History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Military Order

Average customer rating:

Excellent overview of the history of the Knights Templar
It's a pamphlet!!!
the legend continues
The Almighty Templars Revealed!
A waste of time and money

The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Military Order
Sean Martin
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1560256451

Book Description

This book is an essential exploration into the history of a legendary group of Crusaders, which are prominently featured in Dan Brown’s recent best seller, The Da Vinci Code. The Knights Templar rose from humble beginnings to become the most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages. Formed to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land, they participated in the Crusades and rapidly gained wealth, lands, and influence. Seemingly untouchable for nearly two centuries, they fell from grace spectacularly after the loss of the Holy Land. In the ensuing centuries the Templars have exerted a unique influence over European history; orthodox historians see them as nothing more than soldier-monks whose arrogance was their ultimate undoing, while others see them as occultists of the first order. With clarity and ease, Martin navigates between the orthodox and the speculative, the historical and the myth, to bring alive the story of the Templars. Like those other legends of the Middle Ages—the characters of the Arthurian tales—The Knights Templar holds captive the imagination of all those intrigued by conspiracy and how history and myth intertwine to become the stuff of legend.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent overview of the history of the Knights Templar.......2007-06-25

After reading "The Da Vinci Code" I wanted to know more about the real history behind the book. The Knights Templar turned out to be one of the most difficult subjects to find solid information on. This was practically the only book I could find that had any kind of respectable citations, although they are light even in this book. As I came to learn this was because there was very little hard history about the Templars, most of the stories are anecdotal at best and at worst mostly fiction. Sean Martin covers their history fairly and clearly delineates what is backed by hard evidence and what is purely anecdotal. The book is definitely brief but it covers the subject well and without the sensationalism most of the books on the subject use.

It's a pamphlet!!!.......2007-01-21

Tiny, short, ill-researched. I recommend this to those with more money than sense or whom are OBSESSED with getting anything and everything about the Templars regardless of how shaky the ground on which it stands. Avoid this one.

the legend continues.......2006-09-05

This book is great but too short. It sticks to the point and facts but leaves you wanting more.

The Almighty Templars Revealed! .......2006-08-09

This being my 1st book about this particular topic, "The Knights Templar" was a very easy read, and I think a good start in the field of Templar History. Sean Martin breaks everything out in a very understandable way. He discusses their origin and how The Templars began. He makes note of all the different kings, and various religious orders involved in the Crusades. After viewing the wonderful film, "Kingdom Of Heaven" recently released - you see some great characters come to life again, namely: Saladin, King Guy, King Baldwin the leper, etc).

I like the way Sean Martin explains the mysteries in the last section of the book. He goes into detail about the myths surrounding this unbelievable organization. Also, towards the end of the book, we see the decline of The Templars. It goes to show that when someone/some organization gets too powerful, the government will do whatever is necessary to rid the world of their existence. The same practice is still present in today's society! Nevertheless, it's still hard to believe that anyone had the ability to take The Templars down (being as rich, powerful, and influential as they were). *They had received papal bulls from Pope Innocent II (and a few popes to follow) which granted them unprecedented power without having to answer to anyone, kings included - simply amazing! The Templars had "divine power" (answering solely to the pope) and they used that leverage to their advantage for any endeavor they pursued. We'll never see that kind of institution again!

I will definitely have to read this book again to get more acquainted with the times, important figures, events and so on. For a small paperback, there is a lot of information to take in which makes this book a great little treasure to have! However, it will be a pleasure to read this book another time, and furthermore, I will use "The Knights Templar" as my guide to pursuing more books of the same interest. I hope to expand my knowledge about The Templars, and the power they held like no one else in history!

A waste of time and money.......2006-07-21

I bought this book mainly on the recommendations of other reviewers. That was a mistake. The book is a dull gleaning from unacknowledged secondary sources. Lots of more or less accurate names and dates, but no depth analysis at all. Style? Try this: "The feeling that the arrests were a criminal act of unapralleled dimensions were felt at the time."

If you still want the book, don't buy it. Let me know and I'll give you my copy.

Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades

Average customer rating:

WELL WRITEN WELL DONE. VERY INFORMATIVE
Very Impressive
Phenomenal - This is a must read
Good book, but there are better ones out there
Knights Templar 201

Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades
John J. Robinson
Manufacturer: M. Evans and Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0871316579

Book Description

One of the most magnificent books... putting it down is almost impossible. --Ocala Star-Banner

Customer Reviews:

WELL WRITEN WELL DONE. VERY INFORMATIVE.......2006-07-22

I enjoyed every page of this one. Not being an expert in this field, I certainly cannot vouch for each and every fact the author has given us, but the several facts I did take the time to further research proved the athor correct. The book is well written and in fact is quite a page turner. This is one of those I hated to stop reading and was rather sorry when I had finished it. It is important to understand this past era in order to understand where we are today. The consequences of the actions taken at that time are still being felt even to this day. Highly recommend this one.

Very Impressive.......2006-06-04

I am extremely impressed by the way Robinson conveyed the history of those tumultuous times in such a captivating manner. This work is rich in facts: both large and small, and all interesting. Aside from Templar history, I really appreciated Robinson's ability to clearly explain the major and minor players and the political machinery and machinations of all sides involved (Muslim factions, Hospitallers, Vanetians, the Popes, etc etc). Reading this work is a real learning experience, and Robinson's great writing is far from dry. After reading this book I will surely continue to read Robinson's other works.

Phenomenal - This is a must read .......2006-05-24

Where to start? This is a fantastic piece of work that takes you through the rise and fall of Templars. I would rate it better than Da-vinci code because this is no fiction. It is remarkable that a non-fiction work packs so much action and thrills. This is also the best account of Crusades that I have ever read. In addition, the author also touches upon the personal codes that governed the life of Templars (like the chastity belt, rules against bathing etc). All in all, I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested about Crusades or Templars

Good book, but there are better ones out there.......2006-03-05

John Robinson does a very good job in complining information about the Templar and presenting it in an interesting and readable fashion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about the Templar (and Robinson does include many details not found in the other Templar books I have read, contrary to those reviewers who claim it is all old material).

What I liked best about this book was its emphasis on context. Robinson does not just give an account of the Templar's doings; he provides an account of all the things which are happening around the Templars as well, which is essential for understanding the Templar.

I also liked Robinson's clear writing style. Some history book get you bogged down with dates and names, but Robinson does an excellent job of tying them together and helping you remember them so that events further into the book will make much more sense.

There are also two complaints I have about this book:

1. There are a number of small, careless mistakes which really should not have been there (i.e. slightly misquoting people, slightly incorrect dates, etc.) and which are rather annoying. As far as I can tell, none of his information is majorly wrong; he just does things like writing that events happened several weeks after another event when it was actually many months, so I guess it's not really a big deal.

2. He seemed rather biased against the Catholic Church. I myself am not Catholic, but even I do not think some of the things that they did were quite as bad as Robinson makes them out to be. For example, his comments to the effect that the charges of homosexuality against the Knights were very probably true because they had vows of chastity are simply underestimating the effect of religion upon people's lives and are just plain stupid. If the Templars couldn't take being chaste anymore, it is not very likely that they would choose to become homosexuals violating the ordinances of the Church rather than simply violating the laws of the Templar.

In conclusion, this was a very good book, but I think that there are better books on the subject out there. I would recommend Stephen Howarth's The Knights Templar. His book is slightly shorter (and thus has a little less detail), but it is also more accurate and is much more fun to read.

Overall grade: B+

Knights Templar 201 .......2005-04-28

Several readers have trashed this book, one saying 'Same old song in a new cover'. That reviewer then goes on to recommend two books written 10 years later.. That's probably why he thought that this was 'old'. While I can't compare this book to anything by Runciman or Tuchman, I will say that this is a pretty good book.

Before you buy this book, please pay attention to the title.. It is called 'Dungeon, Fire, & Sword The Knights Templar IN THE CRUSADES' In order to understand the impact of the KT in the crusades you have to understand the crusades themselves, and in order to understand the crusades, you need to understand the 'players', culture geography etc... The Crusades didn't revolve around the KT, they only played a part, albeit an integral one, in the crusades.

Yes this book is more than just the KT, and no it's not an in depth history of each of the crusades, but it's not supposed to be.. The reader should use this book as a building block about the KT, the crusades and even the Papal State.

What is interesting is that the more one reads about the KT the more you realize that there really is a lot of uncertainty and disagreement surrounding them. In his book, Howarth writes that the master of the Templars was never called the Grand Master, yet that is how Robinson refers to them. There were a few other descrepencies between the two books but nothing major.

The maps (all 3 of them) were ok. The tables of the 'players' in the back of the book were helpful.

I recommend this book.. Could you do better? Maybe, but with all of the junk that they are publishing about the KT these days you could do a heck of a lot worse.

Knights of the Black and White (The Templar Trilogy, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Tedious? Hardly!
The Secret Brotherhood
Stick with Camulod
Loved it!
Dull and Rambling - Quite Disappointed

Knights of the Black and White (The Templar Trilogy, Book 1)
Jack Whyte
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0399153969

Book Description

A brother of the Order-a medieval secret society uniting noble families in a sacred bond-Sir Hugh de Payens has emerged from the First Crusade a broken man seeking to dedicate his life to God. But the Order has other plans for him: to uncover a deadly secret that could shatter the very might of the Church itself.

Customer Reviews:

Tedious? Hardly! .......2007-09-27

Not only does Mr. Whyte spin a good yarn, his attention to detail is amazing. He lays out the factual data about life, politics and such in vivid detail while not turning it into a history text and the characters are "real" people not just superficial cut outs stuck into a story. He makes great use of the literary license to combine several of the "possible" theories regarding the Knights into an engrossing story centered around the historical facts.

Be warned, this is one that causes you to forget things like dinner (be there in a second), bed (just a few more pages) and other non essential activities while you ride, fight and live alongside Sir Hugh and his brothers.

The Secret Brotherhood.......2007-09-27

First the basics, this is a fictional novel that tells the tale of the origins of the Knights Templar or as known in this book as the Order of the Rebirth in Sion. The Order's mission is to unveil the "truth" about the Catholic Church, which is that Jesus was not the son of God, but just another Jewish rebel. The Catholic Church was later created by a gentile that wanted to change the Jewish teaching to something more popularly acceptable (mainly to the Romans). This really is not a spoiler since you find this out near the beginning of the book with continuous discussion on this throughout the book.

I had mixed emotions from reading this book. A couple of disclaimers, I have not read any of Jack Whyte's books before this and I am Catholic. I do however have an open mind, love history, and find the mystery of the Knights Templar interesting.

The book is obviously not for anyone that is Christian and unwilling to allow the author some creative margin. Nevertheless, if you can get past that, the premise is an interesting twist on the Knight Templar theme. There are parts of the book that are gripping and entertaining and show that the author is talented.

However, the novel seems to stall in the middle. The author abandons the development of the main character and his friends. Only then, to pick up the story of the young knight and the princess which seem unnecessary and ridiculous. I would hope that the author has some greater purpose for them later on to justify the excessively vulgar relationship. In addition, the constant church bashing does get tedious. I realize the Church abused their power during the middle ages, but we got the point the fifth time and didn't need another fifty examples. The perverted bishop was more graphic than necessary for an adventure novel.

The "treasure" that the knights find make you want to find out how the knights will use it and what events will be triggered. However, to find out in the next book, I suspect I would be forced to wade through more of the same rhetoric. I don't recommend this book, but I am compelled to see what all the praise is about on Jack's other books the Camulod series.

Stick with Camulod.......2007-09-03

I had just finished the last book in the Camulod Series, and was thrilled to find more works by Jack Whyte. I wanted to like this book so much, but after reading 200 pages I gave up. I swear one of my most favorite authors did not write this book!

I decided to see what other readers here thought of the book, just to make sure part of my brain wasn't missing or something. It looks like readers either really liked, or really didn't like it. The readers who liked it found it riveting and interesting, while I found it neither. The only explanation I can imagine for this is that the other half of us got a different book.

At any rate, if you have not read Jack Whyte before, and are interested in the Templars, you might like this book. However, if you hungrily read every book of the Camulod Chronicles and found the writing to be some of the best you've ever enjoyed, you probably won't like this book. If you are in the latter category, stick with Camulod and cut your losses. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Loved it!.......2007-08-23

Hardcore Christians will no doubt be offended. People who take weeks to read a mass market paperback will find it tedious. But for those people who like a good thick book (one that takes more than a few hours to consume) or anyone interested in the Templars, it's a great read.
Sure, some characters could have been developed more. I suspect they will be in the next two books of this planned trilogy. This is my first Jack Whyte book. I hope his others are half as good, because I've found a new favorite author.

Dull and Rambling - Quite Disappointed.......2007-08-21

A long, tedious book at times, lacking in focus and populated by undeveloped characters. Many characters are stock stereotypes but the princess is ludicrous. The entire plot involving her and one of the monk-knights is bizarre and just wrong. I actually enjoyed the theory behind the Temple Mount monks but most of this novel was poorly written and wandered all over the place with no real point.

Secret Societies of America's Elite: From the Knights Templar to Skull and Bones

Average customer rating:

Fact or fantasy?
Badly Referenced Book
Badly Referenced Book
Let down
BE CAREFUL OF THIS ONE

Secret Societies of America's Elite: From the Knights Templar to Skull and Bones
Steven Sora
Manufacturer: Destiny Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0892819596
Release Date: 2003-02-24

Book Description

An expose of the dark and critical role secret societies play within the ruling families in America and their influence on American democracy, current events, and world history.

â€¢ Reveals the enormous influence secret societies still have on contemporary American life.

â€¢ Shows how the secret Masonic cells that smuggled in the democratic ideals inspiring the American Revolution also enabled the future elite of the new society to build huge fortunes.

Elite and secret societies have always been a major force in the history of Western civilization. The alliances formed in secret societies such as the Knights Templar, the Knights of Christ, and the Freemasons transcended patriotism and religious beliefs and had a powerful influence on the establishment of the United States of America. While these secret associations of merchants, smugglers, occultists, gamblers, spies, and slavers succeeded in freeing the United States from foreign domination, the dark side is that the elite used their secret connections to further their own wealth and power. These secret cells did not hesitate to sponsor the assassination of a president and even attempted to break up the union on several occasions when it was deemed expedient.

From the Sons of Liberty and the Essex Junto to the Ku Klux Klan, secret societies have played critical roles in building the fortunes of America's elite. Now Steven Sora reveals in alarming detail how secretive societies continue to wield power even today as organizations such as Yale's Skull & Bones unite America's modern ruling families as strongly as Masonic Lodges once connected the Astors, Livingstons, and Roosevelts. Their immense power and wealth allow this elite to control America to an even greater degree than the Templars once dominated Europe.

Customer Reviews:

Fact or fantasy?.......2007-10-02

A previous reviewer has noted some examples Sora's "liberties" with facts. For me it was page 39 where we are informed that in 1919 the German Fleet, hiding in Scapa Flow, scuttled its ships rather than "surrender from its hiding place". Mr. Sora is clearly not aware that Scapa Flow was home to the British Grand Fleet, some forty Battleships, Cruisers, Dreadnoughts and Destroyers and that the German High Seas Fleet was not hiding there, but had, in fact, surrendered there.

When basic, well documented, facts are ignored or distorted, how can the rest of this work be taken seriously?

Badly Referenced Book.......2006-02-26

Sora starts off with a lot of stories on the Knights Templars, with much truth mixed in, but throughout he focuses on stories of mafia-like intrigue where graft, murder, and all manner of nefarious ways are attributed. Sora lays low when he finally gets to the Skull and Bones. But for the entirety of the book his secret societies have been blood-thirsty pirates, slave traders, and the worst of the worse.

Worst of all, with so very much of "his" history on every page, his documentation of his hundreds of evil attributions is sorely and sourly lacking. When he says in one of his many infamous lines that the KKK is a Masonic organization, a good historian would have referenced and proved that. Goodness, did Sora just purpose to link many of history's legends to one of history's worst secret societies. The KKK is a separate org like a lot of corrupt orgs with prejudicial and evil ways, and Sora forgot or purposed to leave out numerous other corrupt organizations more like the KKK than real Freemasonry. The end line for Sora, is that Freemasonry is in the main tied to many of America's elite for 300+ years, and all of the elite--he mentions many early and only a few today--are somehow corrupt.

If so many of America's elite have been and are as corrupt as Sora's long story goes, well then, there would never have been an America founded, not like the one the Declaration and Constitution established in 1776+ or like we have today. The greatest deficit and piece of incredible license is how Sora expects his readers to take in his broad stroking theme: America was founded by evil pirates and continues to be controlled by pirates to this day.

Sora did not mention, quote, or reference a single Freemasonry scholar, not even those scholars of Masonry who are "not" Masons, like famed non-Mason historian Jasper Ridley. Any history like Sora's that links so many hundreds of pages to Freemasonry (making them "all" evil) is adolescent when it ignores or purposes to hide from Freemason scholars such as Allen E. Roberts, William r. Denslow, W.L. Wilmshurst, and Alphonse Cerza, Art DeHoyos, and S. Brent Morris. Without out a single reference to the well-referenced works of Allen E. Roberts alone, Sora is adrift in his own pirate fantasies. Without the mighty works of Denslow's "10,000 Famous Freemasons" and Cerza's mighty "Anti-Masonry," Sora is a little story teller with rocks in his mouth.

Not once in 300+ pages did Sora mention the cruciality of "honor" or "morality," and yet the Knights Templar and Freemasonry for 300+ years have been all about honor. You have to look over, pass over, and ignore how "honor" and "morality" have been an integral part of all of Freemasonry, published in the monitors by all of the Grand Lodges worldwide and on nearly every page of thousands of Freemasonry scholars for 300+ years.

What is truly scary about Sora's skull-and-bones' covered book is that it is selling, like a pirate booty being auctioned off to an innocent audience unawares of Sora's home port. See www.preciousheart.net for more bibliography on Freemasonry.
Sincerely, Dr. M.G. Maness

Badly Referenced Book.......2006-02-26

Let down.......2005-04-12

The author starts off telling us that Skull and Bones membership essentially guarantees a world of privilige, power and wealth. By the end we find out it is not much more than a club whose members do some weird things. An OK read but very repetitive. Yale likes it traditions, we don't need 100 pages to tell us that, 10 would have sufficed.

BE CAREFUL OF THIS ONE.......2004-08-29

I am fearful that the historical accuracy of some of the statements made by this author are in question. I found the work to be rather poorly footnoted and some of the author's conclusions quite questionable. I also found that the work was quite repetative and that much of what the author had to tell us could have been presented in about one fourth of the pages actually used. After reading the book, I certainly would not try passing myself off as an expert on "secret societies" and their impact on our present time. Do some home work on your own before reading this one, and as I said, becareful of this one!

The Templars and the Grail: Knights of the Quest

Average customer rating:

the templars and the grail
Interesting Read
The dramatic story of the Knights Templar
A must-have book on the Templars
Fascinating and evocative yet balanced

The Templars and the Grail: Knights of the Quest
Karen Ralls
Manufacturer: Quest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0835608077

Book Description

This definitive work about the Templars and their presumed hidden knowledge addresses many fascinating questions, with rare photos from the Rosslyn Chapel Museum (Scotland) included.

Customer Reviews:

the templars and the grail.......2006-08-03

the book is too especulative not mush scientific information can be obtained.

Interesting Read.......2006-07-02

An Interesting read and a good compliment to
Holy Blood Holy Grail. It could be a bit more
in-depth and a bit less academic.
neat websites.

The dramatic story of the Knights Templar.......2005-06-05

The Knights Templar was a monastic order of Christian warriors that grew out of the medieval campaigns to free Jerusalem and Palestine from the domination of the Muslims in several waves of invasion known collectively as the Crusades. These warrior monks were believed to conduct mystical rites, guard the famed Holy Grail, and possess the lost treasures of Jerusalem. The order's wealth and political activities evolved to provide banking services to kings, act as trusted diplomats, engage in far flung business enterprise, and even work as navigators. The order was ultimately doomed to succumb to political intrigue and the malevolent greed of kings. In The Templars And The Grail: Knights Of The Quest, Oxford-based medieval historian Karen Ralls presents the dramatic story of the Knights Templar, presenting the many beliefs and theories about their presumed powers and arcane knowledge. Drawing upon both popular and academic sources, this impressive, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly accessible history is especially recommended to students of Metaphysical Studies and Medieval History.

A must-have book on the Templars.......2004-08-10

Every now and then a book comes along and you think 'thank God someone has done this!' This book really works on several levels -- firstly, the author is solid and credible, being a professional medieval historian, but also someone who has had previous curator experience at the museum exhibition at Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland --a place now known to many more of us, as it is featured in the last chapter of the Da Vinci Code novel. However, this book is a solidly-researched, nonfiction work and a fascinating read on the history of the medieval Order, the Grail, and Rosslyn Chapel, etc. For those who may already have read a bit about the Templars, it still has a lot of intriguing new stuff, yet it's backed up with solid, factual documentation and good references and footnotes-- again, something you often don't see nearly enough in popular books on the Templars. This is not the usual 'one theory book' on the Templars, which I found refreshing to say the least. But it's easy to read and follow overall, and this author doesn't attempt to 'take sides'. A variety of research and views are presented, and then, we, the readers, can take it from there. What seems to be unique here is that this author takes great care to distinguish between fact and speculation -- something in my opinion that is a problem with many of the existing books on the Knights Templars. But although I'd already read some on the Templars and still learned a lot more, a friend of mine who had read nothing at all about them also found this book really intriguing, which says something, too. The photos of the carvings of Rosslyn Chapel were great, and I especially liked the various intriguing bits here and there in each chapter -- like material on the Black Madonna, geometry, St Bernard's role, the medieval origins of traveller's checks, the Jolly Roger pirate flag and medieval Templar naval warfare, various excavations under the Temple Mount, Templar symbolism, and so on. A good resource to have around, and it's not surprising this book is on its fifth printing in a year...it's also easy to 'dip into' when you like. Definitely worth getting.

Fascinating and evocative yet balanced.......2004-02-11

Written by an academic medieval historian, this is one of the best history books on the Knights Templar to come out for some time -- it is balanced (many academic but also some popular sources used, but carefully) and thoughtful, yet still manages to be readable and very intriguing. An ideal combo. The sources are reliable, so this author simply does not need to resort to mere sensationalism, which is so often the case with books on the Templars. The material on Scotland is great, especially the chapter on the enigmatic carvings of Rosslyn Chapel, a place that was also featured in the novel The Da Vinci Code. I would have liked a bit more on medieval Templar naval strategies and warfare and the Jolly Roger, but overall, if you are looking for a solid, reliable book that still has compelling research, admitting that there are still some important unanswered questions about the 'White knights' of the Crusades -- it's a valuable reference book to have around, plus a great read!

The Malice of Unnatural Death (Knights Templar series)

Average customer rating:

One of the best
Jecks has the period down
Another great Jecks offering
This Should Have a 6th Star!

The Malice of Unnatural Death (Knights Templar series)
Michael Jecks
Manufacturer: Headline Book Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0755332768

Book Description

1324. The kingdom is in an uproar. Roger Mortimer—once the king's most able commander, now his most hated enemy—has escaped from the Tower and hired an assassin to murder the monarch. Others have the same idea. In Coventry, a special assassin has been hired: a necromancer by the name of John. But just as his plan begins to succeed, the plot is uncovered. John must escape to a smaller city: Exeter. And when the bodies of a local craftsman and the king's messenger are found in Exeter's streets, Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock, are asked by the Bishop to find the murderer. The dead messenger was carrying a dangerous secret, and the Bishop is desperate that it not be discovered. Baldwin and Simon are reluctant to get involved, but political pressures are growing, and the two must find the murderer before he strikes again. But when murderers use magic, no one is safe.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best.......2007-08-26

If you like this mystery series, you will definitely enjoy this installment. It is well plotted and compelling.

Jecks has the period down.......2007-08-03

Jecks consistantly delivers a great story. His charters blend in perfectly with the real people of the period. I have enjoyed all of his books and always look forward to the next one. He does not disapoint.

Another great Jecks offering.......2007-05-07

This reader has long wondered how Sir Baldwin was going to continue his disdain for national politics, especially in view of his friendship with Walter Stapleton, a prominent figure in the reign of Edward II. This one goes out a bit on a limb by postiing that curse magic is real and that Bishop Walter, as well as those despicable figures, the elder and younger Despencers, and even the King himself would be the target of a well-financed attempt by a necromancer. There is all the suspense, action, and convoluted plot that we have come to expect of Mr. Jecks, and at least one guessed-at, but never quite thought though surprise. Highly recommended, as are all the series. BTW, it is best to read them in order, I have found. Start with "The Last Templar," if you haven't already.

This Should Have a 6th Star!.......2007-03-20

Jecks continues in his excellent murder mystery series, but has gone up a step adding even more intrigue to the mix. Get this one now is my best recommendation. Jecks knows his history as well as his mystery and weaves a time piece work, Medieval, that is certain to keep you riveted to the pages. There are far to many authors that pretend to write period work that fall short of the mark for both the period and the mystery. I think that a truly good author deserves a proper review and Jecks is one of the few these days.

Belladonna at Belstone (Knights Templar series)

Average customer rating:

Murder in The Priory
Immorality runs rampant
Belladonna At Belstone
Story is well-written, and there is plenty of mystery, but--
Belladonna At Belstone

Belladonna at Belstone (Knights Templar series)
Michael Jecks
Manufacturer: Headline Book Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0747263612

Book Description

It is 1321, and Lady Elizabeth of Topsham, prioress of St. Mary's, is fighting to retain her position in the face of devastating opposition. She has been accused by Sister Margherita, St. Mary's treasurer, of giving much-needed funds to the new vicar, a man she often sees alone at night. Many of the nuns are convinced that Margherita would make a better prioress—especially now that it is certain that Moll, a young nun, was murdered in her sick bed. Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, together with his old friend Simon Puttock, are summoned to investigate. There is no doubt that the threefold vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty are being broken with alarming frequency. Then, when a second nun is murdered, they find themselves facing their most difficult case yet.

Customer Reviews:

Murder in The Priory.......2006-08-21

Immorality runs rampant.......2004-11-21

In looking for a new mystery series, I decided to try a book by Michael Jecks and chose this one. It was awful. You could hardly pay attention to the mystery (which was not a winner anyway) for the garbage about the nuns and monks carrying on various affairs. I know that there were people who did not keep their vows, but I honestly doubt that there was ever a convent so filled to the brim with promiscuity. As a reader, you never turned a corner without coming upon a dishevelled nun coming out of the bushes.

For someone who was brought up on Ellis Peters' Cadfael or Margaret Frazer's Dame Frevisse or any of the hundreds of other historical mysteries, I can definitely recommend NOT buying this book. As I said, it was awful.

Belladonna At Belstone.......2003-10-02

The story is very intriguing, full of mysteries and twists.
Although it is kind of weird that unfit women wind up as nuns, it is the uniqueness of the story and the creativeness of an author to come up with this book that makes it entertaining. In my opinion this story will stir our minds to the reality of the world but such fictional story is not to be taken so seriously enough to depress the readers. Fictional stories are intended to entertain, but at same time make us more aware.

Story is well-written, and there is plenty of mystery, but--.......2001-02-14

I'm afraid that I still found this novel to be more depressing than anything else. Even given the time period of the story, and the fact that at that time some women who were not fit to be nuns ended up in convents, I found all of the nuns in the story to be such liars and so plainly unfit to be nuns that I felt the convent shouldn't have been left standing at the end of the story. It didn't seem to me that there was even one woman within the story who really should have stayed in the convent. Perhaps Lady Elizabeth and Margherita came the closest - by the end of the story - to becoming "real nuns."

Belladonna At Belstone.......2000-08-11

A young nun at St. Mary's Priory dies whilst in care at the infirmary; the prioress of the nunnery is struggling to retain her position in spite of accusations of immorality and fraud. The Keeper of the King's Peace, Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock are called in to investigate the charges. And in the midst of all this mayhem, another nun is murdered. This mystery lives up to expectations. There are enough twists and turns to keep an avid mystery lover happy and satisfied.

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

The Death Ship of Dartmouth (Knights Templar series)

Average customer rating:

A Master Storyteller at the Top of His Form!
The Death Ship Beckons!
Run Up the Jolly Roger
Very interesting historical mystery set in very bad times

The Death Ship of Dartmouth (Knights Templar series)
Michael Jecks
Manufacturer: Headline Book Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0755323025

Book Description

It is 1324, and a disastrous autumn looms large. In Dartmouth, a man is found lying dead in the road, but the inhabitants of this little haven dismiss his death as a drunken accident. Their attentions are turned to more worrying matters—piracy. A ship, the St. John, has been discovered, half-ravaged and the crew missing, in an attack that bears all the hallmarks of the supposedly disbanded Lyme Pirates. Could this be the beginning of a vicious onslaught, or is something even more sinister happening? Sir Baldwin Furnshill has been warned of spies reaching the great traitor Roger Mortimer. If this is true and messages are reaching Mortimer, civil war in England is inevitable. And so the Kingdom’s most powerful and ruthless men demand that Baldwin and Bailiff Simon Puttock uncover the truth, and quickly. This is to be the most important investigation of their lives—fail and they will be executed, succeed and there will be others ready to silence them forever.

Customer Reviews:

A Master Storyteller at the Top of His Form!.......2007-04-10

Like fine wine, Michael Jecks' literary skills improve with age. Jecks has been writing his "Knights Templar" mysteries since 1995. "Death Ship of Dartmouth," a 2006 title, shows Jecks in fine form, sweeping up the reader in a wonderfully crafted, compulsive page-turner of a novel.

Jecks' novel presents the inhabitants of 14th Century Dartmouth - and the reader - with perplexing twin mysteries. An unidentified corpse is found in a Dartmouth road, his death an apparent accident. Meanwhile, in nearby coastal waters, a fire-blackened merchant vessel owned by a Dartmouth businessman is discovered. Its cargo is intact but the crew, save for one water-logged corpse found in the hold, is missing. The detective team of Sir Baldwin de Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and baliff Simon Puttock added by coroner Sir Richard de Welles is soon on the scene trying to unravel the mysteries.

As with other Jecks' novels, "Death Ship" is brimming with head-scratching puzzles, multi-dimensional characters and wonderful period detail. Ar some point in reading this novel, the thought came to me how rich "Death Ship" really was.

The characters are an engaging mix of humanity - good, bad, noble, weak, ruthless, haunted by past events, etc. The larger-than-life de Welles character, cut from the cloth of Shakespeare's Falstaff, is a delight. And the main villain, Sir Andrew de Limpsfield, is a wonderfully evil, totally amoral piece of work.

Furnshill, Puttock and Welles finally get to the bottom of Jecks' intricately plotted story and the journey is a treat. The reader is forever wondering whether the various events and characters fit together and, if so, how. Jecks does an adroit job of juggling all the main story elements and sub-plots and keeps the reader guessing till the final denouement.

Jecks has no equal in the English medieval mystery field. His characters are well done, the plots are wonderfully intricate and the recreation of medieval England spot-on. This is one great read!

*******
One minor point. In 1965 Orson Welles starred in and directed "Chimes at Midnight," playing Sir John Falstaff. Now we have a Falstaff doppelganger named Richard de Welles. Coincidence, Mr. Jecks??

The Death Ship Beckons!.......2007-01-09

I purchased this on the chance it might be good and I was not let down. Neither will you! I found my self up to the wee hours of the morning reading this tale of dastardly do. As per the other reviewers, and now myself (also a computer professional), this is a heck of a good book. The plot moves along and is indeed well researched. All the characters are well drawn and I appreciated the map and glossary along with the list of cast of characters. I never knew about the horrible Despenser family and the years known as the "tyranny" until now. Mr. Jecks made me want to learn more. Plus, what made me like this book is that there is very little difference to the those days of yore and today!

Enjoy!

Run Up the Jolly Roger.......2006-08-22

Michael Jecks gave up a career in the computer industry when he began writing the internationally successful Templar series. Well all I can say is the Computer Industries loss is the reader's gain. He has now written about a score of the Knights Templar mystery books featuring Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock and there are more to follow. Michael's books are full of intrigue and mystery and they are particularly well researched. Mr. Jecks lives in the area he writes about and I am sure this must assist him a great deal with his background research.

This book as with most of Mr. Jecks other novels in the series takes place in Devon, barely two years before the infamous Despenser's were brought to summary justice.

The small haven of Dartmouth lies on the mouth of the river Dart, hence its name. The townsfolk are well used fights and scuffles among the sailors who come ashore to spend their hard earned pay. When a body is found lying in the middle of the road it is assumed that he has probably had too much to drink and fallen with fatal results.

The death is soon put to one side as the townspeople have other things on their mind. A ship, the St. John has been found out in the channel. It has been attacked by pirates. The crew are missing either captured or killed by the brigands. The people of Dartmouth are worried that this could be a new wave of strikes by the pirates. This would normally be bad enough, but is there something even more sinister afoot.

Spies and messengers are being sent to the traitor Roger Mortimer in France. If the messengers reach Mortimer civil war could erupt in England. Sir Baldwin and Simon must try to get to the truth quickly, but they know that this investigation could result in their own executions. There are powerful men waiting in the background and failure is not an option. But even if they succeed, other factions will want their heads on a pole.

Very interesting historical mystery set in very bad times.......2006-08-20

A literate historical mystery set in Devon less than two years before the fall of the terrible Despensers. I could not put it down.

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