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.

Average customer rating:

Great Read
hmmmmm most interesting
Great vampire and witch tale
I hesitate to review this book.
Loved it!

Master of Swords (Mageverse, Book 7)
Angela Knight
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425209210

Book Description

Witch Lark McClure has survived a vicious vampire attack that shook her confidence and left her struggling with feelings of helplessness and fear. The last thing she needs is a partnership with Gawain, a handsome vampire knight who means to seduce her every chance he gets.

Customer Reviews:

Great Read.......2007-09-28

this book was very good, kept my interest through out and was hard to put down. would reccomend to anyone who likes the paranormal

hmmmmm most interesting.......2007-09-06

This book reminded me a lot of Sherilynn Kenyon's books in which the Arthurian legends are modernized. I think Kenyon's books are a lot better though. This story was pretty good. Lark and Gawain make an interesting couple and I liked the story of Kel being inside Gawain's sword...his little sidekick. It makes me look forward to reading Master of Dragons which is Kel's story. Oh boy does this author write some hot hot hot love scenes.

Great vampire and witch tale.......2007-06-27

Definitely worth your time if you like vampires and witches together. May have a little too much of the "romance" flavor for those of us hard-core science fiction fans, but it's still a good read.

I hesitate to review this book........2007-06-04

For many reasons I hesitate to review this book. The thought which turned the tide for me was knowing that there are other people out there in the same situation I found myself in and my review may help someone make a decision.

First off, I did like this book. My preference would probably be a 3.75* rating but it was better than just a 3*. My problem is that there were so many things which I found in this book which I am not accustomed to reading about. This was my first book written by Angela Knight. She has an amazing imagination and is wonderful in her descriptive abilities. I had no problem accepting her science fiction/fantasy universe. I am also still in the "infant" stage for reading science fiction/fantasy/romance. My previous sole ventures into that mix of catagories are the Jayne Castle books. MASTER OF SWORDS was (for me) extremely bloody and gory. I find that I don't like too much of that and this book definitely contained too much for me. To think about it in the abstract is one thing, to have it described over and over and over got to me after a while. Luckily the author had invented a method by which all her heroic characters could be "restored" because they sure did get bloodied a lot. (I was amazed to see that the author "threw away" two well established characters by letting them die. That was a surprise. I kept waiting for some way to be found to bring them back to life.) Also, the sexual encounters seemed excessive to me. Judging by reading other reviews posted here, that will not be a universally appreciated comment. My feeling was that this author knew her established fans expected a prodigious number of sexual encounters and she wanted to fulfill their expectations. If this is the norm in this series of books, it will have to be a factor for consideration in my future purchases. I must admit, I just loved Kel and may have to get MASTER OF DRAGONS just to find out about him. Why do we all like the character Kel so much? Will he be just as likeable after the spell is broken?

I also found it rather jarring to be reading about characters whom I associate with history from long, long ago but to have them speaking in modern terms. That took some getting used to and I never did get completely comfortable with it. And please don't tell me that the action took place in the present, I know that. I'm just saying that I don't usually associate Knights of the Round Table with modern speech patterns. Again, that is my problem and I will use it to weigh the pros and cons of my future purchases.

Overall, a good read. For me, it was too long. Lots of the action was repetitive and redundant and seemed to be there to give Gawain and Lark an excuse to have their energy depleted so that they needed to have sex in order to recharge their powers. But, maybe I missed the point. Perhaps that is, after all, the whole point in the novel being written.

Loved it!.......2007-05-12

This is one of my favorite books!
I got this off a whim I never read Angela Knight's books nor any other from this series, I didn't know there was a series!
But I read this book and it was quite easy follow if you havent read any of the other books, and if you have it doesnt go into long details.

This book was wonderful, I loved Gawain and his swords interaction together and Lark was a wonderful person to compliment them both.

Just a great book full of passion and action and I cant wait to read the book about Kel :)

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.

Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone: A Math Adventure

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Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone: A Math Adventure
Cindy Neuschwander
Manufacturer: Charlesbridge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1570916012

Product Description

King Arthur has issued a challenge. The first knight to find the sword Edgecalibur will be the next king. Join Sir Cumference, Lady Di of Ameter, and Radius as they help their friend, Vertex, find the sword. Discover the secrets of cubes, pyramids, cylinders, and cones. 32 pages. 8 1/2" x 9 1/2". Ages 5-10.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

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.

Swords of Eveningstar (Forgotten Realms: The Knights of Myth Drannor, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Good Read But Too Many Subplots
Swords of Eveningstar: A Good Beginning
The Beginings of the Knights
Ed Does It Again
The Forgotten Realms from the begining

Swords of Eveningstar (Forgotten Realms: The Knights of Myth Drannor, Book 1)
Ed Greenwood
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786940220
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Book Description

Swords of Eveningstar is the first title in an exciting new series by author Ed Greenwood, the creator of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. This series explores the youthful adventures of the much-loved heroes, Florin, Islif, and Jhessail, as they battle to win a name for themselves and then to defend it against the machinations of a more insidious and devious evil than they ever thought to face.

Customer Reviews:

Good Read But Too Many Subplots.......2007-07-12

Let me go ahead and get my criticism out of the way. Subplots are a big pet peeve of mine. I like them, but too much of a good thing is not always good. There is so much spying, backstabbing, and going about in disguise that I had to read sentences and paragraphs several times just to keep up with who was doing what to who.

I think a glossary of names and places in the back of the book or at least chart or tree depicting how the power or rulers in Cormyr is divided would have been very helpful. Also, a good old fashioned map of the specific areas of the Forgotten Realms in question is always helpful.

Okay, as I said, there are too many subplots to this novel for my own liking, but the main storyline is very strong. I think what I most liked about this novel is that we get to see these adventurers growing in their experience as the story unfolds. I believe the D&D players who enjoy starting characters at level one will really enjoy the story.

The main character Florin is a ranger of some experience, but the rest of the party's lack of experience prevents him from being as effective as he could be.

Even though I found all of the back stabbing confusing, I really enjoyed the base storyline. I plan on reading the second novel in this trilogy as soon as it is available.

Swords of Eveningstar: A Good Beginning.......2007-03-01

Ever since I first read "Spellfire," I've wanted to know some of the backstories of the Knights of Myth Drannor. So when I saw this book, I just had to have it - even at hardcover prices. I have been a fan of Ed Greenwood's works for a long time, and have read a lot of Forgotten Realms fantasy and gaming material. Therefore I was prepared for Mr. Greenwood's signiture style of writing. The story is overloaded subchapters where the story changes focus to other characters, sometimes in the middle of the main action. This can be distracting to some readers, and I would say it is the only real fault I find with this book. As a fan, however, I can only look forward to the next installment to this new series. As a gamer, I feel it was a great depiction of a band of adventurers on their first journey for fame and fortune. Lastly, I hope the next book, "Swords of Dragonfire," introduces my favorite Greenwood character: Torm. I can only hope that this good beginning is followed by an even better second volume!

The Beginings of the Knights.......2006-11-27

Ed Greenwood takes us back on a trip down Faerun's memory lane, showing us the start of one of the most well known adventuring bands. Swords of Eveningstar comes across more like a dungeons and dragons campaign, played in true Ed Greenwood style.

This novel (first of the trilogy) does jump quite a bit throughout, changing view point and setting, but that seems to just add to the book's charm. Greenwood commands his character's well, no voice seems flat, nor does a single plot fall by the way side.

The development of the Knights allows one to connect instantly with them, each of us has had our own Dungeons and Dragons characters, and a resemblance is felt. This is quite apt, since these characters are of Ed Greenwood's own Dungeons and Dragons group.

Yes, this story perhaps is the kind that requires you to take notes, following the twisting plot lines; but is that not the essence of a great book? One that you wish to pursue on a quest of knowledge finding more as you dig deeper. I personally found myself listing the characters presented, taking notes on places, ideas, that I could use within my own Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

The master of the Forgotten Realms has presented us with a wealth of knowledge on the past, giving us readers almost a source book with which to formulate our own fantasy ideas from. A must read for any Forgotten Realms or Dungeons and Dragons fan. And even if you don't classify yourself under those labels, Swords of Eveningstar still presents itself as a strong fantasy novel, from a master within his field.

Ed Does It Again.......2006-11-07

This book is your typical "good" Ed Greenwood. Like most of his books, there's plots within plots, but he does very well in not making them too twisted that you lose track. Like most of Greenwood's novels, it is all character driven, and everyone is fleshed out.

The Forgotten Realms from the begining.......2006-09-08

This is a good book and one of Ed Greenwood's best so far. He is the man who created the Realms and these are the adventures that forged it.

Now, you must be warned that Ed Greenwood does have an "interesting" writing style. It is a lot like watching college football on Saturday with my dad as he clicks back and forth watching every game being broadcast. While reading one of Ed's books, you might want to keep notes as to which, wizard is which ;)

Another good aspect of this book is that we get to see an group of novice adventures. Far too many Forgotten Realms books start off with epic characters who challenge gods and rewrite the rules of the game during the book. One aspect of the book I do have a problem with is the timeline Without any dates, it is hard to get a feel of just how much time passes in this book. It "feels" like very little time has passed, but judging by the spells being cast and of the area that Narantha traveled, at least a few months must have passed, if not most of a year.

Overall, a very good begining to a what I hope will be a very good series of books.

The Sword and the Circle: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
A favorite legend
the Sword and the circle
Old flappy's bucket o' reveiw
Analysis

The Sword and the Circle: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Rosemary Sutcliff
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140371494

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Sutcliff here tells the story of the young Arthur Pendragon, and how he
comes to be king of Britain, in the manner of the Sword in the Stone.

The structure of this book is slightly different, as far as each
chapter focusing on one particular character of Arthur's circle.

A favorite legend.......2006-10-24

Rosemary Sutliff acknowledges in the preface of the book that this story really is a myth, albeit a myth built around a real person. Many of the stories connected with King Arthur are retold here.

Read as a myth, the book is enjoyable. I could not enjoy it very much due to the prevalence of magical occurences. I know these are crucial to the story, and it is all very celtic, but the magic did bother me. Also that several cases of immorality were treated lightly, for example, between Guenever and Lancelot.

the Sword and the circle .......2006-08-30

The sword and the circle

The sword and the circle is about a young knight that finds out he is the true king of Brittan when he pulls a magical sword out of a enchanted stone in the capitol of Britons church
His name was Aurther and he was loved by most of his people, his aunt thought that her son should be the rightful heir and she tried throughout the first years of Aurther kingship to take the throne
When Aurther marries the beautiful Guinevere he comes into the possession of the round table, a table that has magical powers and has places set for each night that is worthy of king Aurther court
The tale of king Aurther is full of magic, mystery, and adventure.

Old flappy's bucket o' reveiw.......2006-06-07

The Sword and the Circle by Rosemary Sutcliff is a very interesting book. It is about a boy named Arthur Pendragon, son of both Utha Pendragon and Igraine Pendragon. He starts off as a foster boy in Britain in the medieval times. He has no idea that he is heritage to the throne of Great Britain. Until one day his foster brother (who is a knight) is ready to partake in a tournament but Arthur forgot his sword at home. Not being able to get in, Arthur decides to take a sword out of a stone as easily as if it went out of a sheath. (He has no idea that pulling the sword out would make him the King of Britain.) Then he finds himself king at the age of sixteen. Arthur wants evil to leave his lands, so he asks knights to take up quests. Can a single man do the deed? This book offers a certain quality, which is hard to find in books that make the readers feel as if they are part of all of the action. It's fast pace makes it almost never boring. I would recommend this to anyone with an active imagination and a somewhat sense of maturity. This book is a little bit graphic so it should be for ages 10-14 and if you are a girl this may not be for you, unless you are used to graphic violence.

Analysis.......2006-04-26

The Sword and the Circle by Rosemary Sutcliff is a story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. There are many variations of this story. Sutcliff keeps her story very traditional. Her book includes stories of all the major Knights of the tales, from Sir Lancelot to Tristan and Iseult. This is a good book, because each chapter has its own tale and it follows the original story very closely
Each chapter has its own unique part of the story. As a chapter ends and another begins, it is as if one story finishes and another starts. Each chapter has a separate climax of its own as well as one for the entire book. This keeps it interesting, because there are no long, boring low points to the story. Usually, the chapter is about a certain person, like a Knight or maiden, who takes on some kind of significant adventure. Although there is a distinct separation between chapters, Sutcliff does a great job in putting them all together to make a bigger story as well.
This story, basically, takes the original and makes it easier and more interesting to read. Other authors try to make the story there own, but Sutcliff just makes improvements to the original. Also, The Sword and the Circle doesn't lean the story towards a certain character or theme, but tells the whole tale.
This book was very enjoyable and it is recommended to people of all ages. Sutcliff did a terrific job of putting all the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table all together in one story, and also showing the significance of them individually as well.

Swords at Sunset: Last Stand of North America's Grail Knights

Average customer rating:

Swords at Sunset and Madalene Mandala absolutely superb
Swords at Sunset traces Holy Grail to North America
Swords at Sunset absolutely superb
Ego at Sunset
Something Totally New in the Grail Vain

Swords at Sunset: Last Stand of North America's Grail Knights
Michael Bradley , and Joelle Lauriol
Manufacturer: Manor House Publishing Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0973647744

Product Description

Swords at Sunset is the final book in Michael Bradley's bestselling trilogy on Holy Grail adventures in North America from 1398 to 1571, completing the saga related in Holy Grail Across the Atlantic and Grail Knights of North America (the author's research skills were also put to good use in the movie The Da Vinci Code). In Swords at Sunset, Bradley draws on evidence from The Book of Mormon, plus newly discovered artefacts from Lake Memphremagog and the Niagara region. Bradley offers a convincing argument that communities of Grail refugees - who had fled the Inquisition in Europe - were established in Niagara and Vermont before being defeated by Native tribes in 1571. Swords at Sunset also examines the origins of man and the concept of the Holy Grail, offering a new and different perspective of the Western religious history that has shaped so much of the entire world's history. Swords at Sunset presents a thought-provoking interpretation that will astonish and intrigue.

Customer Reviews:

Swords at Sunset and Madalene Mandala absolutely superb.......2007-05-18

Now here's a great combo: On author Michael Bradley's The Magdalene Mandala page, his bestselling novel has been paired with his non-fiction masterpiece, Swords at Sunset for a low package rate provided by amazon. I adore both books and it's wonderful they're paired.
This package offering is superb. I picked up both books and could not put either of them down until I reached the back cover. Amazing!

Swords at Sunset is the true story of Bradley's efforts tracing the Holy Grail to Canada and the United States. It's all supported by archeological evidence from digs in Vermont, Quebec, Niagara, Ontario and elsewhere. He raises many fascinating possibilities in this well argued book that left me wondering if descendents of Jesus Christ's bloodline now walk among us.

The Magdalene Mandala is a fast-paced thriller that's a bit like James Bond meeting the Da Vinci Code (author Bradley was a researcher for the Da Vinci Code movie and is a recognized Holy Grail expert). No wonder Bradley's prior two novels were major bestsellers: This book combines an exciting, action-filled story with meticulous research on the Grail. Well done!

I highly recommend both books. Each is absiolutely terrific and they do indeed make a great pair. The Magdalene Mandala

Swords at Sunset traces Holy Grail to North America.......2007-04-17

Much like his bestselling novel The Magdalene Mandala author Michael Bradley has again tapped into his Holy Grail expert credentials (he's written many books on the Grail and was a researcher for The Da Vinci Code movie).

But unlike The Magdalene Mandala, Bradley's Swords at Sunset is a nonfiction work that utilizes archeological evidence to support his well argued contention that the Holy Grail - the carriers of the Jesus bloodline - were smuggled into North America by the Knights Templar centuries before Columbus set foot here.

This is an absolutely fascinating book by a true expert on the Holy Grail. Highly recommended.

Swords at Sunset absolutely superb.......2006-12-20

Swords at Sunset traces the Holy Grail to Canada and the United States centuries ago, long before Columbus discovered either country.
Author Michael Bradley, who served as a researcher for The Da Vinci Code movie put his research skills to work on Swords, using evidence to support his theory that Grail knights were wiped out by North American natives.
That in itself makes this well written book a highly recommended terrific read. But Swords goes well beyond this to explore the origins of man.
I first picked this book up because one reviewer had compared it to Hitler's Mein Kampf and my curiosity got the better of me. However, anyone hoping to find a lot of anti-jewish nonsense will be gravely disappointed as there really isn't anything of the sort: Bradley traces not just Jews, but other major religious groups back to Neanderthal Man. However, he also notes Neanderthal's were large-brained (true) and highly intelligent. It's interesting that scientists today are only now catching up with Bradley's findings on Neanderthals and the origins and composition of Modern Humans. I found Bradley raised many interesting views and really made me think. I also found he jumped to some fantastic conclusions and expressed some viewpoints - such as White people in general having a predisposition to violence - that I cannot agree with. That said, it's well worth spending the time to travel through this author's mind and share his amazing discoveries even if you don't agree with all of his end conclusions. This is an education ride - and getting there is half the fun. Highly recommended.

Ego at Sunset.......2006-10-17

This book is horrible. Never mind the simplistic genetic philosophy straight out of Himmler. Jews are Cro Magnon and your basic Aryan is Neandethal, or is the other way around? Like the first reviewer said every other sentence is plugging his other two books which I actually enjoyed. In this he had no rational editor to filter the racist egotistical element out and keep his interesting material in. I think the author would benefit or perhaps pass out, if he read Norma Goodrich's book on the Holy Grail where she discusses the theory that Chretien De Troyes the first medieval author to mention the Grail was a converted Jew and perceived the Grail as a the Jewish Passover plate! Avoid this book unless you like reading 'Mein Kampf' on breezy summer day!

Something Totally New in the Grail Vain.......2006-09-12

I have not read the two book previously written before this one. But I might. This book carries on from the first two about the Grail coming to America with Sinclair (from Rosslyn). This book had some interesting discussion about the Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon Gene pool of the time before Christ. I have not seen this before. The author does make some controversial statements related to 'Jews' so beware.
I dont think he needed to repeat his previous books' titles in every sentence. I kind of got the idea very quickly that he had written more than one book. The Epilogue is very interesting. More on the Cro-magnon, Neanderthal discussion.

The Sword in the Tree (Trophy Chapter Book)

Average customer rating:

Heavy material structured for young readers
Who Will Save Weldon Castle?
Great book, fond memories
Great for all young lovers of Knights, Castles & King Arthur
High Interest for a New Reader

The Sword in the Tree (Trophy Chapter Book)
Clyde Robert Bulla
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064421325
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Book Description

In the days of King Arthur there stood a mighty oak tree within the walls of a castle. Peace reigned in the castle until the fearsome night when Lionel, longlost brother of Lord Weldon, returned to cause trouble and unhappiness.

It was then that Shan, the son of Lord Weldon, took on the duties of a knight and hid the sword in the hollow of the giant oak. The days that followed were filled with adventures that tried the courage of the young boy.

Shan was surprised by bearded robbers in the woods. He met noble knights in plumed helmets, and eventually he even made a trip to high-towered Camelot. His story is filled with the pageantry and color of England in King Arthur's time. It creates a vivid picture of the Knights of the Round Table and the wisdom of King Arthur himself.

Mr. Bulla captures the spirit of those romantic days in a straightforward, exciting manner. The result is another delightful book for his wide audience of young readers. Paul Galdone's vigorous illustrations are as evocative as the text.

Customer Reviews:

Heavy material structured for young readers.......2007-09-10

Sword in the Tree is a great way to introduce kids to the Middle Ages. Young readers can read the book on their own because the vocabulary and sentence structure are simple. The book is in no way dumbed down, however. This was a difficult and danger time, and the subject matter reflects the era. Highly recommended reading for elementary age kids (my 5yo daughter LOVED it). Also recommended for older children: Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle.

Who Will Save Weldon Castle?.......2004-05-01

(written by 9 year old reader of book)

There are 14 chapters in this book. It has people like King Arthur. It has a sword in it. And it has a battle in it. There is an Oak Tree that is the tree. There is a picture in every chapter. You will like this story. Do not take my word for it, look for this book in the library or the book store.

(note from parent:)
My son really enjoyed reading The Sword in the Tree, just as he has other books by Bulla. They are excellent even for relunctant readers like the one who wrote the above review.

Great book, fond memories.......2003-07-12

"I am Lord Weldon! __I__ am Lord of Weldon Castle!!"

I must have been about 7 or 8 when I read those words, spoken by a 9 year old whose father was believed dead, to his evil uncle. The boy's mother stood by silently.

As a child, I sympathized with him.
As a female, I felt offended. I didn't understand why the little boy believed he outranked his fully grown adult mother in power and prestige.

As an adult with some historical perspective, it makes more sense.

This was a great story, about family love and adventure and history, and I will always be grateful to Clyde Bulla for awakening the earliest feelings of feminism.

Great for all young lovers of Knights, Castles & King Arthur.......2002-02-27

I read this out loud to my 4-year-old son, who loves anything involving King Arthur, and he was captivated. His only disappointment was that there is no book to follow with more tales of the young Shan and his adventures. I highly recommend this as well as other historical fiction by Bulla. I have also read "Pocahontas and the Strangers" to my son, and he loved that as well.

High Interest for a New Reader.......2000-02-15

Once your child has moved beyond easy phonetic readers, you'll want to find interesting books with large print that aren't too difficult or overwhelming for the new reader. Bulla's "The Sword in the Tree" fits this description perfectly.

Book Description

Except for the dragon-shaped constellation that appeared at his birth, there was nothing that suggested Arthur was destined for greatness.

Raised by the gentle Sir Ector, Arthur spends his boyhood exploring the Welsh woodlands, until one day a messenger arrives announcing a grand tournament to be held in London. Arthur's older brother, Sir Kay, insists they must attend with Arthur as his squire. After traveling the long road to London on horseback, Kay performs brilliantly in the contest, but it's young Arthur himself who ultimately wins the day.

The first volume of the Tales of King Arthur series introduces younger readers to the classic story known for over one hundred years as "The Sword in the Stone." Hudson Talbott has faithfully retold this heroic tale with humor and warmth, showing a human side to Arthur rarely glimpsed before. His vivid, richly colored paintings capture a crowded London at Christmastime and magnificent knights jousting on the field of battle, as well as the legendary sorcerer Merlin and the magical sword that reveals Arthur's destiny.

Alive with the drama of medieval England, this book will awaken young readers' interest in the legendary king who set new ideals for knightly valor.

Customer Reviews:

wonderful.......2006-11-06

My son (7 yo) really enjoyed this book - the whole series is terrific.

King Arthur - The Sword in the Stone.......2000-07-06

Although the language is a little advanced for early readers, the story is very tellable. There are many threads to this story that come to life through the illustrations. The story is told in an interesting, dynamic way that gives pause for wonder, such as the conversation between Sir Ector and his son Sir Kay. Their personalities come through and we can appreciate the types of men they are. Another moment is when Merlin plans the timing for Arthur to draw the sword from the stone. When, asks Arthur. "After all have tried and failed, whenever that may be," replies Merlin.

A dynamic painting of a tournament with thundering hooves, flying pennants, and lances at the ready illustrates perfectly our idea of a medieval joust. The illustrations seem cinematic in that they always shift the viewpoint. Now we see the action from street level; in the next picture we view a crowd scene from above. We are comfortable with such shifts from movies and TV.

The illustrations evoke "chivalrous" ideas. The son, grieving that he has to leave his father's house, rises bravely to Merlin's bidding in a sequence that culminates in the "Youth Triumphant" painting, when the young Arthur raises the sword over his head. The idea of "chivalry", respect for one's elders, telling the truth, and being brave is well interwoven and are excellent topics to discuss with children.

The final picture, the crowned Arthur dressed in white and gold, holding the sword in his hands under the white blossoms of a tree, is such an archetype of the young, white hero that it verges on the comical. But I have to remember that this is a children's book, and mine will get enough of my cynical views when he's ready for it, later.

I recommend this book for 6 and up. The young ones will love to be read to, and the older ones will enjoy reading it.

The Sword In The Stone Review.......2000-04-03

This is a great book based on the original Arthurian legend. If i could, I'd give it more than 5 stars. Arthur is given to Merlin by Uther Pendragon and is raised by Sir Kay. When his "brother" forgets to bring his sword, Arthur...if I said anymore, it'd get carried away and I'd give away the ending.

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