Genre: Alternate History
Liberating Atlantis is the third novel in Turtledove's three novel alternate history Atlantis series. In this series, Atlantis is a continent that is discovered by English explorers in the late 15th century. Atlantis is populated with native peoples, and incredible exotic plants and animals. The history of Atlantis parallels the history of the United States in our timeline.
Liberating Atlantis covers the civil war period of history. In Atlantis, the southern states have plantations and slaves, the northern states do not have slavery. In this retelling of history, the slaves rise up against their masters, and the government sends the army to quell the rebellion.
Opening Atlantis, the first book in the series, covers the initial period of discovery and exploration. Early explorers of Atlantis must learn about this strange land and its incredible and dangerous creatures.
The United States of Atlantis, the second book in the series, covers the revolutionary period. Colonists must battle the British to find freedom and liberty, and create a new government.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Historical Mysteries set in Ancient Egypt
If you are a fan of historical mysteries, but are growing tired of knights, castles and sword fights, you might try reading these novels set in ancient Egypt. Sand, temples and tombs litter the landscape. But evil is evil. And murder is murder. In each novel, our intrepid investigator must follow the clues, and decipher the crime.
Lauren Haney
In Haney's novels, our investigator is Lieutenant Bak. Bak is the commander of the Medjay police in the city of Buhen in 1464 BC. Buhen is near the southern border of the Egyptian empire. It is the during the reign of the female Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut. Bak must solve crimes, and stay in the pharaoh's good graces.
Lynda Robinson
Robinson's investigator is Lord Meren. Meren serves as chief investigator for the boy king Tutankhamen. Meren, as member of the palace court, must navigate the intrigues of the pharaoh's court while seeking to solve crimes that have reached the royal ears. All this, while protecting the young king from danger.
Paul Doherty
Doherty's investigator is the chief judge of the temple of Ma'at in Thebes, Amerotke. Amerotke must investigate crimes while uncovering conspiracies against the reign of Queen Hatusu. Doherty brings Egypt to life with his descriptions those ancient times.
Lauren Haney
In Haney's novels, our investigator is Lieutenant Bak. Bak is the commander of the Medjay police in the city of Buhen in 1464 BC. Buhen is near the southern border of the Egyptian empire. It is the during the reign of the female Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut. Bak must solve crimes, and stay in the pharaoh's good graces.
Lynda Robinson
Robinson's investigator is Lord Meren. Meren serves as chief investigator for the boy king Tutankhamen. Meren, as member of the palace court, must navigate the intrigues of the pharaoh's court while seeking to solve crimes that have reached the royal ears. All this, while protecting the young king from danger.
Paul Doherty
Doherty's investigator is the chief judge of the temple of Ma'at in Thebes, Amerotke. Amerotke must investigate crimes while uncovering conspiracies against the reign of Queen Hatusu. Doherty brings Egypt to life with his descriptions those ancient times.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Prophecy of Death by Michael Jecks
Genre: Historical Mystery
In this installment of the Knights Templar Mystery series Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock find themselves entangled in the intrigues of the royal court.
They have just returned to England from France with urgent messages for the king. Unfortunately, they have raised the ire of the king's especial friend, Sir Hugh Despenser. Despenser sends his henchmen to attack Simon and upset Sir Baldwin.
To thicken the plot, Baldwin and Simon must find out who has stolen the Oil of St. Thomas. This holy relic is believed to have special significance for the king of England. The king is frantic to have his oil returned. Despenser wants Baldwin and Simon to discover its whereabouts. And, Baldwin and Simon must solve the mystery in order to keep Despenser from further harassing them.
I enjoyed this novel. The plot is thickly woven with subplots, red herrings and dead ends. It is a solid chapter in a series which extends to over thirty novels.
In this installment of the Knights Templar Mystery series Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend Bailiff Simon Puttock find themselves entangled in the intrigues of the royal court.
They have just returned to England from France with urgent messages for the king. Unfortunately, they have raised the ire of the king's especial friend, Sir Hugh Despenser. Despenser sends his henchmen to attack Simon and upset Sir Baldwin.
To thicken the plot, Baldwin and Simon must find out who has stolen the Oil of St. Thomas. This holy relic is believed to have special significance for the king of England. The king is frantic to have his oil returned. Despenser wants Baldwin and Simon to discover its whereabouts. And, Baldwin and Simon must solve the mystery in order to keep Despenser from further harassing them.
I enjoyed this novel. The plot is thickly woven with subplots, red herrings and dead ends. It is a solid chapter in a series which extends to over thirty novels.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Nautical Fiction
The Napolianic wars between England and France at the end of the eighteenth century form the backdrop of one of my favorite genres of fiction.
These novels portray life aboard sailing ships of the British Navy during these dangerous times. The authors describe the hardships that sailors endured aboard these ships: cruel captains, poor rations, terrible storms, and raging gun battles.
Of course, the heroes of these tales are the intrepid captains. They are brave in the face of danger and are masters of sea battle strategy. They are fair and humane leaders of their crews, yet are often unlucky in love.
While there are many authors of nautical fiction, I have four favorite authors. Each author has written a series that follows their main character through their career from midshipman to captain.
C.S. Forester
Captain Horatio Hornblower
Hornblower is the classic original, against which all other captains are compared. He is a complex character who is plagued by self doubt, yet is admired by his fellow seamen.
Alexander Kent
Captain Richard Bolitho
Bolitho is tactically brilliant and is able to achieve victory in the face of impossible odds.
Dudley Pope
Captain Lord Nicholas Ramage
The son of an Earl, Ramage's career is tarnished by his father's court marshal. Yet he rises through the ranks due to his naval successes.
Richard Woodman
Captain Nathanial Drinkwater
Drinkwater is described as the most real of the fictional captains. He has courage and intelligence, but sometimes handles situations badly.
These novels portray life aboard sailing ships of the British Navy during these dangerous times. The authors describe the hardships that sailors endured aboard these ships: cruel captains, poor rations, terrible storms, and raging gun battles.
Of course, the heroes of these tales are the intrepid captains. They are brave in the face of danger and are masters of sea battle strategy. They are fair and humane leaders of their crews, yet are often unlucky in love.
While there are many authors of nautical fiction, I have four favorite authors. Each author has written a series that follows their main character through their career from midshipman to captain.
C.S. Forester
Captain Horatio Hornblower
Hornblower is the classic original, against which all other captains are compared. He is a complex character who is plagued by self doubt, yet is admired by his fellow seamen.
Alexander Kent
Captain Richard Bolitho
Bolitho is tactically brilliant and is able to achieve victory in the face of impossible odds.
Dudley Pope
Captain Lord Nicholas Ramage
The son of an Earl, Ramage's career is tarnished by his father's court marshal. Yet he rises through the ranks due to his naval successes.
Richard Woodman
Captain Nathanial Drinkwater
Drinkwater is described as the most real of the fictional captains. He has courage and intelligence, but sometimes handles situations badly.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The King of Thieves by Michael Jecks
Genre: Historical Mystery
The year is 1325. King Edward rules England with his "special friend": the avaricious Hugh Despenser. His wife, Queen Isabella, is in Paris on a diplomatic mission. She refuses to return to England until the King rids himself of Despenser. The King sends his son, Prince Edward, to complete the mission and eventually return the Queen to England.
Our main character, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, and his companion, Simon Puttock, are to accompany and protect the Prince. As the story evolves, there is political intrigue and treason. We learn about the seamy underside of Paris. And of course there are murders.
Sir Baldwin has a secret in his past. He was once a member of the Knights Templar. Only by sheer luck did he avoid arrest and torture. On that fateful day whey the King of France accused the Knights of heresy, Baldwin was away from the Temple. When he finally made his way back to his home in England, Baldwin became a Keeper of the King's Peace. In his position, he investigates unusual deaths, and seeks justice for those who deserve it.
This novel is the 26th of Jeck's Knights Templar mystery series. The books procede in chronological order. They are consistant with the actual history of England in the 14th century. Jeck's books are terrific historical fiction novels. The plots are tangled and deceptive. The reader must wait until the final chapter to find out "who dun it".
If you are interested in English history, or just enjoy a well told murder mystery, you'll enjoy The King of Thieves.
The King of Thieves
The first book in the series: The Last Templar
The year is 1325. King Edward rules England with his "special friend": the avaricious Hugh Despenser. His wife, Queen Isabella, is in Paris on a diplomatic mission. She refuses to return to England until the King rids himself of Despenser. The King sends his son, Prince Edward, to complete the mission and eventually return the Queen to England.
Our main character, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, and his companion, Simon Puttock, are to accompany and protect the Prince. As the story evolves, there is political intrigue and treason. We learn about the seamy underside of Paris. And of course there are murders.
Sir Baldwin has a secret in his past. He was once a member of the Knights Templar. Only by sheer luck did he avoid arrest and torture. On that fateful day whey the King of France accused the Knights of heresy, Baldwin was away from the Temple. When he finally made his way back to his home in England, Baldwin became a Keeper of the King's Peace. In his position, he investigates unusual deaths, and seeks justice for those who deserve it.
This novel is the 26th of Jeck's Knights Templar mystery series. The books procede in chronological order. They are consistant with the actual history of England in the 14th century. Jeck's books are terrific historical fiction novels. The plots are tangled and deceptive. The reader must wait until the final chapter to find out "who dun it".
If you are interested in English history, or just enjoy a well told murder mystery, you'll enjoy The King of Thieves.
The King of Thieves
The first book in the series: The Last Templar
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