On September 05, 2015 at 10:09AM Mark Said…

The Conflict Myth & the Biblical Tradition traces conflict myth as an ideological tool for legitimization, or de-legitimization, of political entities throughout ancient West Asia. An assistant professor at Rutgers University in the Department of Religion, author Debra Scoggins Ballentine specializes in the Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern religions.

 

The Conflict Myth and the Biblical Tradition (Review) – Ancient History Encyclopedia
Rating: The Conflict Myth & the Biblical Tradition traces conflict myth as an ideological tool for legitimization, or de-legitimization, of political entities throughout ancient West Asia. An assistant professor at Rutgers University in the Department of Religion, author Debra Scoggins …

 

On March 14, 2015 at 08:07PM Mark Said…

Been reading Stormdancer: The Lotus War Book 1. I must say that up until now I have only found 2 fiction authors that I can say I really enjoy reading. Those being Clive Barker and Patricia Briggs. Well I think it will be a safe bet that I will be adding Jay Kristoff to that very short list soon. I am currently about half way through the book and really loving it so far. Here is the description of it if any of you may be interested. Enjoy.

STORMDANCER is the first novel in THE LOTUS WAR; a fantasy trilogy set in a Japanese-inspired steampunk dystopia. Here’s the official elevator pitch:
A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A HIDDEN GIFT
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.
But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.