- Paperback: 226 pages
- Publisher: iUniverse (11 July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0595432751
- ISBN-13: 978-0595432752
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,825,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Flesh of Kings: The final battle begins after Armageddon
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Product Description
Product Description
Flaring tensions over Jerusalem's Temple Mount have led to the complete structural collapse of the Dome of the Rock. Prophesied for millennia, the final terror is at hand, followed by seven long years of apocalyptic warfare locked in stalemate. And then the war is over. Or so it would seem.
From out of nowhere, and to the cheers of an exhausted globe, a charismatic teacher and mystic calling himself Janus Philio has crowned himself King of kings in Jerusalem. World-healing miracles ensue, but is he the second coming of Jesus Christ-which he refuses to call himself-or another in a seemingly endless series of Antichrists?
Meanwhile, rising from obscurity in plague-ravaged Los Angeles, preacher's son and former NFL superstar Julian "the Mighty" Quinn leads a grassroots rebellion that topples the war-happy government in Washington, propelling him to the pinnacle of American political power. Viewed as the only counterweight to Philio's heresy, Quinn soon falls under the spell of a secret society known only as "the Guardians" set on assassinating the King of kings to hasten a return to traditional values.
It's after Armageddon that the ultimate battle over the future of mankind on Earth begins.
About the Author
The former head of a California aerospace consultancy, M. B. Lemanski was a defense markets analyst on Wall Street before joining Reuters as a science and technology writer. He now splits his time between the mountains of Eastern Tennessee and the vineyards of Northern Italy.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
A curiously inventive after-Armageddon scenario is skilfully painted by M. B. Lemanski in his debut novel "The Flesh of Kings". This is a well crafted, highly imaginative and evocative novel, where all the descriptive elements nicely link to the main plot. Be prepared, however. The author's cutting use of satire will spring up and bite you when you least expect it.
The story is set in the near future--a world in which established cultural and economic sensibilities (read orthodoxy) are being overturned wholesale; replaced by new and radical ones. Then again, an all-out global bloodbath, incurring massive losses of biblical proportion, would tend to have that effect. Perhaps predictably, certainly not without historical precedent, resistance to post-war change comes chiefly from the very people that have been prayerfully anticipating precisely what seems to have finally come to pass: the timely arrival of the messiah--be it first go or encore.
But Janus Philio refuses to be type cast. In fact, he refuses to even call himself the Messiah, or Jesus Christ, Mahdi or the umpteenth Imam, et al. He does, however, rather presumptuously crown himself King of kings, taking up residence in Jerusalem to assume absolute global rule, getting down to tasks straight away--no Rapture, no pomp, no Judgment Day, no punishment. And, most distressingly of all, at least for some, no aristocracy on whom to shower the spoils. By the same token, he builds no palaces or temples, nor does he exploit his position to accumulate vast personal wealth. Instead, he orders all armies, even those loyal to the throne, to disarm and stand down ... forever. It all has to do with some aberrant nonsense about beating swords into ploughshares, and peacemakers being called the children of God; the meek inheriting the earth; Godless claptrap like that and more, putting religious certainty in something of a bind, unless Philio is just a pretender--the Antichrist. Besides, unless he plays ball, he can be replaced. Even the Lord of lords can't be allowed to wander too far off the reservation. Unfortunately for some people, when expectations fail, one Armageddon just isn't enough.
From the outset, Lemanski displays a huge imagination, ably interweaving numerous subplots, breathing life and perspective into all the personalities that fill the book. Starting with an all-too believable global holy war over Jerusalem's Temple Mount when the Dome of the Rock collapses, and ending with the run-up to a second Doomsday that reveals who the true antichrist was all along, Kings is an engaging read--even if not the easiest, because of its complexities--thanks to Lemanski's interesting, fluent and absorbing style; the kind of novel you just want to get a second "chapter" straight after finishing it; that one book you won't forget after closing the last page.
The story is set in the near future--a world in which established cultural and economic sensibilities (read orthodoxy) are being overturned wholesale; replaced by new and radical ones. Then again, an all-out global bloodbath, incurring massive losses of biblical proportion, would tend to have that effect. Perhaps predictably, certainly not without historical precedent, resistance to post-war change comes chiefly from the very people that have been prayerfully anticipating precisely what seems to have finally come to pass: the timely arrival of the messiah--be it first go or encore.
But Janus Philio refuses to be type cast. In fact, he refuses to even call himself the Messiah, or Jesus Christ, Mahdi or the umpteenth Imam, et al. He does, however, rather presumptuously crown himself King of kings, taking up residence in Jerusalem to assume absolute global rule, getting down to tasks straight away--no Rapture, no pomp, no Judgment Day, no punishment. And, most distressingly of all, at least for some, no aristocracy on whom to shower the spoils. By the same token, he builds no palaces or temples, nor does he exploit his position to accumulate vast personal wealth. Instead, he orders all armies, even those loyal to the throne, to disarm and stand down ... forever. It all has to do with some aberrant nonsense about beating swords into ploughshares, and peacemakers being called the children of God; the meek inheriting the earth; Godless claptrap like that and more, putting religious certainty in something of a bind, unless Philio is just a pretender--the Antichrist. Besides, unless he plays ball, he can be replaced. Even the Lord of lords can't be allowed to wander too far off the reservation. Unfortunately for some people, when expectations fail, one Armageddon just isn't enough.
From the outset, Lemanski displays a huge imagination, ably interweaving numerous subplots, breathing life and perspective into all the personalities that fill the book. Starting with an all-too believable global holy war over Jerusalem's Temple Mount when the Dome of the Rock collapses, and ending with the run-up to a second Doomsday that reveals who the true antichrist was all along, Kings is an engaging read--even if not the easiest, because of its complexities--thanks to Lemanski's interesting, fluent and absorbing style; the kind of novel you just want to get a second "chapter" straight after finishing it; that one book you won't forget after closing the last page.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Fascinating political and religious thriller
30 July 2007
Format:Paperback
Despite my sad lack of knowledge about world politics and religion, I found this novel completely absorbing. The author has a terrific command of the language and a great ear for dialog, and he keeps you wanting more all the way through the book. He sets up climactic twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the very end, and he creates an odd mix of colorful characters that seem very real. I was astounded to discover that this is his first novel. He has extrapolated current events in a very logical sequence to hypothesize an appocalyptic world war. The power struggles that unfold as governments try to rebuild are chilling and all too plausible. Yet he weaves a message of hope into his tale that serves as a lesson without getting preachy. The Flesh of Kings should be required reading for all of our current world leaders. Unfortunately, they probably wouldn't recognize themselves in the story. That would mean taking responsibility for their own actions and for the dangers they have wrought. This is a great read. I highly recommend it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Fascinating political and religious thriller
30 July 2007
Format:Hardcover
Despite my sad lack of knowledge about world politics and religion, I found this novel completely absorbing. The author has a terrific command of the language and a great ear for dialog, and he keeps you wanting more all the way through the book. He sets up climactic twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the very end, and he creates an odd mix of colorful characters that seem very real. I was astounded to discover that this is his first novel. He has extrapolated current events in a very logical sequence to hypothesize an appocalyptic world war. The power struggles that unfold as governments try to rebuild are chilling and all too plausible. Yet he weaves a message of hope into his tale that serves as a lesson without getting preachy. The Flesh of Kings should be required reading for all of our current world leaders. Unfortunately, they probably wouldn't recognize themselves in the story. That would mean taking responsibility for their own actions and for the dangers they have wrought. This is a great read. I highly recommend it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A Must Read For Everyone
29 July 2007
Format:Paperback
This book is beautifully written. Incredibly intelligent, thoughtprovoking, poetic and filled with wisdom. Fun characters too. At just 228 pages this was a quick and enjoyable read. I highly recommend this to everyone, whether you are looking for a smart and witty satire colored with creative characters, or an engaging, suspenseful political thriller, or a spiritual journey that leaves you feeling...somewhat enlightened. "The Flesh of Kings" is soon to be a classic in our time.
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