Tag Archives: Historical Fiction

Rite of the Revolution by Roquel Rodgers

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Rite of the Revolution
Roquel Rodgers
Self-published, 2009
2nd Edition, 2010
ISBN: 978-1440448058
399 pages
Historical Fiction

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At the same time war clouds are building in the new world, a young man of extraordinary talents and insights creates a club in Bavaria designed to achieve Universal Happiness and the Perfection of Mankind—using every means at his disposal, including high society contacts, his access to the Freemason’s network and, most of all, blackmail.  You see, Adam Weishaupt has decided that the end justifies the means in his quest to build a kind of utopia where only he could provide true enlightenment, possible immortality and (his benefit) reign over all.

Using a powerful hallucinogen known as Kykeon, Adam reveals his plans to important men and binds them to his cause by any means necessary.  He feels no guilt, no remorse. Why? He has met one of the Elohim, the gods who made men and who, in turn, submit to their god, Yaweh. He also learns there are strong powers in the world that are already being used for good and evil. But the users don’t know what he knows. And neither will you, dear reader, unless you pick up this complicated, steamy, sometimes bizarre, but always entertaining novel by author Roquel Rodgers.

Rite of the Revolution is a fictional story about the real Johann Adam Weishaupt who was an 18th century German philosopher and founder of the Order of Illuminati, a secret society with origins in Bavaria. It also entwines the establishment of the Illuminati with the beginning of the American War of Independence. As we watch the young Weishaupt build his philosophy into a Rite of Revolution, so are we given glimpses of a very different Benjamin Franklin than history has often revealed. In fact, the author offers us a story within a story, where Franklin is the unwitting cause of The Boston Tea Party, which enrages Britain enough to shut down the Port of Boston and allows its detractors to raise an army against her. These “fathers” of the American Revolution are also portrayed quite differently than the “truths” our historians have left us.

How are the two stories related? I can’t tell you without spoiling a surprise that makes sense of the entire book and sets up what I’m sure will be a very interesting sequel.

I can, however, give an example where Rodgers’ fiction may actually be more truthful than recorded history… My grandfather, an accomplished Mason who just happens to have had the last name Franklin, absolutely despised Ben Franklin, often referring to him as a blackguard and a scoundrel. The one time I asked him about his attitude, he intimated that Franklin was not only promiscuous, but that he spent little time worrying about the marital status of his conquests. I didn’t know at the time that Franklin was a Mason from whom better behaviour was expected. I’m now an accomplished Mason myself, and I understand my grandfather’s anger. I can also believe that Ben Franklin’s behaviour while America’s ambassador in England, as depicted by Roquel Rodgers, could easily have helped to precipitate the American Revolution. And I bet her version of Ben Franklin will blow the minds of most of her readers.

In her own words, Rodgers says “This book is a compilation of (almost) ALL the conspiracy theories about the Illuminati’s involvement in the American Revolution and weighs equally the insane with the veritable. It is a great place to start one’s investigation into this topic as most of the legends are here. Also – I am a direct descendant of Martha Custis Washington through her wayward son Jack Custis, and from him has been passed down a legend that my grandfather told me, that Washington was…” I stop the quote here so as not to spoil an important part of the story for you.

Roquel Rodgers is a Voudon High Priestess, Qabalist, and professional medium. Rite of the Revolution is her first novel. And if you like your history with lots of spice (translate that to SEX) and a pocket full of “what ifs?” then you should treat yourself to Rodgers’ depiction of the real-life people who brought America her freedom from England, yet inextricably bound themselves to an even more dangerous and hidden master.

I really enjoyed Rite of the Revolution and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with an interest in history and/or fiction that refuses to pull any punches.

Copyright © Clayton Clifford Bye 2010

The Singing Sword by Jack Whyte

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The Singing Sword (A Dream of Eagles: Book 2)
Jack Whyte
Penguin Canada, 1994
ISBN: 0-14-017049-9
Mass Market Paperback
606 pages
Historical Fiction

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The second book in the Camulod Chronicles, now renamed A Dream of Eagles, The Singing Sword begins with Publius Varrus and Caius Britannicus continuing the building of their dream: a completely independent Colony on the Southwest tip of Cambria (the island known as Britain). The year is approaching 400 A.D. Both men are high ranking soldiers retired from the Roman Army. Caius is actually a Roman Senator. The reason for the Colony is that Caius has foreseen the day when the Roman Protectorate will be removed from Britain to fight battles closer to home, leaving the island to be overrun by any number of invaders.

As the novel opens, the Colonists are vigilantly working on a hilltop fortress, have begun to build a Cavalry, something Rome, itself, does not have, and have established a council that Caius secretly intends to become Britains first senate. He has also helped to orchestrate the marriage of Publius’ eldest daughter to the son of King Ullic Pendragon of the Celts. Both men intend for the marriage to unite their two Kingdom’s, their two peoples, as true Briton’s. Caius’ son Picus, all on his own, asks for the hand of Enid, Ullic’s sister.

One can now see where author, Jack Whyte is heading with his story. Two inter-marriages between the Colony and the Celts produce male offspring. Born on the same day, at the same time, from two different mothers are Caius Merlyn Britannicus and Uther Pendragon. And to solve the problem of elitism in the Colony’s Council, Caius has developed the idea of all councillors sitting in equal positions and importance by seating them in a circle as a round council (The forerunner of the round table?). The only missing link Arthurian fans are now looking for is Excalibur. And, of course, Publius, after a hiatus of many years, finally melts down The Lady of the Lake (the skystone he found in the first novel and made into a sculpture) and begins to forge a special sword. It was designed to be a new kind of weapon men of their calvary could use to fight effectively from horseback and on the ground. What Publius ends up with is a long broadsword with a wide cross-guard and golden pommel for balance that sits almost weightlessly in a man’s hand. And when tested for purity by an ancient test even Publius did not know about, the sword, plunged upright into a wooden bench and set to moving like a pendulum, begins to sing a clear, ear-piercing note; Excalibur (meaning to come out of a mould) is a singing sword the likes of which has never been seen before.

So, Jack Whyte’s Singing Sword continues what The Skystone began: he has told part of the story of the decline of The Roman Empire and shown us a plausible and well described beginning of the Arthurian Legend. In fact, the fortress on the hill is also named in this book. It becomes Camulod, the first true home of the new Britons.

A fascinating read that draws the reader into a world in extreme flux, one known primarily by legend, and makes it as real and substantial as the nose on your face. I reiterate what I said in my review of The Skystone: Whyte has written an entertaining, moving and unique novel that begins what may well come to be accepted as the true story of that time-shrouded figure we all know as King Arthur.


Copyright © Clayton Clifford Bye 2010

A novel about Richard III in This Time

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This Time
by Joan Szechtman
Basset Books LLC, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9824493-0-1
Trade Paperback
344 pages
Historical Fiction

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Richard III is yanked into the 21st century in his dying moments and a substitute body is left in his place, so as to keep then and now balanced at an atomic level, at a static level of energy. While this is an interesting concept, I don’t believe it’s ever explained how the scientists could make such exact measurements using the equipment available to them. However, I suspended my disbelief and gave the novel a chance.

And it turns out that This Time by Joan Szechtman is an enjoyable read. Billed as historical fiction, it also gives more than a nod to the science fiction genre and the romance genre. The book deals largely with Richard’s attempts to adapt to 500 years of technical and social changes. He must learn to use a computer and drive a car. His English is also terribly out of date. And Richard, ever the man of action, also intends to carve out a place in the business world where his skills can be applied in a useful way. Intuitive thinking and the ability to solve problems quickly and with confidence helps…

He converts the project director from an enemy who puts two bullets into him to the man who allows Richard to run a risky project of his own, as well as becoming a welcome member of the corporate structure of the company itself.

His romance with the inventor of the original technology used in the time machine, who knows Richard only as the evil, deformed man portrayed in one of Shakespeare’s plays, is also complicated by the fact that the woman is Jewish and Richard is a devout Catholic who is not at all comfortable with today’s atmosphere of religious toleration. Richard sets out to solve this set of problems just as he would plan a campaign.

Richard’s emotional wounds from the recent deaths of his wife and child, and his folly of taking his men into a battle he knows they cannot win, takes a heavy toll. Did he go into battle as a form of suicide? If he can be brought forward in time, what about his wife and son?

As Richard works through all the alien ideas and possibilities now open to him, one can see the shape of a king emerge—with one exception. Richard is comfortable dealing with all kinds of people, but is especially demonstrative of emotion when it comes to his new love and her children and of his doomed wife and the son he hopes to rescue from an early death. This did not feel real to me. Everything I’ve read of the historical times of Richard III leaves me with the suspicion that overt emotion of any kind would be seen as a weakness and thus avoided. Why would Richard make such an about face in our time? Yes, I believe he would want the same results he garners within the pages of This Time, but I think he would have been more aloof and would have kept his own council.

Anyway, these are just my opinions. This Time by Joan Szechtman is probably closer in content to the movie Kate and Leopold than Michael Crichton’s Timeline, but comparison between the three stories seems to indicate that This Time presents a more believable scenario than either of the mentioned stories. History Buffs and Romantics should find the book most enjoyable.


Copyright © Clayton Clifford Bye 2010