arguments that would make readers realize how silly Christianity is? Only the author really knows.

But as a reviewer I can tell you that those continuous remarks and innuendos are not helping the book overall, especially when these jabs are always one sided (there are no similar examples aimed at-say- atheists or other religious groups in this story.)

This is an excerpt from an Amazon review of this book.

CONCLUSION:

Between Two Fires is an excellent story with rich characters and compelling plot lines. The accuracy of depiction of medieval France being devastated by the plague is superb. The prose flaws nicely and it is all very professionally put together.

Unfortunately within it there is too much of that Game of Thrones depraved, nihilistic vibe that taints an otherwise 5-star quality read. Bloated with profanity and unnecessary coarse language, constantly taking jabs at Christianity, singling out the Christian faith as another form of paganism for dimwitted country folk, this book is an amalgamation of peaks and valleys, going back and forth from excellent to cringeworthy. And that’s a shame.

🦀

Fantasy, Reviews, Western

And Hell Followed with Him by Mage Leader

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And Hell Followed With Him: The Circuit of Reverend Sheffield, Volume 1

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“So this is what it takes for you to finally draw your weapon,” he said. “Two dead men and a wife whose world has just been torn asunder. You wear the badge, Sheriff, but it bears no meaning.”

 

It seems ironic how the last couple of novels I reviewed both felt like I was watching a movie more than anything.

And Hell Followed With Him is one of those stories reminiscent of the classic ‘spaghetti westerns’ some of us in the older crowd grew up with. This book checks all the boxes: gunslingers with happy trigger finger, a small town in the clutches of terrible bandits, a good guy and a villain who are as opposite as they are also very alike in nature, a cowardly city mayor, a woman who is as beautiful as is brave in the face of adversities… You get the picture.

 

PLOT:

Civil war vet-turned-preacher Reverend Sheffield finds himself in the role of protector of a small town when he heads to preach the gospel at Pearson’s Hope, and he must use more than Bible verses to get rid of the gangsters who are oppressing the defenseless townsfolk. Of course he doesn’t like to resort to violence but he will, hoping that God will understand and forgive him. Little does he know that the city mayor himself is in cahoots with the leader of the bandits, who turns out to be another war vet who fought side by side with Sheffield himself.

 

TOO SAFE AN APPROACH?

This story can be entertaining and I certainly admire the fact that the author doesn’t mock Christianity or try to make the reader second guess the values and principles upheld in the Bible. Sheffield has made a vow to preach the gospel and I admire that.

Where I think the author fails however is in adopting an overly safe approach to the western genre. So safe indeed, that at times it becomes even too predictable, in my opinion. 

From the opening scene, to the villain, to the secondary characters, it all comes off as an overly choreographed effort.

SO DIFFERENT YET SO ALIKE:

The relationship between good guy and villain follows a very traditional pattern whereas they are both similar in nature: both served in the war, both have natural born killer instincts, both are made to be leaders. However, the way the war affected their outlook on life is where they differ. Though both came out of the war bitter and disgruntled, one turned to the Gospel of Christ while the other decided to use his skills to take whatever he pleases and, in a way, make himself his own god.

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

There are plenty of ‘moments’ that make this book worth reading. The suspense preceding the coordinated attack of the enemy upon the town, the moment Sheffield lets go of all his fears and doubts and just hands it over to the Lord, willing to die with a smile for what is right, even though they are grossly outnumbered… I was on the edge in a few scenes, I must admit!

 

CONCLUSION:

Though Hell Followed Him at times plays it too safe, it offers a revival of all those elements that make for a solid Western drama. Another good story I’d rather read than watch any of the recent summer flicks Hollywood keeps regurgitating to audiences everywhere!

🦀 

Action, Adventure, Historical, Reviews

The Mark of Zorro – A Review

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(1940 Film)

 

I saw this movie on TV as a very young boy and remembered very little about it. I rewatched it recently and, despite its flaws, it is more relevant than ever.

The Universal Scenario:

I don’t know about the recent Zorro productions (for all I know they gender-swapped the character and made the masked kickass grrrlboss fight against “white supremacy” or something–I’m not gonna bother finding out), but otherwise, all the incarnations have a similar backdrop: a tyrannical military-political complex has institutionalized injustice and oppresses both the peons and caballeros alike. Crushing taxes are the usual instrument of oppression, but just as with today’s IRS, the Alcalde of Los Angeles has enough armed goons to murder or imprison anybody who doesn’t bend the knee.

Don Diego de la Vega, son of Alejandro de la Vega, has been sent away to a military academy in Spain where he grew from a boy to a young man–and also the top cadet in his class thanks to his swordsmanship and horsemanship. He gets a letter from his father which compels him to quit the academy before graduation and return to California immediately. He is chapped about not getting his commission, but obeys his father and bids his fellow cadets goodbye.

It isn’t until he reaches California that the reason for his father’s urgent message becomes clear: Don Alejandro has been forced into retirement as Alcalde, and replaced by a cruel, corrupt tyrant. Don Diego grieves for his people. Then when somebody (a priest or monk in some versions) expresses their desire for an avenging angel to intervene, he is inspired. He will disguise himself as El Zorro (the Fox) to play Robin Hood in Los Angeles. The corrupt government will be unable to retaliate against his family, because his true identity is kept secret.

Characters in this Version:

Linda Darnell plays love interest Lolita Quintero, niece of the new Alcalde, who rankles at the injustice her uncle causes. Darnell is one of the quiet beauties of that era, and a good choice for the part.

Linda Darnell and Tyrone Power.

Actor Eugene Pallette reprises his role of Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin Hood, only now he is called Fray Felipe and he’s in Los Angeles instead of Nottingham. And he doesn’t fight with a quarter staff. But I think he might wear the same costume.

J. Edward Bromberg plays the new Alcalde as a weak, cowardly Prince John Type. He’s like a mixture of Tim Walz and a less demented Joe Biden–but just as much of a tool. However, he’s not a complete fool.

Capitan Esteban Pasquale is the Alcalde’s egomaniacal muscle, who is really running the show through the petty politician, who he intimidates into compliance. Basil Rathbone really broke his foot off in this role–and with minimal screen time.

Tyrone Power does well as the swashbuckling Zorro, but is perhaps too convincing as the effeminate fop Don Diego pretends to be so as to avoid anyone suspecting him as the masked outlaw.

Character Folly:

Can’t really blame Tyrone Power for this, as I doubt he wrote the script, but he’s a little too foolish to be in the resistance business. It reminds me of the unmasking-in-public fetish so prevalent in the Marvel movies. Within days of donning the guise of the Fox, he begins revealing his secret to everyone but his father (who buys into his son’s metrosexual facade and is ashamed).

First Friar Tuck Fray Felipe is read in on Operation Zorro.

Then Lolita. Simply brilliant, Don Diego. After all, she’s beautiful, which of course means she is morally pure and will be faithful to you until the end of time. Not only that, women never gossip or reveal secrets. At least special women, which you are convinced of beyond any doubt after spending maybe a cumulative hour within her presence.

Don Diego blows his cover spectacularly.

But that’s not nearly careless enough. Don Diego has to pull all the stops out to spread his folly wider and farther. He intentionally blows his cover to Capitan Pasquale and the Alcalde. He kills the former in a sword fight, so I guess that loose end is tied up. But the latter has him arrested and jailed. Great plan, Don Diego.

Zorro Through the Ages:

Tyrone Power was pretty adroit for the role. There are some nice action sequences in The Mark of Zorro  to keep you entertained, but this movie doesn’t hold up as well as I’d hoped.

But then, not many do. I watched the original silent version with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. It proved my attention span has dwindled along with my hearing since I was a young man.

There was a Zorro movie from Spain (or was it Italy?) that made the rounds on network TV back in the day that I enjoyed as a child (“Here’s to being free/Here’s to you and me/La la la la la el Zorro’s back!”) but wasn’t much impressed by when I found it at a public library and watched as an adult.

Out of all the actors who’ve played Zorro over the years, it’s actually Guy Williams I like the best. That’s right–I’m referring to the old Disney series. Williams’ Don Diego was more of a troubadour than a dandy, but he was both believable and admirable in the role. As Zorro, he buckles a swash with the best of them.

Another mark in Disney’s favor is that, though many tried to discover Zorro’s true identity and some came close, Williams’ Don Diego didn’t spill the beans to anybody but his father and their mute servant. In other words, close, trustworthy allies.

What Disney did (back before being handed over to a depraved mind) was preserve the character’s utility for future adventures.

The typical formula (with Zorro’s identity becoming known to all by the end of the story) could be remade, but sequels weren’t much of an option after the public unmasking.

 

CONCLUSION

Zorro is a fantastic character just dying for a mythic treatment. Maybe that’s what some film makers were shooting for. Nobody has quite pulled it off to the extent that would satisfy me as a fan.

 

Historical, Reviews, TRENDS DIE OUT; LEGENDS LIVE ON

Idolatry: a Romance by Julian Hawthorne

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A Review by

Welcome back to TRENDS DIE OUT/LEGENDS LIVE ON. Today we will look at the second book by Julian Hawthorne in this series. All through the book, the author writes as the reader’s personal guide, and as if we were ethereal spirit beings not bound by either space or time, invisible to human eyes. 

And so chapter 1 (The Enchanted Ring) becomes one of the most brilliant opening chapters that I’ve ever read. The prosaic style is a thing of LEGENDS and it transports us first-hand into an old and majestic hotel in Boston circa 1850s, where two guest rooms will be of particular interest all throughout the story. Room 1 occupied by Egypt-born Manetho and Room 2 occupied by Balder Helwyse.

How the lives of these two men intertwine will represent the heartbeat of the plot.

PLOT:

You will learn the backstory of how Thor Helwyse was an American by birth, descendant of a Danish family of high station and antiquity. Inheriting the restless spirit of his ancestors, he falls in with Dr. Hiero Glyphic (his name was Henry but purposely changed it). Hiero embraces Thor as a brother once they come back from their adventures in foreign lands along with a young Egyptian lad, Manetho (during one of their trips to Egypt, Hiero rescues and adopts a young Manetho who carries a very unusual and ancient diamond attached to a necklace, which later will be turned into a diamond ring). 

Thor falls in love and marries Glyphic’s step-sister, Helen. Helen and Manetho have a secret affair. Tragically and mysteriously Helen dies. Manetho blames Thor for her death. Thor, now with a young son Balder, decides to once again go abroad and get lost in the sea and in distant lands. He drowns. 

Balder, now in his adult age, comes back to Boston to reconnect with uncle Hiero. Manetho has harbored revenge ever since the death of Helen, mother of Balder. With a striking resemblance to his dad, Balder soon becomes the target of vengeful thoughts for Manetho, who meanwhile inherited Hiero’s property after he passed. 

 

REVENGE:

This is a story of revenge but also a story of redemption. The fabulous prose of Hawthorne is a thing of LEGENDS and the deep inner exploration of each character’s psyche is so rich and complex that it can be challenging at times to dissect but also very rewarding.

 

CLOSING REMARKS:

Is this a slow-burner? It is, but the richness of the writer’s grammar, the emotions he is able to infuse in his characters will leave you in awe. This is not your typical piece of fiction, but it stands as a LEGEND that will stand the test of time, and that I strongly encourage you to pick up!

🦀

Action, Adventure, Espionage, Historical, Sci-Fi, Socio-Sexual Studies, Speculative, Sports, TEOTWAWKI

Behold the Based Book Bargains Blast

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As mentioned before, the latest novel in the Paradox Series was released in time for Father’s Day.

If you haven’t heard of the Paradox Series yet, it’s a time travel sports adventure that begins as a coming-of-age tale in the first novel and climaxes as a wild conspiracy thriller in Book Six (coming in a couple few months). Themes of manhood/masculinity, leadership, and truth vs. popular perception run through the entire course of the overarching plot.

I’m happy to report that all five books in the series so far have been category bestsellers. Five for five is batting really well. Even though I’d still like to stretch the envelope of success, I didn’t even imagine the series would do this well back when I decided to break up the Super Great American Mega-Novel.

More important to you is that right now, you’ve still got a little time to pick up the entire series (plus the entire Retreads Series) at 99 cents per full-length novel. This is not just  on Amazon, but all the online stores with E-Books for sale (linked throughout this post, along with the ‘Zon series pages).

My books, plus dozens more, are all heavily discounted at the Summer Based Book Sale. As always, there are more books by more authors than the previous sale.

 

Non-woke authors are providing alternatives to the ubiquitous Globohomo narratives that are disgusting you and targeting your children. We all want an escape in our entertainment. Consider buying it from people who don’t hate you.

Sadly for you, the sale ends Wednesday morning.