It's been a while since the last post and hope this one finds you all well.
Writing was slow this summer, but it's getting back on track. I'm actually working on two projects right now.
One of them is the third book in the Homeland series. This installment is titled 'Every Blade of Grass' and is proving to be very enjoyable to write.Why? If the title sounds familiar, you can guess what's in store...
I'll post a preview soon. But first, here's a look at the cover idea I like best so far.
We thought it could never happen in America. We were wrong.
The second installment of the Homeland series begins as America reels from economic collapse, terrorist attacks, and the loss of the power grid. For some, these hardships bring out the best qualities of the human spirit. Neighbors help neighbors as Freeport pulls together to feed the hungry and maintain rule of law. But there are others determined not to let this crisis go to waste. The new regime enacts currently existing executive orders to seize control of the population and fundamentally change the country. Patriotism is labeled terrorism. Dissent is deemed treason. Citizens must register and turn over their firearms in order to eat. To resist is to die. To disagree is to disappear. The American people are soon plunged into a hellish, collectivist nightmare that grows worse each day. Something must be done before all hope is lost.
Thematically, Executive Orders lies at the intersection of Jericho, Red Dawn, and Schindler’s List.
Eager to find out will happen next to Sheriff Hank Sexton as he tries to hold the town of Freeport together in the face of overwhelming odds? Maybe you stay awake at night, wondering if Hank's son, Army Sergeant Cole Sexton, will ever make it home. And where in the heck is Eduardo going?
Go here to preorder Executive Orders, the second chapter in the Homeland Saga and be among the first to find out!
Order now to get the early reader appreciation price of only $0.99!
I love the Game of Thrones series
on HBO. I also enjoyed the books it was based on…mostly (they move painfully
slow, but that’s for another time.)
G.R.R.
Martin is five books into his A Song of
Ice and Fire series, the first of which was published in 1996. He has since
published a new volume every five years or so.
The TV
series began in March of 2010 and is now in its sixth season. Each season
roughly follows a book in the series. As a result, plot of the TV show has now
caught up with the plot of the books. The sixth book is due this year (maybe).
The next book (which I believe is set to be the series finale) will likely be
published around 2021.
So here is
Martin’s dilemma:
1.At
this rate, the TV show will be the ultimate spoiler for his last one or two books
if they follow the same plot. The remaining books will just be a rehash of the
TV show (which would be an interesting reversal of the usual pattern).
So he can’t do that, can he?
2.If
the books follow a different story arc, fans’ heads will explode, the Ice and
Fire universe will be torn asunder. I’m talking biblical proportions here: Human
sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.
So he can’t do that either, can he?
So
what is Martin to do?
We'll just have to wait and see. He's a very smart guy. I'm sure he'll figure something out.
With Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice now showing, we are switching gears a bit to venture into the world of super heroes, their alter egos, and why nobody in the comics/movies can figure them out.
Why no one can figure
out Clark Kent is Superman;a writer’s journey into
meaningless research by Nathan Wall
How
many of you know who Eric Lipton is? No takers? Don’t worry; you’ll see what he
has to do with this article in a bit.
Batman
v. Superman comes out soon and there’s a question that has always plagued my
mind. Why can no one can figure out Clark Kent is Superman?
In
comic lore, there’s no short of weird or fantastical explanations—from Clark’s
ability to alter facial muscles to his perception altering glasses. However,
none of the reasons given
in the comics are depicted on the silver screen.
So
we’re going to analyze this quandary from as close to a real world perspective as
we can. I’ll use plausible explanations
(because someone who absorbs solar radiation and turns it into energy to fly is
plausible).
In
Man of Steel, Smallville, and briefly in the 1978 film, we begin with Clark in his
hometown interacting with fellow citizens without his trademark glasses, before
eventually growing into the most iconic superhero of all time. If you grow up
around someone, you’re going to remember what they look like. Wouldn’t you?
We’re
familiar with the tale. A teenage Clark goes on a journey after Pa Kent dies to
learn about his Kyrptonian heritage and train to become Superman. He eventually
returns to civilization in his early 30’s. In the movies, it’s never really
said HOW long Clark is gone, but given his apparent age difference in Donner
film number one, it’s safe to assume 10-12 years has past.
Man
of Steel would support this theory. Clark holds many jobs ranging from bus boy
to a deep sea fisherman. He walks from Kansas to somewhere well north of the
Yukon. We never see him do it at supersonic speeds, and it’s likely he never
uses his powers since his whole life was spent trying to blend in. For the sake
of argument, we’ll say 12 years has passed from his time as a teenager to when
he first wears the red cape.
Now,
you tell me, how many people from high school would you recognize today? I’m
not talking about the one’s you kept up with. I’m talking about the random ones
who send you Facebook requests and you have to verify a connection through
mutual friends.
What
if you saw these former classmates from a long distance, moving super fast? You
probably wouldn’t recognize many, if any, of them.
The
world has north of 7 billion people. The chances any one person would run into
Superman is low, much less see him moving at less than the speed of a bullet. If
Superman stayed in just one city all the time (Metropolis) with the population
of 8 million, and saw 100 people a day, what are the chances he would randomly
see the same person twice? For our case, this is a purely random experiment, and
the 100 people are always different until he’s seen them all.
Well,
it would take him about 220 years to see every single person just once, moving
at supersonic speeds at times. Damn.
You’re
probably going to cry foul. “Clark Kent runs into more than 100 people on his
way to work each day, and those people are often going to be familiar faces
after a while.”
That’s
true, but you have to consider that the regular citizen of Metropolis is going
to assume Superman could be anyone. So we must separate those Clark sees
every day from the number Superman sees every day.
But
wait, there’s more. The average person gets a surge of adrenaline when
something catastrophic happens—like their plane falling out of a sky—and their
memory as a result is jaded or warped. It’s moments like this when someone is most
likely to run into Superman. How much are you going to remember of Superman, other
than he’s tall, muscular, and washes himself with Old Spice?
This
factor is called acute stress and chronic stress. Saving the super-scientific
details like glands and hormones for Film Theory, just know chronic and acute
stress have very powerful affects on memory.
If
you’re randomly running into Superman, you’re using short term memory.
According to Miller’s Law, most people only remember about 5-9 details when
shown a list of items or an event. So how would a clash with Zod in the
financial district affect that number? Well, we’d have to look at Acute Stress.
Acute
Stress is the reaction to an immediate perceived threat. There have been mixed
findings which show acute stress can have both negative effects on short term
memory or actually enhance it. However, in order for it to enhance memory, the part
of the brain being affected by stress needs to align with the part of
the brain recording the memory. The stress induction must come BEFORE the
memory starts recording. In other words, for Acute Stress to positively affect
short term memory, many things must happen. Yet, there’s another form of stress
which would trump Acute Stress.
Chronic
stress affecting the population of Metropolis is an entirely different animal.
Chronic stress is the constant subjection to (you guessed it) stressful events.
Essentially, it puts your body in a continuous state of fight-or-flight,
negatively affecting your ability to learn and remember details.
Yikes!
Those poor people of Metropolis. They always have to worry about Darkseid
invading, Braniac infiltrating their power grid, or even massive super
continents built of kryptonite popping up a few miles off shore. Wait, we want to forget
that one ever happened? Ok. I can’t blame you. Anyway, I’d
certainly say Metropolis lives in a constant state of stress. Simply put, many
people have a hard
time remembering the orders and details of a shared event even
if they aren’t stressed.
For
instance, when police gather information on a child abduction or a store
robbery, they’ll gather info from a large group of bystanders. It’s rare any
two people have the exact same recollection of the event.
Consider
when Superman was originally created. Compare it to the last 15-30 years. It
used to be most people stayed close to their hometown after high school. The
media available to us 24/7 wasn’t anything like it is now. That means the
Superman of George Reeves’ era wasn’t dealing with people from Smallville
showing up in Metropolis to see him strut around in blue tights. It’s most
likely no one outside of Metropolis would’ve ever seen video or pictures of him
during that era.
Obviously,
Superman must now account for things like Social Media, the world being more
mobile, facial recognition software and so forth, but at the time of his
creation none of that was an issue. The people from the Daily Planet and
Smallville would know Clark Kent as a bumbling nerd who probably has premature
issues in bed, not some suave muscular god destroying giant robots with his
bare hands. In fact, Superman’s best mask is Clark Kent and those normal glasses.
I
can’t help but feel this isn’t done yet. After all, none of this answers why
Lois (outside of MOS) never figured him out, or why Lex Luthor couldn’t put
2&2 together. Maybe there is something else I am missing. Something right
in front of us all in the many different theatrical versions of Superman. Wait
a minute. That’s it!
Each
version of Superman is completely different because we’re not looking into a
continuous story. We’re looking into snapshots of multiple realities!
Think
about it. How many super villains is Superman really going to come across in
his career? How many times is it going to be required for him to fight in the
open while hundreds of snapshots are being uploaded to Twitter? It’s likely
only a fraction of a percent of the times Superman is needed to save the day actually
involve a super-powered being. While certainly enough to induce chronic stress,
it’s rare enough that most of his interactions are still going to be him
swooping by too fast to see.
You
can’t identify what you don’t see.
It’s
likely the version of Metropolis we see in the movies is actually a glimpse
into several other realities. Viewers of CW series The Flash know what I mean.
In
my opinion, any one Superman from any given version of earth only has one
interaction with Lex Luthor and not multiple, giving him less of a chance to be
identified. Any one Superman is probably only fighting one of Bizaro, Doomsday or
Braniac, and not all of them. How do I come to that conclusion?
Well,
in the Dark Knight Saga, Christopher Nolan took a realistic view into the world
of Batman. Over the course of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne
was Batman for six years. I figure that based on the age of Gordon’s kids in BB
vs. TDK.
Over
the span of those six years, Batman only fought two world class villains (Ra’s
al Ghul and The Joker). The rest of the time he took on petty and organized
crime, away from the lights and spectacle of City Surveillance, Police, Eyes of
the Press and Social Media coverage. It was then another 8 years until Bane
showed up, and his 3-4 month rule over Gotham. That’s three super villains in
14 years.
So
let’s assume some of the 100 completely random, chronically stressed people who
do get to see Superman up close do so in a situation that doesn’t involve a
villain like Metallo. We’ll say Superman saves
a kitten from a tree for a little girl. Surely those people
would remember Superman’s face and figure out he’s Clark Kent!
Um,
no. Remember Eric Lipton?
Clark
Kent is a news reporter for the Daily Planet, not an on air personality. He
also does his research all over the globe. How many investigative journalists
who do pieces on Mayan ruins do you know of, much less would recognize on the
street?
Holy
CRAP! Look at Eric’s picture! If it weren’t for those geeky glasses and
haircut, he could be…No. No f*cking way! Ladies and gentleman, have we found
Superman? Can’t be. Superman doesn’t NEED a secret identity. He’s always
Superman! That’s the exact mentality of the
people in Metropolis. They just don’t believe a guy like Superman is doing anything
other than being Super.
In
conclusion, let’s examine the facts. Most encounters with Superman will involve
him moving too fast to be noticed. Even if Superman runs into 300 random people
a day, it’s going to take more than the average American lifespan to see them
all more than once. Factors like chronic and acute stress are going to warp
people’s already fragile memory. Furthermore, not many people would know what
Clark Kent looks like in order to compare his appearance with Superman, if they
even thought Superman had a secret identity at all.
When
factoring in all these modifiers, it’s pretty amazing Lois was able to figure
out Clark’s identity in Man of Steel. In order to avoid future detection, all
Superman has to do is not fly into highly populated areas and stand reverently
with a sad expression on his face while hundreds of people touch him.
I
hope you enjoyed the article. If you did, please give it a share with the
hashtags #EricLiptonIsClarkKent#WhoIsSuperman #BatmanvSuperman #IndieAuthorsRule #DoThisFilmTheory
#DawnofJustice.
Perhaps
y’all will check out my book series “Evolution of Angels.” The latest book in
the series “Artificial Light” was released on February 10, 2016. Please follow me on Twitter @NathanKnwSports
and at Facebook.com/evolutionofangels
Thank you for that thought provoking piece, Nathan. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask a few questions about writing and such...
1.Firstly,
thank you for appearing on the blog to talk about your writing, research, and
some intriguing thoughts on Superman’s alter ego.
I’m very appreciative of this opportunity.
Any chance I can have to reach a new audience, I’ll happily take it. I want to
also use this opportunity to let everyone know that my latest novel,
“Artificial Light” will be available for a free Kindle download on April 1st.
It is part of the Goodreads group “SupportFor Indie Authors,” larger giveaway. If my book isn’t exactly up your
aisle, you’ll probably find something that fascinates you. Please check it out
and support aspiring writers, even if it isn’t me.
2.It’s
obvious that you have done some very in-depth thought and analysis as to why
nobody in Metropolis can figure it out that Clark Kent and Superman are one and
the same. What motivated you to go the extra mile to find this answer?
For one the movie Batman v. Superman is
coming out. I thought the subject timely. A lot of people might be searching
Google for details on Superman, and perhaps scouring the Twittersphere for
anything related to the Man of Steel. Also, it’s a question you hear asked often
along with “how does Superman shave?” Superman was the first modern day
superhero and by far and away the most iconic, which hurts a little given my
affinity for Batman. Yet, aside from his red undies being outside his pants
(which has recently been changed) everyone always makes fun of his disguise. In
fact, as Henry Cavil recently showed, the glasses are actually more than
enough.
3.It
sounds like you enjoy learning the psychology (as in the why) of characters’ behaviors and thoughts. Does this research
affect your own writing? How?
I’m not as far into psychology as you
might think. I’m no expert on Freud. I tend to believe too much research can
hinder creativity. However, I do like dissecting the “why” characters do what
they do.
Humans are naturally motivated. Even the
slacker at home, playing Xbox while stuffing his face with cheetos is motivated
by something. Motivations, more so than religion, politics, ethnicity, gender,
or whatever have you, define who we are and what we become.
For fiction to be entertaining, you need
well established motivations that clash. The most popular series going right
now is Game of Thrones. The interesting characters have complex motivations.
It’s not just them being humble, sarcastic, or pious, but what fuels their
drive.
4.At
the beginning of your post, you also mention the large amount of research you
conduct as a part of your writing. How much research do you perform on an
average book?
Would “a lot” be an acceptable answer?
Haha. For my latest book, I did research on Hindu and Egpytian Mythology, along
with Time Dilation, the different forces (Gravity, both Nuclear, etc) and the
Fermi Paradox. I added this to research from the previous novels.
As I said earlier, too much research can
be a bad thing. After all, how silly does the original Independence Day movie
look now? Basically, what amounts to MSdos took down an advanced alien warship.
That same computer would have a hard time affecting any of our current day
technology, yet it disabled a civilization that’s far beyond what we currently
have today?
The best thing is to do basic fact
research and build your fiction in the plausible, but so far advanced that
current technology never outpaces it. The
worst thing would be to base my world firmly in string theory and have that
disproven 10 years from now. That’s my thought, anyway.
5.It
sounds like you write hard sci-fi but also enjoy the lighter stuff such as
comic books and pulp fiction. What do you read? Why?
I wouldn’t say I write hard SF. As the
books go on, they certainly incorporate more of those elements. There are still
plenty of explosions, breaking arms and betrayal for the average reader. I’m
not busting unintelligible techno babble. I want to appeal to a wide range of
readers. So far, from my reviews, I appear to have done that. Certainly if you
like SF details, this series will have that for you.
I’ll read anything. For the first book in
my series, I wanted to have something a little more militaristic. So I read
thrillers and books dealing with military espionage. For book two, I went in a
paranormal mystery direction, so the Dresden Files was a handy reference.
The next book in my series is a mix of
Spartacus (the tv show) and Stargate, but with Angels and characters from
Norse, Mayan, Yoruba and other mythologies. So, the first Hunger Games is
coming in useful.
6.Tell
us about the world of your Evolution of Angels books.
The series title can be taken literally.
It’s an Evolution of what we expect from Angels. The general premise is that
gods of ancient religions were one-time angels. Things like minotaurs and
werewolves exist, but they exist from science experimentation and not
supernatural means. Demigods (Zues and his ilk breeding with mankind) and
Nephilim (fallen angels fornicated with the daughters of man) become one and
the same.
In Artificial Light, New Zion is a
garrison. Swarga Loka is a hidden planet. In book 4, Helheim is a gladiator
arena and Tartarus is a trading post for prisoners, slaves and gladiators.
In book 1, Evolution of Angels, the series
title was a little more on the nose. The book dealt with soldiers undergoing
the “Double-Helix” project in order to activate latent angelic DNA. Because
this DNA is brought out, they can use special weapons that are only activated
when in contact with angel DNA. That idea was influenced by a paper I read stating
humans have genes passed on by Neanderthals, but in varying degrees. I figured,
well why not angels? So the story was really about the next wave of
angels—their evolution.
7.Is
there a recurring theme in your writing?
Each book builds on the themes of the
last, but then focuses on something specific for its story. While Artificial
Light dealt with fate vs. free will (book 1 theme) and one’s sense of purpose
(book 2 theme), its primary directive was to explore how far someone would go
to fight for what they believe in. Sometimes you risk becoming a villain in
order to be the hero. At what point do you stop and take notice of what you’re
doing? When is your fight no longer worth it, or no longer what you thought
it’d be?
I don’t set out to write my books with a
particular theme in mind. Books that do that tend to be too heavy handed. I
also subscribe to the belief that themes and morals gleaned from texts aren’t always
what the author intended, but what the reader interprets. After all, we can’t
very well ask Robert Frost what he meant by his poem The Road Not Taken.
Whatever he intended doesn’t matter, he’s dead. What’s important is what it
means to us.
8.Your
covers are well done. Do you compose them or hire it out?
I like to draw, but I’m not nearly that
good. I suck it up and hire them out. I’m an indie writer, but I want to
compete with trads in every way possible. I hire beta readers, editors and
artists. I want my book professional. It needs to pass every test a big 5 (or
is it 4 now, can never keep up) publisher would put it through. That doesn’t
mean mistakes aren’t made, but I don’t want the fact I’m an indie to be an
excuse for lack of quality.
Don’t take that as me putting down someone
with a lesser cover, or who self edits. Sometimes finances get in the way, and
other people are better at dissecting their own work. For me, to get it where I
feel proud of it, I seek professional help.
9.What
inspired you to start writing?
I’m a naturally artistic and creative
person. I write music and play many instruments. I do video and film. From a
young age, though, I was always a story teller. When I’d play with action
figures, I’d perform epic storylines. Most boys would just take Batman and slam
him into the Joker. Not with me. There needed to be a purpose. That eventually
morphed into writing.
I like writing the most out of my hobbies
because I can do it anytime, and I can control every aspect of it. I tried
working on scripts with other writers and directors, or compose a song
collectively with a band, but ultimately their influence just got in the way
and worked against whatever vision I had. Being a lone wolf works great for me.
10.Lastly, what do you hope to accomplish as a
writer?
At this point, I’d settle for consistent
reviews. Haha.
I used to have dreams of being a Richard
Castle, or the next GRRM and converting my series into an HBO show, but now I
just hope to leave something behind for my descendants to look at and go “wow,
I’m related to him!”
My father is really big into Ancestry.com.
He did the DNA test and traced our heritage back quite a ways. I’ve got two
ancestors from the Mayflower, many who fought in the revolutionary war, others settled
Texas before it was popular, and even some involved in the crusades. William
the Conqueror is in my bloodline. I’m related to the guy that Mel Gibson’s
character in the Patriot was based off of. How freaking awesome is that?
Yet, the more he finds out, the more I’m enamored
with just seemingly anonymous individuals who settled Alabama, or migrated from
Scandinavia to England and Ireland. These are people who were just living their
lives and never thought someone 500 years down the line would be learning about
them, or taking an interest.
I love the Marcus Aurelius quote “What we
do now echoes in eternity.” That’s so true. When I’m long gone, and my
grandkids eight generations from now on some Moon colony in another galaxy swab
their DNA, and find out they have an ancestor from what was once called Texas,
I want them to be able to pull up my stories and have a connection (because
humanity deemed it one of the 100 texts worthy of saving from global annihilation).
I want them to be able to read into my soul and get an understanding of where they
came from. This is my chance to speak to them through history. My thoughts,
dreams and words are time traveling!
When you think about it, it’s kind of
appropriate that my book deals with Angels, humans, history and bloodlines. In
a way, my books are a manifestation of my story ideas. Instead of leaving
behind prophecies and special abilities, I’m leaving behind the written word.
My father’s love for discovering our past is mirrored in my love for crafting
futuristic interpretations of it.
Thanks
again to you, Rob for the interview and allowing for the incredibly
long guest post.
Thanks again for visiting the Assembly Area, Nathan and best of luck in your writing career. Please keep us posted!
Today's Author Spotlight guest is Henry Brown. Henry (or Hank if he likes you) has recently completed the third installment of his 'Retreads' series. This latest book constitutes a new direction for the characters and the franchise in general, but I'll let Hank tell you more about that.
According to his Amazon bio: "Henry Brown was born to a fierce Mongol chieftain and a mighty Viking warrior-queen who were promptly kidnapped by alien wargamers from another dimension, leaving him to be raised by wolves on the frozen steppes.
Trapped in an avalanche caused by a tremendous meteor strike and frozen alive, he stood in suspended animation as the centuries passed until a team of nubile swimsuit model archaeologists rescued him in 2010, nursed him back to peak health, fell in love with him, bought him a state-of-the-art underground lair complete with mad scientist laboratory hidden on an uncharted subtropical island, and now cater to his every whim while he devises diabolical schemes of world domination.
True story.
Oh yeah: in his spare time, he writes fiction."
Wow! With a bio like that, I have to hear what Henry has to saw about his writing.
Take it Hank! Thanks, Rob. I don't think of myself as a morbid guy. I would prefer to be apolitical, and believe that peace and freedom will endure in America for the rest of my days. But try as I might, I just can't keep my head buried in the sand.
Big trouble is headed our way and you don't have to be a “tinfoil hat” type to see it. More and more people are waking up to this, but life as we know it is coming to an end soon regardless of how many believe or not.
It's a real chore to both stay informed and avoid being consumed by utter helplessness in times like these.
The natural human instinct when everything looks bleak and there is no realistic hope to be found, is to escape. For some, temporary escape is found in beer, “reality” TV or the things money can buy.
Anything to distract you from the worry and fear. I have the same escape instinct, and sometimes I let it win.
I hope it's not a symptom of insanity that I sometimes escape by reading fictionalized predictions about that same bleak future. I suppose it's got something to do with being an “observer.” It's other people who have to face catastrophe and make the incredibly tough decisions, when you're reading about doomsday scenarios. Not only that, but the good guys usually win.
Now, writing about the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI)... that's easily explained.
First of all, I'm a writer. Writing is what I do. Secondly, it's therapeutic.
I've wanted to write apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic stories for many years. I've never been completely satisfied with how it's been depicted in either film or fiction. But like any writer of the incorrect political convictions, striving to interest a publisher prior to the POD/E-Book revolution, I got in the habit of self-censorship.
My debut novel, Hell & Gone, was written during those days when traditional publishing was the only “legitimate” path for a writer to become an author. And though it was written in the span between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq (when patriotism made a brief comeback), I still had to dial down the God-mom-and-apple-pie sentiments. Not all the way, mind you—just enough, I hoped, to get it past the leftist gatekeepers in publishing and into the hands of readers.
Yeah, I was pretty naïve.
Eventually, Hell & Gone made it into print (and E-Book) anyway. By the time I wrote its sequel, Tier Zero, I was slowly liberating myself from self-censorship. Where Hell & Gone was a fusion of modern military thriller and old-school pulpy action novel, Tier Zeroleaned harder to the pulp side. I wrote it in the style of an old post-Vietnam paramilitary adventure, and the book even has a cover to match. I allowed more truth, as I see it, to slip through—sometimes at the expense of a character's likability. But my quixotic goal was mostly to “bring back men's fiction,” not to hammer home a cautionary message. It turns out that reviving men's fiction (which necessitates that men actually read, rather than only watch sports/play video games) is possibly just as outlandish, or more so, than waking up the ovine masses via a cautionary work of fiction.
Nevertheless, in the months following Tier Zero's release, I did some soul-searching and prioritizing.
The result was that I completely unleashed myself. I decided to take these characters I dubbed “the Retreads” and usher them from pulpy men's adventure into a dark tale about the death of America. It wasn't exactly the TEOTWAWKI story I wanted to tell. I would have had more fun spinning a yarn similar to The Road Warrior or Craig Sargent's old Last Ranger series. But doomsday has been hanging over the heads of the Retreads ever since I first introduced them. In a way I can't quite explain, it is somehow fitting that these guys face threats now so real as to be petrifying.
I knew I would offend and alienate some of my readers. Furthermore, there were some aspects of
America's demise I just didn't want to deal with.
Racial conflict, for instance—what Jesus warned about when He said ethnos will rise against ethnos.
I didn't want to include it; but to not portray the deepening racial divisions and their likely consequences would have been willfully ignorant—an attitude that drives me up the wall in other people on other subjects.
There are aspects of the perfect storm heading America's way that I did not deal with at all in False Flag; and some that barely get mentioned in passing. Maybe I'll have opportunity to incorporate them into future tales, but there just wasn't room for them in this already epic-length book.
Obviously, most people are completely ignorant of what's going on and dismiss all warnings as “conspiracy theory.” Of those who are aware, many Christians assume the rapture will save them from any sort of inconvenience whatsoever. The rest are busy prepping as best they can.
That's the wise course to take. The survival of you and your loved ones is far, far more important than entertainment of any variety. However, when you're preparing for, and stressing over, impending catastrophe 24/7, sometimes you need to pause and take a few breaths. TEOTWAWKI fiction affords some degree of “escape,” while still keeping you focused enough to not let normalcy bias and the distractions of this world derail your awareness and purpose in the long term.
That's why I read apocalyptic fiction and will continue doing so while possible. Whenever I have what is now the recurring argument with myself (why should I write TEOTWAWKI fiction when I believe I am staring down the muzzle of TEOTWAWKI right now?), I always wind up descending into a more basic question: why write fiction at all?
The answer, for me, is: because I can't help it.
Thanks again for visiting the assembly area, Hank. It was a real treat.
There is a growing fear in the back
of the collective American consciousness—a fear that would have been laughable
a few short years ago, but has found purchase in the minds of enough rational
citizens that it is now in the main stream.
The fear of which I speak is that
of our own government. This is what Henry Brown examines in his book False Flag. He does an outstanding job
of presenting the roots and rationale of the growing wariness of governmental
power and what its consequences could be if it continues to grow unchecked.
Brown takes factual data such as
the MK Ultra program, Jade Helm, and recent purges of senior military leaders
and weaves them into a speculative narrative that, at times, seems all too
real.
The story telling is well done
through the multiple points of view of ‘the Retreads,’ a group of retired special
operations veterans living in different parts of the country. I particularly
enjoyed that of Tom Scarred Wolf, a Native American sheriff who wants nothing
more than to live with his family in peace, but is forced into action when he
uncovers unbearable truths.
The multiple story lines can be a
bit confusing at first if one hasn’t read the first two books, but Brown does a
good enough job of bring new readers up to speed that it is not an issue once
the story gets rolling.
Henry Brown has crafted an
action-packed romp that is both enjoyable and terrifying. He then ends this
book with the clear understanding that the action, terror, and tragedies have
only just begun. I, for one, eagerly anticipate the next installment.
It isn’t often that you come across a book that changes the
way you see an entire genre, a book that becomes the measuring stick for others
that come after it. Mark Lawrence has managed to write two such works. Even
more amazingly, they are his first published novels.
In the fantasy genre, George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire is the current heavyweight champ. I enjoy ASoIaF and it truly is an epic achievement. I'm also enjoying the HBO's adaptation.
That being said, Lawrence’s style is very different from Martin's, but I found it just as enjoyable. Compared to the glacial pace
of Martin’s books, Lawrence’s sail along at a nice clip. Lawrence’s writing is also
much more focused and visceral than Martin’s.
King of Thorns is the
second book in TheBroken Empire
series. Both KoT and its predecessor,
Prince of Thorns follow the
protagonist (if you could call him that, but more on this later), Honorous Jorg Ancrath.
Jorg is the son of one of the many
kings to arise on the former European continent centuries after some long ago
apocalypse. His goal is to reunite (and rule, of course) the Empire. That’s all
I’ll say about the plot. I hate spoilers.
Lawrence’s prose is clean, flowing,
witty, and deep. His storytelling is fast-paced, gritty, and contemplative. He
not only tells one heck of a story, but also explores the ‘why’ of it. Why is
Jorg such an evil, self-centered little snot? Why do his followers remain loyal
to him? And why can’t I keep myself from liking him?
This is the brilliance of Lawrence’s writing. He gives us a
protagonist that, in any other book, would be reviled. He mixes three parts narcissism,
two parts genius, one part charisma, and a pinch of humanity and comes out with
a character that we know we should hate, but end up cheering for. This is no
small accomplishment. Not since Mike Myers’ Doctor Evil has a villain been so
appealing…and he was a boy scout compared to Jorg.
But Lawrence doesn’t stop there. His examinations of the
inner workings and motives of his characters reveal insights into human nature
that could teach a psychology major a thing or two.
Again, I now find myself comparing much of what I read to
Lawrence’s work. Sadly, most books are found wanting in its shadow. It’s hard
to go back to ground round once you’ve had filet mignon. I guess this is the
only criticism I have for this series so far. It spoils you.
If King of Thorns
does ruin other books for you, take heart. Emperor
of Thorns is scheduled for release this August. The anticipation will make it
taste all the sweeter.
Prior to reading Task Force Intrepid (Gold of Katanga), I knew little to nothing
about this part of the world. Its politics, history, and economy were a mystery.
This book was every bit as educational as it was entertaining...And it scores
high in both regards.
The descriptions of the terrain and environment
were so vivid, I was taken there from the first scene (which is completely
riveting). As I read the opening scene, it reminded me of the opening sequence
of Casino Royal hopped up on horse steroids and two pots of
coffee.
Speaking of Bond, men's adventure fiction has been in serious
need for revival for many years. I mean, how many times can you read the same
old Mack Bolan books? The old stuff comes off as cheesy and clichéd to today's
sophisticated audience. I remember reading one of Cussler's Dirk Pitt (cheesiest
of cheesy names - pure Velveeta) novels a few years back and rolling my eyes at
stuff like how snazzy Dirk looked in his turtle neck leisure suit or him
smacking a secretary on the bottom and her giggling like a school girl
(barf).
There's none of that tripe in this book. Dan Tharp is just what
the doctor ordered. His writing is crisp, visual, action-packed, plausible, and
intelligent--a breath of fresh air. Tharp and others like him are about to
reinvent and reinvigorate this genre. If you want in on the ground floor, read
Task Force Intrepid. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Amazing. Simply amazing. This is without a doubt one of the
best books I’ve read in a long, long time. That fact that this is Lawrence's debut novel makes it even more impressive.
I enjoy many genres: sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction,
action and adventure…pretty much anything that grabs me and moves along at a
good pace. Prince of Thorns certainly
fits that bill. After reading the sample on Amazon, I ordered the book in hardback. I could tell it was going to be a keeper.
The prose is clean and direct, but colorful. The humor is
also well done. Jorg (the main character) is completely amoral, but oddly
likeable. He puts me in mind of Han Solo if he’d gone to the Dark Side. A
comparison that also came frequently to mind was Alexander the Great—another flawed young
genius with 'daddy issues' whose mind was unfettered by conventional thinking. Some of Jorg's ingenuitive
solutions to seemingly insurmountable situations are reminiscent of Alexander’s
feats at the Battle of Gaugamela (on
a much smaller scale) or in untying the Gordian Knot. Some have
criticized this book for being too dark or disturbing. They must’ve grown up on
a steady diet of gumdrops and lollipops.
That being said, this is a real page turner. When there are
other things you know you should be doing, this book calls to you like the last
slice of chocolate cake. You just have to finish it.
I gave this book to my fifteen-year-old son as soon as I
finished it. He’s not a big reader. He’ll read the stuff
his teachers assign and that’s about it. I asked him to read the first 27 pages
to see if he liked it. He hasn’t put it down since.
Lastly, I’ve also read the first three books of Georg R.R.
Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire
series (Game of Thrones for all the TV fans). Those books are enjoyable, but
you have to chew through two or three hundred pages of fat to get to the meat.
Prince of Thorns is darkly delicious filet mignon from the first bite to the
last. I’d better stop here and get a snack. All these food references have made
me hungry.
I give it six out of five thorns ***** * (in honor of Jorg, who never plays by the rules).
PS: My hardcover copy of King of Thorns just arrived. Word is that it’s
even better. I can’t wait to find out.
This story is told from the first person perspective of a
fresh-faced recruit to the drop ship infantry, the future equivalent of the
airborne infantry. The author is a veteran of the British infantry and it shows.
Every page drips with authenticity (quite an accomplishment for a sci-fi
novel).
Richards' prose isn't polished as other works, but it shouldn't
be. The present form preserves the grit, gristle, and overall hardship of war.
Refinement would probably take away from its gruff believability. The equipment,
technology, and tactics are well thought out and explained without interrupting
the narrative. Small details like the main character wondering why drop pods can
deliver troops to a planet's surface from orbiting spacecraft but can't keep its
passengers cool will be familiar to anyone that's ever been in an armored
vehicle in the summer. And in the future, the chow still sucks. Some things
never change. An account written by one of Alexander's men would likely have
similar observations. This book captures the timeless elements of
soldiering.
Fast-paced,
authentic, and with a hint of the supernatural, Ghosts of Babylon is
a dark military thriller that skillfully takes readers on an exhilarating tour of the war-torn wastes of the Middle East.
It took a long time to get here, but it was worth it.
I hope you enjoy reading Ghosts of Babylon as much as I did bringing it to you.
Here's a review:
“R.A. Mathis is one of those rare
authors who knows what he imagines. A veteran of the conflict in Iraq, he knows
what it means to be both hunter and prey. In a land where keen observation
means survival, he gives us the sights, sounds, and feelings that have shaped
America's longest war. In the tradition of Conrad and Melville, and with all
the vivid authenticity and heartbreak of 'Hurt Locker' and 'Three Kings,'
Mathis finds the God inside his details and makes those surreal patterns real.
Anyone looking for the truth behind the headlines will find them in Ghosts of
Babylon."
Jay Wurts
Coauthor of When Heaven and Earth
Changed Places, Honored and Betrayed, and other works by modern warriors.
