A Sense of Time, History and Fictional Possibilities

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According to the definition of fantasy fiction in Wikipedia, "Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of (pseudo-)scientific and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three, all of which are subgenres of speculative fiction."

The fantasy novel, Gettysburg Passage, uses elements of what could be called magic to draw in main characters living in present day suburban Washington, D.C. The primary "magic" element is the ability of real, historical people from the past to briefly interact with the modern characters, helping them try to understand a mystery involving a recently-discovered ancient artifact and a burning coal mine near the Gettysburg battlefield. Could an ancient civilization be trying to reach out to the present day to get some help in fighting an existential threat? Perhaps!

Much of this is relevant to a recent weekend family wedding trip I made with my wife, Cathy. We drove out of the Washington area going west on I-66 towards Front Royal in western Virginia.  It turns out this modern highway is the exact route used by key Union and Confederate forces in the Second Battle of Bull Run. The main army of the United States could have been routed and destroyed by forces massing and marching down this road. This would have been the end of the U.S. as we know it.  As I drove along, I gazed up hills and vistas that had not changed in 150 years. Soldiers from then would have easily recognized the way, even with a modern highway in place. Even the railroad from that era exists in the exact spot. As I passed through I had a strong sense of "other-ness". It was if time were interchangeable and that I could step out of the car and exchange places with men from several generations ago.

This is a strong feeling that I hope you get when you read Gettysburg Passage. It is not a Civil War book, per se. But it uses key historical figures and familiar Civil War-era places to move the narrative along at a very fast pace. The goal is finding out more about a mysterious ancient civilization. But to learn more about that civilization, you sort of have to pass through the American Civil War just a bit. I think you will enjoy the ride!

You can sample a chapter of Gettysburg Passage, $1.99, from Amazon, by going here.
More information about the book is available at Amazon here.
Read reviews at Amazon here.
Enjoy!

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The universe, the multiverse and fantasy fiction.....

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A lot of fantasy fiction has taken advantage of the possibility of multiple universes being spun out of everyday existence. The idea is simply that existence, at each decision point, constantly subdivides into multiple existences. The theory is related to quantum mechanics in physics and roughly explained by "if the tree fell in the forest and you didn't hear or see it, did it really fall?"  Another thought experiment is described by the late, famous physicist Erwin Schrödinger’s Cat and can be summarized as, is that damn cat really dead until you look in the box? If all outcomes are possible, then was Jesus really handed over to the Romans, did the Norman's successfully invade England, did the Nazis win WWII, etc. etc. in some other universe?

There is a very interesting update on multiple universes in today's Telegraph, from the U.K., in an article by Roger Highfield. He seems to think that multiverses are a done deal. Give it a read and see what you think!

In my novel, Gettysburg Passage, I flirt with the possibility of a parallel universe but do not make it central to the plot, which could involve some kind of time travel. How certain events unfold is left to the imagination of the reader. But I must admit the possibility of multiverses is really cool and the idea that you could jump between them, maybe to a more desirable outcome, is attractive to many.

Gettysburg Passage is a fantasy novel from Amazon which takes place mostly in the present time. But several of the main characters do get sucked into past events in American history, if only for brief slices of time. The challenge they face is, are they willing to give up the very comfortable present to make a great contribution to history and civilization that is occurring in some other time or parallel existence? If they elect to help out, they probably won't make it back "home."  Would you do it -- make the jump -- if your reality would become far more exciting somewhere else?

Go to Amazon.com to learn more about Gettysburg Passage, just $2.99!

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An Explosion of Energy at Maiden Castle, Dorset, England

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Maiden Castle, in the county of Dorset, in England, is the remains of a fortified, hilltop settlement, dating back thousands of years. Until recently, the conventional wisdom was the Maiden site grew slowly from about 2,000 B.C., was painfully enlarged generation after generation, and peaked several centuries before foreign invasion and withered by the time of the Roman occupation. In an amazing turn of events, scientists believe the peak of its importance as a center of an organized community was actually reached far, far earlier, nearly 5,000 years ago., when it became the largest fortress site in all of Europe.

In a facinating article in The Guardian, from the U.K., scientists are able to analyze new archaeological dating evidence far more precise than carbon-14 measurements. The results are that Maiden Castle grew very large as a hilltop settlement around 3,700 B.C., in a rapid explosion of growth. The people living there were able to maximize military, agricultural and civic organizational techniques to far outstrip the power of their neighbors.

Once again, we learn new evidence about the past and realize just how much we don't know. This is a central idea in the novel, Gettysburg Passage, an action-adventure fantasy available from Amazon. Modern people go about their everyday lives. Suddenly, they are confronted with evidence of a reality they didn't think possible. Should they investigate further, and perhaps be called on "to help"? What if that means walking away from your regular daily existence, from your friends and family? Maybe they'll come along!

Here is a link to The Guardian article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/jun/06/archaeology-dating-property-boom-3700bc

And here is a link to learn more about Gettysburg Passage, just $2.99 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Passage-ebook/dp/B00408AOMW

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Horse of Kings Found From Persian Royal Grave 5,000 Years Old

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The Caspian Horse is a beloved breed whose roots can be traced back to the Iron Age and even deeper in the prehistoric mists of time. This small, fast and graceful steed is easily identified by a pronounced forehead, large eyes and short ears. Although much smaller than modern thoroughbreads, the Caspian Horse is spirited and a strong jumper -- and was a royal favorite for pulling a war chariot, swiftly transporting a courier or majestically carrying a king to a royal hunt.

Now it is being reported that the oldest remains of the Caspian breed have been discovered in an archaeological dig in Iran. Through history horses have played a pivotal role in determining the fate of civilizations in conflict and, a source of envy, have been the cause of livestock raids chronicled in man's earliest poems and ballads.

In the fantasy action novel, Gettysburg Passage, horses are important, too. They play a key role in keeping several of the main characters a few trots ahead of the harm's way.

In short, some friends living in contemporary Washington, D.C. stumble on an ancient artifact which before long has them running for their lives. Lucky for them, several horses -- could they possibly be right out of America's Civil War? -- are conveniently available to speed their escape. Before long, these characters find themselves deep inside a mystery that flips through time and that is somehow linked to a distant, lost civilization. An ancient, advanced society is desperately in need of help only these modern day friends can provide......will they risk their lives to help? Gettysburg Passage, $2.99, from Amazon. Click on the following link to read the rave reviews or sample a free chapter.  http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Passage-ebook/dp/B00408AOMW

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Iron Age Girl Had to Die by the Roman Sword

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Beginning in 55 B.C., restive Iron Age Britain was toyed with by list of famous Romans, including Caesar, Augustus and Caligula. But around 43 A.D., nearly 2,000 years ago, Emporer Claudius readied his Roman Legions to mount a large invasion and a permanent occupation of the restive region. Led by the crack Legio II Augusta, commanded by the future emperor Vespasian, some 40,000 troops and auxilaries began a nearly continuous brutal campaign of conquest lasting decades.

Much of this is of course so much dry history. But this weekend the BBC reports that archaeologists in north Kent, UK, have discovered the 2,000 year old grave of a young woman, thought to be 16 to 20 years old. She had been most likely wounded in the head while kneeling, mostly likely executed by Roman soldiers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-13211331

This discovery, the intact skeleton, the obvious visual evidence of violent trauma to the skull, most definitely brings to life that long ago invasion and occupation. Was she a spy, a picket, a bushwhacker, or simply innocent and in the wrong place at the wrong time? What was her name? Did she cry as they killed her or did she face her captors with stoicism?

Invasions and occupations are disruptive, violent, degrading and life changing. The Romans were ruthless and did their best to wipe out native tribes that continued to resist. Vigilance was a way of life for the occupiers, as the native population was ready to erupt at any time. Perhaps the best visual that illustrates the tension of the occupier versus the subjugated is the Vallum Aelium, known to most as Hadrian's Wall, the defensive fortification in northern England used to keep the dangerous nothern tribes at a safe distance.

Just as the unnamed young woman gave her life in some kind of hostilities involving the invading Romans, the Amazon novel Gettysburg Passage has, deep in its narrative, a thread that involves a lost civilization that is also being overrun, occupied, and in danger of annihilation by the boot of an invading army.

http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Passage-ebook/dp/B00408AOMW

The Romans felt they were on the side of civilization and progress and were opposed by the forces of tribal barbarism. An academic argument could be made either way. But in Gettysburg Passage, there can be no doubt that a superior civilization is in danger of being wiped out by an invading army of savages.

Ironically, a group of friends living in contemporary Washington, D.C. find an ancient artifact that potentially lures them into the conflict. As they explore the possible history of the ancient mace, history comes alive -- in startling ways! To read book reviews or to sample a free chapter, go to Amazon today! Gettysburg Passage, just $2.99!

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New Evidence of Ancient Civilizations Is Frequently Uncovered

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A frequently used plot device in fantasy, action/adventure and science fiction is the discovery of an ancient civilization. Perhaps the most familiar example includes the many fictional adventures of Indiana Jones. A reader might wonder, with humans constantly crawling all over the globe, with 3D satellite mapping going on, and with all the other new scientific tools available, are there any amazing ancient secrets left to be discovered?

The answer is, amazing discoveries are made all the time! Just this week there are news reports that a new, unheard of ancient Sumerian city has been discovered in southern Iraq.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1WrVAB/www.suite101.com/content/a-new-sumerian-city-has-been-discovered-in-southern-iraq-a230390

The ruins are located south of the Sumerian city of Eridu. Isn't it amazing that with the endless warfare in Iraq over the past few decades, the invasions and retreats involving hundreds of thousands of troops, and chaos and looting of ancient ruins, this new discovery has been made. Presumably in the years ahead, work on these ruins will help shed more light on the civilization of Sumer and Akkad some 4,000 years ago.

My fantasy novel, Gettysburg Passage, from Amazon, uses a similar plot devise to drive the fast-paced action of the narrative. Mixed together are: 1) a mysterious, powerful, newly discovered ancient artifact; 2) a strange burning cave portal found near the Gettysburg American Civil War battlefield; 3) odd, real-live sightings of long-dead famous warriors; and 4) through mystics and dreams, an appeal for help from a lost civilization from the ancient past (Sumer, Babylon, Greece, Egypt? I am not saying!).

Read the reviews and check out a free, sample chapter. http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Passage-ebook/dp/B00408AOMW

Gettysburg Passage, only $2.99 from Amazon.

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Found Treasure & Ancient Artifacts Are Not Just the Stuff of Fantasy Novels

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You may have missed this news over the long Easter Weekend....several years ago a man enlarging his backyard garden pond in Austria dug up obviously old artifacts -- jewels and rings and belt buckles and silver plate and the like. He didn't bother to clean them, just placed the dirt encrusted objects in a box. He stored them in the basement and like most of us who store stuff in the basement, he forgot about it. Then he recently decided to move and in his moving preparations he came upon the box again. He cleaned up the artifacts and found....treasure! Ancient treasure! Treasure and artifacts now being called invaluable and something out of a fairy tale. Stuff more than 650 years old. Buried in his back yard. The treasure trove will soon be on display at the Presidential Palace in Vienna.

Here is a link to the story: http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/archives/04/2011/significant-mediaeval-treasure-found-in-austria

Who could make this stuff up?

The fantasy novel, Gettysburg Passage, available from Amazon, actually has a similar plot twist.

A group of friends living around Washington, D.C. have their lives changed when one of them finds an ancient artifact. This artifact is not jewelry, but rather an ancient royal staff or mace -- a symbol of authority and power. The artifact still has power, in fact, and begins to affect their lives in amazing ways. Actually, the mace appears to be drawing them to a mysterious cave near the Gettysburg battlefield just north of Washington. The mace and the cave come together to draw the friends into an opportunity -- save an ancient civilization and at the same time perhaps preserve the modern, complex, interconnected world we know today in the 21st Century.

Will the friends take advantage of the opportunity to make history? Find out by reading a free sample chapter of the book at Amazon.com today. Read the reviews, read a sample chapter or buy Gettysburg Passage, only $2.99. Book link: http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Passage-ebook/dp/B00408AOMW

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Around 6 million years in Africa human history began

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That is the central nugget of a wonderful new essay in The Guardian, one of the UK's leading newspapers, a thoughtful media portal better than anything in America today. Basically, you have to go back some 6 million years to find a common chimp-human ancestor. Since then, humans have been on a separate path that has led -- with many branches and dead ends -- to where we are today.

The link to the essay is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/apr/25/evolution-human-history-apes  The essay is called The Untold Story of Evolution but of course the story has been told many times and is discussed daily in classrooms. It is well written and honestly addresses they many puzzles and questions still bedeviling scientists. What drove the ancestors out of Africa? What led to upright walking? Why the long legs and large brain? What sparked the creation of human language?

What I like about the topic are the many "holes in the data." Why did humans begin burying the dead? Why did we begin to believe in life after death? Where were the first societies located where complex communities came into being?

In my novel, Gettysburg Passage, I envision a group of five friends -- two couples and a priest -- who are suddenly linked to a complex, ancient society. These friends don't yet realize it, but when they find an artifact in downtown Washington, D.C., they are magnetically drawn, through dreams and other evidence, to a portal that gives them access to our complex past -- if they choose to go.

One of the friends knows all about this ancient history because he's been there before -- but he's not talking about it unless he has to. Unfortunately for him, the past begins to come alive in modern Washington. In a strange twist, the portal exists as a burning cave located near the Gettysburg battlefield. This leads to all kinds of modern mayhem, including several Civil War characters suddenly making appearances in today's modern world. And just in time for helping to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War ;-)

Gettysburg Passage is available from Amazon.com for $2.99 US. It is a thoughtful, fast-paced fantasy novel that has received some very good reviews. Why not sample a free chapter? Go here to check it out. Thank you!

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Civil War Commentary and Fantasy Fiction

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There is interesting commentary in a South Carolina newspaper -- a state known for its defensiveness about its complex and combative history -- that you might wish to check out. His thesis is that many "top of mind" opinions on America's bloodiest war are too simple. Southerners want to talk about anything but slavery. On the other hand, during the time of the hostilities, citizens of the North harbored incredibly racist attitudes that would be considered intolerable today. It was an ugly time. Here is a link to his column. Another story in The Washington Post is a review of Gary Gallagher's new book, The Union War. In that book it is documented that Northern attitudes were also complex -- and generally not so pure. Essesentially, Northern soldiers went to war to preserve the country. Emancipation was secondary. Here is the Post link.

While you are checking out those thoughtful pieces of journalism, please consider also checking out my modern action-fantasy novel, Gettysburg Passage, only $2.99 from Amazon. Gettysburg Passage is a fast-paced modern story of people discovering an ancient artifact with mysterious powers. That artifact turns out to be a "key" that opens a portal to save a lost civilization. The portal happens to be very close to the Gettysburg Civil War battlefield.....all kinds of mayhem ensues!! Check out the great reader reviews here or try a sample chapter from the Amazon book site.

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Civil War Intrudes on Modern Day Adventure Novel

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The American media has re-discovered the Civil War. It happens every 25-30 years, especially around major anniversaries like 150th year of the start of the conflict. While the war has always been popular in nonfiction, it's not a typical setting for a lot of mainstream novels today.

It was with some anxiety that I named my fantasy novel Gettysburg Passage. While Gettysburg, PA plays a role in the climax, I was afraid many potential readers would assume the novel was strictly in the genre of war-related historical fiction -- which is actually a secondary influence.

Gettysburg Passage, from Amazon,  is really about how a group of modern people living around Washington, D.C., New England and Paris, come to a decision about whether to help out -- or not -- the remnants of a mysterious society about to be overwhelmed by barbarous invaders. That society is potentially reached through a portal found near the Gettysburg battlefield. And the historical battle plays a role in the modern-day decision to help out or not.

So to the extent the Civil War anniversary draws some attention to Gettysburg Passage -- that is a good thing. Just remember that the book, just $2.99, is also a fast-paced, modern-day fantasy, action and adventure e-novel, with a dash of Civil War action thrown in for good measure. Go to Amazon.com and try out a sample chapter today!

Find Gettysburg Passage reader reviews here.

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Life Is Stranger Than Fantasy Fiction

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Some people are relunctant to regularly read fantasy novels -- even books where 98% of the plot is reality-based -- because they find it difficult to accept the "fantastic" element. In this case, fantastic means odd, fanciful or supernatural. In many cases the 2% fantasy is based on science speculation, such as other dimensions, wormholes or alternative universes. In all of these examples, however, respected science predicts they are actually possible.

Current news items re-inforce my point. For example, today it was announced that scientists at the University of York have recovered the remains of an Iron Age man's brain, buried in soil that remarkably preserved critical soft tissue. Most experts would tell you the chances of finding a partially preserved brain that old under those circumstances were highly unlikely. But they did. Here is a link to the news release: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110328101108.htm

In another current example, here in America each spring universities compete in a winner-take-all basketball tournament called March Madness. Sixty eight teams compete until a champion is crowned. We are at the moment down to the last four standing, called The Final Four. Two of them are extreme long shots and the other two were not expected to get this far. Odds makers are quoted on ESPN, the American sports network, as saying the finalists are so improbable that he placed the odds of it happening at 1-in-300 million. But it did happen. Fantastic. Here is a link to the story: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/28764/so-just-how-unlikely-is-this-final-four

So take a chance and broaden your horizons. The next time you consider reading a really good, fast paced novel, consider a good fantasy novel, instead of the usual detective or political thriller fiction. The odds are, the fantasy plot is believable and the experience will be enjoyable. For example, try Gettysburg Passage, a fantasy novel just $2.99 from Amazon. Read the reviews here.

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How We Got Here and "God Had a Wife"

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Active in the news this week are stories about the ongoing discovery of additional evidence that the ancient Hebrew God, Yahweh --the monotheistic God-the-Father of Judaism and Christianity -- had in fact a female consort named Asherah, also known as Istar. There are several brief references to her in the Hebrew Bible. Modern researchers such as Bible scholar Francesca Stavrakopoulou claim that references to Asherah were mostly deleted from sacred texts to promote a male-centered view of religion. Nearly all ancient religions start with female god figures but over time the concept of God seems to go gender neurtral of lean towards the God-the-Father bias. Clearly male-directed editing has occurred.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8398099/Bibles-Buried-Secrets-Did-God-Have-a-Wife-review.html

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/22/fertility-goddess-asherah-was-gods-wife-edited-out-of-the-bible/

Just more evidence that "how we got here," our prejudices, our viewpoints, our beliefs, are a complex stew handed down over thousands of generations. As we go back into the mists of time, we find dynamic activity in concepts of individuality, personal freedom, moral accountability and our place in the universe. Many of these issues are addressed in my fantasy fiction adventure, Gettysburg Passage, just $2.99. To read reviews, try a sample chapter or just learn more, please go here.

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In the news this past week has been reports that the lost civilization of Atlantis has possibly been discovered near the ancient and hauntingly beautiful Spanish coastal city of Cadiz. Atlantis, popular in song, poetry, literature and film, is a legendary island civilization first mentioned in Plato's dialogues, Timaeus and Critias.


In Plato's account, Atlantis was a naval power lying "in front of the Pillars of Hercules" -- modern Gibraltar --and Atlantis conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa 9,000 years before the time of Solon, or approximately 9600 BC. After a failed attempt to invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune" -- supposedly a giant tsunami similar to what just battered northern Japan. Without a doubt much of Plato's account is fanciful.

To help solve this ancient riddle, The National Geographic Society funded a discovery search centered around huge marshlands in Dona Ana Park. There, underground, researchers said they believe that they have discovered the ruins of Atlantis deep underground. Scientists used the latest technical tools in their search, including deep-ground radar, digital mapping, and underwater technology to survey the site.

Some experts and commentators are challenging these findings as hype for National Geographic's TV special. Cable TV is notorious for poorly-researched "history" specials promoting marginal science and paranormal phenomena. However, what I find interesting is that SOMETHING is down there beneath the ground. Since Cadiz has been inhabited for more than 3,000 years -- by Phoenicia, Rome and Carthage -- it is entirely possible that some kind of lost civilization resided there that has been totally lost to modern history.

There is so much about our past that we don't know. Which brings me to my fantasy novel, Gettsyburg Passage, from Amazon, an ebook for just $2.99. In the novel, friends living around Washington, D.C. come across an ancient artifact that threatens to totally disrupt their everyday lives. It appears this artifact -- an ancient staff or mace -- is a sort of "key" to a lost civilization that may be in need of immediate assistance. The portal to this ancient civilization may be found near or in a burning, abandoned coal mine very close to the Gettysburg Battlefield just north of Washington. Hmmmm. All kinds of strange and interesting things are about to happen.

Reviewers are loving the book, calling it a quick and interesting read. Read reviews on the Amazon website here. Gettysburg Passage. Sample a few chapters or buy it today. Just $2.99 on your ereader.

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Gobekli Tepe and the relentless human march towards establishing civilization

Image via Wikipedia

Gobekli Tepe is the oldest known temple in the world and possibly a first and most important step towards creating a Western-style civilization. There are some great links below where you can see some amazing photos of this temple town, pillars and monoliths of amazing beauty -- and more than 11,000 years old!

Ninety-nine percent of the human race has never heard of this amazing archaeological site. Take a look:
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/archaelogy/news-gobekli-tepe-worlds-oldest-temple

There are early civilizations that you have never heard of....they don't cover them in your history books. That is the reality behind my fantasy novel, Gettysburg Passage, from Amazon. There is a forgotten, abandoned coal mine very near the Gettysburg battlefield that is burning with deep, underground fires. What is causing this inferno? Weird things are also going on as some friends living around Washington, D.C. find an ancient artifact that may be somehow linked to the mysterious mine. Long-dead famous people begin appearing in ways that don't seem possible. An ancient civilization -- facing ruin -- cries for help.

Read reviews for Gettysburg Passage here. From Amazon, only $2.99.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6bekli_Tepe
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/gobekli-tepe.html
http://www.archaeology.org/0811/abstracts/turkey.html

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Escape By Horse! Would 8 Million People Notice?

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Washington, D.C. is a big town, with a population density of approximately 10,000 people per square mile and a metropolitan population of more than 8 million people.  If a person in the Washington suburbs was being menaced by two murderous thugs, do you think that person could successfully escape using a horse, and not be noticed?

This is Rick Reynolds' quandry. Rick is alive today in the Washington suburbs, an avearge guy, about 30 years old. He is reasonably handsome and strong, has a good job and several interesting and equally sucessful friends. Rick has a good life but a secret in his past is coming back to haunt him. He happens to be carrying an ancient artifact that could be super valuable in the wrong hands. Rick realizes that any potential public drama or violence will cost him his hard-earned job and comfortable life. He wants to escape the pursuers and dump the artifact in a place where it can never be found. To get there, he has to cross the metro area, south to north. There are about 8 million people between Rick and the dump site, a burning abandoned mine near the Gettysburg, PA, battlefield park.

Remember, Rick needs to lose the pursuers and not draw unnecessary attention to himself or his task. Oh yeah, at some point in the chase, he has to travel, on a tight deadline, from Virginia to Maryland to Pennsylvania using a "borrowed" horse. And not be noticed! Is this possible? Actually, this chase is a central scene in the book and is absolutely realistic, based on the capabilities of a good, strong horse, available greenspace, potential places to ford the Potomac River and fortuitous directions and routing.

In other words, today in 2011 you can ride a horse from the southern suburbs of Washington to the northern suburbs all the way into Pennsylvania and not draw a lot of attention. But you have to be saavy and maybe a little bit lucky!

Along the way, you might meet famous Civil War figures, generals and everyday soldiers, world famous Indian fighters, authors and maybe even a future Supreme Court justice. You may even stumble into a Rebel-Yankee skirmish or two! So pack your Colt .44, your cavalry saber and maybe your favorite iPhone GPS app, saddle up and come along for a fast-paced, amazing ride!

Gettysburg Passage, adventure-fantasy fiction, by John Callahan, available from Amazon for just $2.99. Download a sample chapter or read the many positive reviews by readers here.

Concepts discussed in the book: ancient, lost civilizations, Babylon, Indo-Europeans, the Civil War, Gettysburg, Western Civilization, Hittites, time travel, archaeology, ancient and modern weapons, car chases, philosophy, religions, Ark and Dove, Maryland colonization

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How Would We Be Perceived to the Iceman?

Image via Wikipedia

Oetzi the Iceman, the famous middle aged man frozen into a glacier more than 5,000 years ago, and found in the Alps in northern Italy in 1991, stood about 5 feet tall, or about 1.6 meters. Oetzi weighed a little more than 100 pounds, or about 50 kilogrammes, at his death. Experts tell us he was average for his time. Five thousand to 10,000 years ago the earth warmed and civilizations began to form. For the descendants of Indo-European culture, this was the period that our early vocabulary was created, myths were created and repeated around evening fires and the serious rumblings of spirituality and civic organizations began to be conceived.

In fantasy fiction and cinema, adventurers from modern times sometimes find themselves somehow transported back in time to this period. What is not often addressed is that we would be giants to average folks back then. In my fantasy novel, Gettysburg Passage, an Amazon ebook, Rick Reynolds, a key character, is being drawn to action that takes place somewhat earlier than Oetzi the Iceman's time. If Rick could go back in time, given his modern size, intelligence, experience and wisdom, might earlier inhabitants be tempted to worship him as a god among men, or be tempted to at least make him king?

Check out the many positive reviews for Gettysburg Passage from Amazon, sample a few chapters, or download the book, only $2.99. Find the book summary, reviews and other key information at :
http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Passage-ebook/dp/B00408AOMW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1298940804&sr=1-1

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