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Mohan Vizhakat

Mohan Vizhakat

About

Mohan Vizhakat puts forth a perspective that is unlike any other - attempting to establish the connection between science, spirituality, philosophy and action, he presents the ancient Indian legends in a thrilling format of fantasy cum SF, thereby truly transforming them into vivid, gripping and plausible alternative history. His deep understanding of Indian mythology in consonance with his scientific and military background, and above all the propensity to boldly ask 'why not' gives his writing an intriguing flavor.

The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

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Description

<p>Emerging from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the following twelve years, he became the King's most trusted advisor, practically taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices he wasn't particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him sometimes paid the price of his fame.<br /><br />This is a story of Godwine's family as told from the viewpoint of Harold and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis, originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OF GODWINE and FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she collected and passed on the memoirs of her tragic brothers.<br /><br />This book is part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE KINGMAKER, depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward the Confessor's reign. Unfortunately, Godwine's misguided efforts to champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family, contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha's disgrace. Their exile only lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious that Harold's career was just beginning as his father's journey was coming to an end.<br /><br />Harold's siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in Tostig's case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured, sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold, but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes gives us an insider’s perspective.<br /><br />Harold was his mother's favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by Tostig's vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And that was the problem. Tostig's love/hate relationship with Harold would eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the series, FATAL RIVALRY.</p>

Story Behind The Book

Around 10500 BCE, planet Earth is still in the grip of the last ice age. With sea levels much lower than they are today, and mainland continents still largely covered with ice, the primary centres of Indian civilisation were dominated by two highly advanced tropical nation states – Dev Lok and Daityan Empire. Spiritually-inclined Devas lived in harmony with nature, whereas Daityas believed in brute force technologies for rapid prosperity and material gratification. Steady inundation of the tropical islands towards the end of ice-age created a crisis, particularly for Daityas. To fuel their hunger for material resources, the aggressive Daityas proceeded to invade other nations. Warrior monk Haŕa becomes the sole hope of Dev Lok to prevent defeat and abject subjugation. However, before he can help them, Haŕa must undertake the ultimate journey of spirituality to pass beyond the barrier of death itself and engage with the astral personae of Lord Rudra - one of three extra-terrestrial progenitors of humanity. This fast paced, action-packed mythological science fiction takes the readers through the exotic cities of Amaravati, Atalantpuri (Atlantis?), and traces the arduous journey to Mount Kailash through Sarparanya, within the backdrop of love, passion, greed, war, tragedy and spirituality that characterised those ancient times. Few chapters within the book also attempt to unfold the scientific concept and philosophy of Karma in the form of 'socratic dialogues'. Will Haŕa be able to check the Daityan aggression in time to correct the course of Karma? Will he be able to wield the viman ‘Pinaka’ against the central seat of Daityan power – the indestructible citadels of Tripura? Is he the one who will glorify the name of Lord Shiva as Tripurantaka – the mighty destroyer of Tripura?

Media Links

Media Review

🔗 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-30/books/40285608_1_fiction-writing-books-mythology

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Media review

🔗 http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-that-s-epic-1973401

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Media Review

🔗 http://issuu.com/storizen/docs/nov2013/58

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Reviews

<div class="crIFrameLogo" style="line-height:normal;font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;margin-bottom:20px;font-size:small;"> <div class="mb15 txtlarger drkgry" style="line-height:21px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-family:Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:16px;"> <div class="mb15 txtlarger drkgry" style="line-height:21px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-family:Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:16px;"> <div class="mb15 txtlarger drkgry" style="line-height:21px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-family:Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:16px;"><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></div> <div class="mb30" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;margin-bottom:30px;font-size:small;"> <div class="reviews"> <div class="gry txtsmall hlp" style="line-height:16px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:12px;"><img alt="4.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-4-0._V192240704_.gif" /><b style="line-height:21px;font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:small;">a must read .excellent</b><span class="gry valignMiddle" style="line-height:21px;font-size:small;vertical-align:middle;"> <span class="inlineblock txtsmall" style="line-height:16px;font-size:12px;">February 28, 2013</span></span></div> <div class="mt4 ath" style="margin-top:4px;"><span class="gr10" style="padding-right:10px;"><span class="txtsmall" style="line-height:16px;font-size:12px;"><span class="gry" style="color:rgb(102,102,102);">By</span> <a class="noTextDecoration" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AZCM4AI5UWR1R/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp" style="border-bottom:0px;border-left:0px;padding-bottom:0px;margin:0px;padding-left:0px;padding-right:0px;color:rgb(153,102,51);border-top:0px;border-right:0px;padding-top:0px;">Ramesh Hargovind</a></span></span></div> <div class="txtsmall mt4 fvavp" style="line-height:16px;margin-top:4px;font-size:12px;"><span class="inlineblock formatVariation"><span class="gr3 gry formatKey" style="padding-right:3px;color:rgb(102,102,102);">Format:</span><span class="formatValue">Kindle Edition</span><span class="gl7 gr7 gry" style="padding-left:7px;padding-right:7px;color:rgb(102,102,102);">|</span></span><span class="inlineblock avpOrVine"><span class="orange strong avp" style="color:rgb(228,121,17);font-weight:bold;">Amazon Verified Purchase</span></span></div> <div class="mt9 reviewText" style="line-height:20px;margin-top:9px;font-size:14px;"> <div class="drkgry" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);">Its been sometime since i have come across such a book very nicely written amust read.go for it excellant<br /> Good reading</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb30" style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;margin-bottom:30px;font-size:small;"> <div class="reviews"> <div class="mt9 reviewText" style="line-height:20px;margin-top:9px;font-size:14px;"> <div class="drkgry" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"><img alt="Amazon.com" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/common/amazon-logo-tiny._V152931852_.gif" /></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <table class="crIFrameReviewList" style="width:884px;font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;clear:left;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size:small;"> <div style="margin-left:.5em;"> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><img alt="5.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._V192197110_.gif" /> <strong>Gripping story</strong>, 23 Nov 2012</div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By</div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pdp/profile/A1G3VI8Q9VWJOV/ref=cm_cr_if_pdp?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;tag=freado0c-20" style="color:#004b91;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">HeleneW</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1G3VI8Q9VWJOV/ref=cm_cr_if_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview&amp;tag=freado0c-20" style="color:#004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><strong class="h3color tiny" style="line-height:1.6em;color:rgb(228,121,17);font-size:x-small;margin-right:.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</strong><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis" style="line-height:1.6em;font-size:x-small;">(<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase" style="color:#004b91;">What is this?</a>)</span></div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;font-size:x-small;"><strong><span class="h3color tiny" style="color:#e47911;">This review is from: </span>The Guardians of Karma (Kindle Edition)</strong></div> The story was really exciting and I found it hard to put down. It was almost like an Indian version of 'Jason and the Argonauts' or other Greek Myths, with the warrior monk hero, Hara having to follow his Karma and achieve missions for the good of mankind (with the help of the Gods). While reading it I felt that the author must have an incredible imagination. 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sans-serif;margin-bottom:30px;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);"> <div class="mt9 reviewText" style="margin-top:9px;font-size:14px;line-height:20px;"> <div class="drkgry" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"> <div class="mb30" style="margin-bottom:30px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:small;line-height:normal;"> <div class="mt9 reviewText" style="margin-top:9px;font-size:14px;line-height:20px;"> <div class="drkgry" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"> <div class="mb30" style="margin-bottom:30px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:small;line-height:normal;"> <div class="mt9 reviewText" style="margin-top:9px;font-size:14px;line-height:20px;"> <div class="drkgry" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"> <div class="mb30" style="font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;margin-bottom:30px;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);"> <div class="mt9 reviewText" style="margin-top:9px;font-size:14px;line-height:20px;"> <div class="drkgry" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb30" style="font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;margin-bottom:30px;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);"> <div class="gry txtsmall hlp" style="color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:12px;line-height:16px;"> </div> <div class="clearboth" style="clear:both;"> </div> <div class="mt4 ttl" style="margin-top:4px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:65px;height:13px;background:url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/g/31/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-2._v371627613_.png) no-repeat -30px 0px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span>5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> <span class="txtlarge gl3 gr4 reviewTitle valignMiddle" style="font-family:Arial, Verdana, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-left:3px;padding-right:4px;font-size:14px;line-height:19px;vertical-align:middle;"><strong>Thoroughly insightful and a great work</strong></span><span class="gry valignMiddle" style="color:rgb(102,102,102);vertical-align:middle;"> <span class="inlineblock txtsmall" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;">11 August 2014</span></span></div> <div class="mt4 ath" style="margin-top:4px;"><span class="txtsmall" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;"><span class="gry" style="color:rgb(102,102,102);">By</span> Neetu Rana</span> - <span class="green" style="color:rgb(0,153,0);"><strong>Published on Amazon.com</strong></span></div> <div class="txtsmall mt4 fvavp" style="margin-top:4px;font-size:12px;line-height:16px;"><span class="inlineblock formatVariation"><span class="gr3 gry formatKey" style="padding-right:3px;color:rgb(102,102,102);">Format:</span><span class="formatValue">Kindle Edition</span><span class="gl7 gr7 gry" style="padding-right:7px;padding-left:7px;color:rgb(102,102,102);">|</span></span><span class="inlineblock avpOrVine"><span class="strong avp" style="font-weight:bold;">Verified Purchase</span></span></div> <div class="mt9 reviewText" style="margin-top:9px;font-size:14px;line-height:20px;"> <div class="drkgry" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);">awesome through and through...the book takes us to places in mythology that seem so real and profound. loved the questions and answers between guru and Hara. very well researched and complied. great read.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb30" style="margin-bottom:30px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:small;line-height:normal;"> <div class="gry txtsmall hlp" style="color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:12px;line-height:16px;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>