Shortly the second book in the Curio Chronicles series, titled, Curio’s Summer will become available to purchase, and so before all of you have the chance to grab a copy, I want to provide a little more insight, to where I was at when putting this series together. It feels strange, as this book was written in November 2020, so it was some time ago, and I am now working on other stories unrelated to anything I have written before.
Like all things I write, I like to present something that feels real and believable, and for myself as the author, I wanted the readers to really understand the character of Abigail. The first book, Abigail’s Summer gives a reasonable understanding of some of the events of the past, which accounts for some of the behaviours she exhibits in the book.
The second book in the series will to a degree pickup on some of the themes of the first, but it will also open up more aspects of Abigail who is still caught in the process of growing up and coming to terms with her own life choices. It is important to understand, that it is her relationship with her parents alone in Wotton growing up, that have shaped the person she is, and with the addition of Birch in her life, Abigail starts to learn why she reacts a certain way to certain things, and makes deliberate choices to change the narrative of her life.
In the first book, the bullying and shaming by Marjorie and the village are a powerful negative in Abigail’s life, and they do have a serious impact on her and her reactions to how she deals with things, but in the second book, it becomes clear, that the impact of her young life at home before Uni, has also played a much bigger role in how she reacts, and certainly in her ability to trust people. The damage of Edwin and his controlling manner, appears a lot more as she ages in her behaviour, as it fuels her self doubt, and even though she has worked hard to repair her relationship with her mother, it is Edwin’s treatment of Felicity, that has shaped a great deal more of Abigail, than she would at first realise, especially in regard to her friendships and relationships.
It is five years on from the first book, and the most prominent sign of Abby’s abusively strict childhood is her inability to accept her true feelings, as she overthinks and doubts the truth of who she is, and what she truly feels. In Abby’s own words, she has pretty much lived most of her life on edge, with her “Shields Up.” This is surprisingly more common in life than you would realise, and is one of the many effects of being bullied and shamed in earlier life, which does not appear that obvious to those around her, but it is there, hiding, and secretly working away inside her.
The Curio’s are scattered, and life is changing, the young idealism of their teenage Uni and college years, is wearing thin, as life becomes real, and harsh, and all of the Curio’s have to face it and deal with it, which alone is not an easy proposal. When the book starts, Abby is isolated and alone and not coping well, as she hides herself away, Edwina is working herself to death on the road. Deb’s is working in another part of the country and feels lonely, Chloe is struggling to stay afloat in a run down flat, with a poorly paid job, and Birch who has now qualified, is trying to prove her worth to her mother within the practice, in Manchester. The only one who appears to be anywhere near stable and adjusting, is Anthony, who has expanded his staff, but also has Delphine at his side to guide him.
The story of Abigail was always meant to chart the changes everyone faces in life, and how over time attitudes and beliefs can slowly change. The books are written at a good pace with a lot of tongue in cheek humour, and in such a way that highlights the differences between certain generations and their lack of understanding of each other. One of the best points of the first book, was actually how many people enjoyed reading it, I cannot deny, it was surprising, and yet delightful to see. I will offer at least one spoiler alert for the second book, which is, yep, the story is going to up the ante a little more.
Curio’s Summer is wilder, and just like all twenty four and twenty five years olds, there is a lot of crazy, wild naughty behaviour to come before the hormones start to settle into a more stable state, so get ready for the ride of a lifetime. Everything is written for very good reason, and there will be a few moments of gasps of surprise, but stick with it, as the answers will follow on later in the story.
The second book is going to take a good look at sexual behaviour and attitudes, language, and the choices we make as young adults, and all whilst shattering the attitudes of their former nineteen year old selves. In the first book, returning to Wotton felt like an uphill battle, in the second book, it will become all out war, as the group fight for acceptance, and face the unseen odds of Marjorie’s true vile and dark loathing of them as a group. The gloves are well and truly coming off, and it is within the confines of this aspect of the story, that the only support that the Curio’s have, is each other.
The bond between them, becomes their strength, and their only means of survival, and it is within the uniqueness of each of them, that they all provide a vital role to each other. It is here in this story, as their lives play out, that because the story of the group has now been established, I have had the space to really bring the full nature of each of these characters out, and what I am hoping with this book, is for you all to see, how it is within their normal everyday life, that each of them serves a role within the group, as their bonds grow even deeper.
I feel it is here within this aspect of the story, begins the start of something which over the series with show a subtle, and yet very powerful and beautiful story of care, compassion and deep love. Once again, I hold a mirror up to society, and show the ugly truth of what society has become, and yet within its core, there is a tremendous beauty to be found, within friendship, and support. Once again it is all girl’s together, to stand, to fight, or fall together, and within it all, Felicity, Hatty, and the villagers of Wotton will be dragged in to see the injustice within society, and learn not just about others, but also deep parts of themselves.
This book will chart the real depth of Birch and Abby, as the true power of their bond that started at Uni is revealed. In book one Roni talks of how Birch has formed a powerful bond with Abby that will last for a lifetime, and it is within this book, the real truth of Birch is revealed, and just how much Abby means to her, and the lengths she goes to, to show it. Like everything Birch does, there is a crazy insane logic to it, which was seen in book one, but Curio’s Summer really sets the bench mark for the rest of the series to flourish.
As with most things Abby, her sporadic anxiety attacks, moments of sheer panic, and chronic overthinking hamper her vision, and yet through this book, and Abby’s reaction to everything, especially her self doubt, you will start to understand a younger Felicity, and how she made that fateful mistake that led her to marrying Edwin, and how that ultimately defeated her, and brought heartache and pain into her life as the struggling, cleaning obsessed, unhappy person she was in book one. Abby strays dangerously close to repeating her mothers’ mistakes, with disastrous effect, and Abby has to look to Hatty and Birch for guidance, as she faces the same bitter choice.
With Birch as leader, and with the Curio’s united behind her, this story is littered with the wild antics, insane and out of control moments, of the life of a free, opened minded and liberated group of young women, hell bent on living life to the full, which has some very eye opening moments for Abby, as she finds herself asking herself, ‘did I really just do that?’ This is where Abby is forced to grow up, and take some responsibility for her own life and actions, as she truly breaks free of her parents, and takes full control of her own life, and for her, at times, it is shocking as she admits truths about herself, she has always played down.
Curio’s Summer highlights a lot of the joys of the young, especially some of their sexual ideas, but also some of the game playing, drama, exploitation and treatment of their peers, and the older generations. It highlights the differences between upbringing, and attitudes within the confines of a group, who share such differing lifestyles, from a rough council estate, to the well to do suburbs of the rich. This contradicting mix, will show how it plays on the insecurity of the young, but also highlights that when pushed, they can step up to the plate and be reckoned with.
I am sure yet again there will be a few raised eyebrows, and a challenge or two for some readers, as it shines a bright light on modern youth culture, and the entrenched views of the older generations. It is my hope it provides as much enjoyment as the first book, if not more, and as a series gains more recognition amongst a wider readership, but as with everything I write, I will sit back and watch.
Curio’s Summer, the second part of the Curio Chronicles will be available to purchase shortly.
The Curio Chronicles, was written to be funny fast, and a little bit shocking, and with the second book in production which will be titled ‘Curio’s Summer’ due for release this year, I thought I would take a step back, and look at one of the most important aspects of this series of stories.
Before I begin, I will add, that the whole series is based on the life of Abigail Watson, and the friendships she forms with her peers in the first book, Abigail’s Summer. In the first book, she is nineteen years old, and when she arrives in the second book, the story will have leapt five years forward, and will see her enter at age twenty four.
This series charts the growing years from youth into adulthood, and the trends and changes all of us go through as we mature, and like most young people, Abby focuses on image, sex, and love, and it is in this particular area of the story that I hold up a mirror to society, and allow you inside the private aspects of her life. Life changes, and so do we, and as Abby grows up, her choices and tastes subtly change, as what was considered to be wild challenging behaviour, for her at nineteen becomes normalised, and shapes her view of the world.
That story will play out in the books, this particular blog post, is focused on another aspect of the story, and is driven at first, not so much by Abigail, but by her best friend Birch. The focus of this aspect of the blog, is not the sex, booze or parties, it is the very natural state, of being naked.
In all of the books, the act of walking around in daily life, sans clothing, and enjoying the connection of all aspects of life, is a normalised part of living around the Curio group, and it is deliberate in this story, and I may add, a very important part of the story. To Birch, it is not an issue, she is quite open and very matter of fact about it, which at first is startling for Abby. Birch has no interest in other people’s views, to her the human form is not a thing of shame, and she really does not care what others think about it, which in today’s society is a very challenging message.
Birch will argue that to undress, to then put clothing back on to swim, is pointless, and foolish. “Why lie around in a cold wet bathing suit shivering?” She asks. For her that is stupidity, when the body dries faster and warms up quicker, lay on a lounger at the side of the pool. In the first book, she happily walks naked out of the house onto the street with her mother to say goodbye, and stands waving, much to the shock and horror of Gwenda Perkins across the road, who immediately rings Marjorie, to tell her the horrifying details, of the ‘Brazen Hussy.’
Even Abby who is naked, is hiding behind the door shouting to her that she has no clothes on, and needs to get back in the house quick, of which Birch has no understanding of the urgency. For her, the natural body, is simply that, a body, just like everyone else’s. her argument is, “We are born naked, and die naked, and everything in between is up to us, and I will not be ashamed of the form I was born in.”
To Birch, the human form should not be shamed, it is the one thing we have little choice over, and she admits, she has ‘great tits and a killer ass,’ why should she be embarrassed of being looked at, she thinks it is worth looking at, and what at first appears like an innocent joke in the plot of the book, actually becomes a powerful message to all the readers, which is, ‘why are we so ashamed of our body, it is who we are as a person?’
It is a very powerful statement, but within the folds of the story, it becomes completely normalised, to such an extent that by the end of the first book, the whole group swims naked, dry’s off and sits in Abby’s guest house, and spend the night all naked, chatting, and having drinks together. For the group, it is not sexual, it is comfort, freedom, and body confidence, and a very normal and natural thing to do. This is reinforced by Hatty, an artist who sees great beauty in all naked bodies, which is why she paints them.
Abigail’s Summer by Robin John Morgan
In today’s society, most people reading this would gasp, and make statements such as, “I could never do that,” or “have they no shame?” That is the very point the book makes, and raises the question, “Why is it shameful?”
Abby makes the point to Mary in the post office when she enquires about Birch’s lack of remorse when she told Marjorie she was a naturist. “We spend a lot of time naked; it is good for the body you know, and is wonderful for the mind and inner happiness.” She then adds, “we are all born naked, why would anyone be ashamed of that?” Mary who is a secret naturist, afraid of being shammed, is actually really impressed, and responds. “I think you have a very positive attitude, Abigail; I must admit, I admire your confidence.”
It is an important and powerful message to give out, and it is there in the book for a reason, and is a direct dig at today’s so-called socially acceptable culture.
So, let’s look at why we have been raised to believe that our own personal human form is shocking and shameful. Today we live in a world that has firstly been shaped by religion, the whole foundations of modern civilised society have been moulded around firstly Christianity, and then in more modern times by other religious beliefs, so where does this come from?
Now I have no interest in other people’s spiritual or religious beliefs, I have my own thoughts on my personal spirituality, and I believe them to be private, and personal, so I have no issues with what anyone else chooses to follow. The facts are evident, and that is my sole focus here, simply the facts. So, looking back through time to those few hundred years after the death of Christ, it is a known fact, that Rome was suffering under the popular supporters of Mithra, a pagan deity, and the senate was losing ground. Mithra supporters were celebrating on mass, which involved all aspects of humanity, and a lot of nudity and feasting, in common terms, supporting Mithra led to a lot of orgies and parties, it was a pretty fun experience, what was not to like about going to that church, lol?
The senate embraced and encouraged the rise of Christianity, because as has been documented, ‘it was more about controlled worship.’ Now again, I have no judgement on that, but it is a fact, that it was embraced, solely to control the popular masses. It is also interesting that it was Christianity that also played a major role in the fall of Rome, so go figure. I digress, the rise of the Christian church, played a massive role in what we now consider the civilised world, my vote is still out on civilised, but that is an argument for another day. The church used shame as it’s deadliest weapon for many hundreds of years, as is seen in many of the very puritanical offshoots of Christianity.
A lot of the rules and laws of the land were based on the teachings of the church, who were influencial, and are a major factor in the creation of what we now call the Western Civilised World. It is important to understand that opinion has been shaped and established through a religion that was focused on control, and even though religion has fallen in numbers in recent decades, it has still been a major influence of conservative attitudes. I cannot deny, I do love the irony, of the fact the first two people created by God, Adam and Eve, were both naked vegetarians living in a garden, not unsimilar to the Curio’s.
Now again, I have no interest in the politics of religion, but it does appear to me, that God’s intention through Adam and Eve was a race who were naked, and not ashamed of their naked bodies. I cannot help but pose the question, why has the church deviated from that, and shamed humanity? I get the whole apple and sin argument, but again, have to ask, if we have been forgiven all of our sins through the death of Christ, why is nudity still shamed, when it was God’ initial intention?
Coming Spring 2022
That was the first phase, and now we have the second, capitalism and the free market economy. I actually think this aspect of modern life, is far more corrosive, as it does a few things I am unhappy about. Greed for money, has become the real virus of society, and I do not say that lightly, but it is true. Yes, we all need to live, and as you have probably noticed, you have to pay through the nose to have that basic human right in a Western democracy.
The most corrosive aspect of capitalism, is Media, it is the tool of the elite, and oh boy is it powerful? Advertising and data mining are now the biggest collectors and shapers of public opinion on the planet, and both have one goal, feed the rich. I have a particular distaste for shareholders, I, like Birch, see them as the scourge of society, they are viler than tax collectors, because all they care about is money, and they have no scruples as to how it comes in, just as long as it does. Shareholders want profit, and they wield a great deal of power, and so under their direction, pressure is applied to make more cash.
They shape media, Mainstream and Social to their view of the world, and like religion, they demand compliance and control, they literally write the narrative, and Birch despises them. The main vehicle for these controllers of society, is advertising and shame, which when linked with the lingering attitudes of religion, can serve a fatal blow to all of us, and it does, in more ways than we realise, Birch points out the immorality of it in the second book.
Everyday women especially, but men are catching up, are bombarded with signals from every angle, millions of them, and they are subtle, cruel, and divisive. Articles, adverts, the structure of TV shows, and even some more modern video games target our weaknesses, which is namely, our body, our looks, and how we live.
We are told, your hair is not right, use this, don’t allow yourself to be fat, when you can use this special new and improved wonder diet. Wear this new designer labelled clothing and hide your shame, you are too ugly, use this makeup, and it goes on and on and one, in a never ending stream of paid for personal attacks and insults, all packaged in a nice sophisticated way, from school age until the coffin, and I often say to my kids. “Stop listening to them, they are paid for lies!”
Social media banned female nipples, have you ever heard of such a stupid rule? Men’s nipples are fine, I could post a whole stream of my endless nipples, and not get banned, yet, if I posted a picture of my wife’s nipple, I would get banned, as it is ‘SEXUAL’ No it’s not, its natural, and I would add normal, every single human being has them, so why do we only sexualise one kind, and not the other? I mean come on, there is not a huge difference in the look, it is the function that is the main difference.
At this point I will ask, how is using a part of the human body to feed a child sexual? The simple answer is it is not, and yet, it is banned. I often wonder why women’s movements are not outraged and up in arms about this, after all, Twitter is filled with women who are screaming about how women’s nipples are sexualised by men. Okay so let me ask this, why are men’s nipples not sexualised? The truth is, they are not, because we have all been desensitised to them, but how? Well, we put them on show and everyone got sick of looking at them. It may surprise you to find, that at one time, it was illegal for men to be topless, and men did not agree, so they rallied on a beach in the USA, took off their tops and defied the law, and got arrested.
It caused such an outcry, that men all over America rallied around and demanded change, and they flocked on mass to the beach, and defied the law and went topless, and a few years later, the law was changed, and now it is a common sight to see a man without his top. Feminists should be outraged by that, and demand equality, and attack social media for being discriminate, and yet they do not.
The bra industry earns, seventeen trillion dollars a year, exploiting woman. Science has proven beyond doubt, that wearing a bra does not keep the boobs firm, it actually weakens the tissue and muscles under the breast, so they flop and grow saggy over time, and yet billions of women every day, believe the lies and suffer wearing one. Why are women not fighting back for their rights to be braless, as the teens of my 1960s 70s youth did? Once again, I ask, why are women so afraid of showing the outline of a nipple through clothing? They wear pants, which shows the outline of a bum, and yet that is not an issue. I have to pose the question, why are women allowing a part of their natural form to be shammed?
Whether you like it or not, your body is not and should not be shamed for money or opinion. Today our teens are getting reconstructive surgeries, to change aspects of their bodies, and more and more teens are suffering from body dysmorphia leading to eating disorders. Kids struggle with their weight, because junk food is cheaper than healthier food, but filled with a long list of additives and preservatives, that poison their systems. A salad is literally more expensive than a burger, and modern advertisers lie to them in order to get all of their money with slogans like, ‘I’m lovin it.’ Yeah, the shareholders are, they are rolling in cash. When you work out that a fast food fry has over twenty two ingredients in it, you have to step back in shock, and ask why, it is a potato that has been fried?
Why are schools and parents, not educating their children better, and pointing out the serious implications of their behaviour? Why are we not telling our kids to understand their bodies without shame, and take better care of them? Instead of educating them, they encourage them, and it has become and endless cycle of bad habits from generation to generation, all happily complying with the endless rhetoric of their master manipulators, who run social and mainstream media at the expense of their children’s mental and physical well being.
Curio’s Summer by Robin John Morgan
Take a really good look at Social Media, which has a massive influence on our young. I look at what my kids are seeing, which is usually driven by young twenty to twenty five year olds, known as ‘Influencers.’ I want to punch all of the self entitled little shits in the face. Their narrow minded, and blinkered view of the world, is corrosive and damaging to the minds of our young. Why are we letting these uneducated idiots educate our children with sponsored video’s? I constantly hear, the young are the future, and it scares the hell out of me, because if you watch them, you can see how sponsors are placing products in all of their videos and posts. These kids get rich, at the expense of all of ours, by violating their minds, and adding to the self loathing our children feel about their bodies. When will this stop?
If you have kids, take some time out and seriously look at the drivel they watch. Look like this, do that, you need this are the messages, and every one of them drives body dysmorphia to an epidemic level, no wonder our kids are depressed? They will never have that look, or fit into the one size fits all box, or attain that beauty. The reason why, is simple, it is fake, photo shopped and unrealistic, so what do they do, they offer filters to improve your looks on photo’s driving the ‘you’re not pretty enough message home,’ which is destroying our children’s self confidence, and all with a subliminal caption of, ‘look how pretty and acceptable you are now.’ The thought of nudity, terrifies these influencers, who have been groomed for their roles by social media policies.
The irony here, is they call it social media, and it is not, it is advertising media, and nudity is their kryptonite. Look at it this way, if you actually love your body and are not ashamed by it, advertisers have less influence over you, and so you will not click their links to their products, and that is why nipples or any form of nudity are banned. Oh yeah, they talk about the children being harmed, but that is a smoke screen, the real truth is, they want full control to sell products, and they pray on insecurity. How else does a free platform make billions a year… Advertising, by praying on your weakness, and making you ashamed of who you are, that is how.
They drive unrealistic expectations and body hatred, and we sit back and wonder why half our kids are narcissists and the other half are manically depressed? It is immoral, disgraceful, and offensive, and they should be imprisoned for the damage they have done to society, but sadly they won’t be, because their lobbyists will continue to throw cash at governments, and they will never get shut down, it is a slap to the face of all humanity. We all should ask, when will this end and how do we stop it? I would suggest, one body positive person at a time.
The cure is simple, Birch shows you the way. Screw what others think, love your body, embrace it, strip off the layers of those who would enslave you with their lies and shaming, and own who you are. Do not hide your body, accept it, worship it, love it, and embrace it, most importantly, own it, and show the real value of the person you are. The greatest thing about being naked, is it is impossible to hide who you really are, people get to see the true you, the real you, not the fake you that hides behind designer clothing and makeup. Stop letting the world tell you to be ashamed of yourself, and pay through the nose for a cure that will never work. Cherish what you came into world wearing, because contrary to popular opinion, your body is not shameful, it is beautiful.
Listen to Birch and the Curio’s, and for the first time in your life, embrace your real truth, your only truth, and love the body you wear. Nature is exactly that, it is natural, and whether you want to believe it or not, you are a natural being, and your skin, is your natural clothing. Try resisting all the latest trends, and avoid wasting money on all those products they tell you that you need for one month, walk round the house naked and feel the power of seeing your own reflection, and see how better you feel, and how much money you save.
In order to write the Curio stories, I spent a lot of time, talking and listening to Naturists, as they explained their concept of the life that they lived. It was fascinating, and I very quickly understood, that they were just normal people, from every walk of life. The main difference that I found, was that they came across as being kinder, more open minded, and certainly more accepting and welcoming than most of the dressed people I meet in life. Their age groups varied from young to old, and I learned a great deal about simply being a normal human being. I know weird right? The truth be told, I found their company friendlier and more inviting than dressed people, they were certainly more in tune with the world, and very respectful.
It impressed me to hear, how naturisum is actually pretty normal, and when you consider the point, naked is actually our natural state. I can certainly say, I find the media and capitalist approach to life with its shame and ridiculed filled advertising a lot less natural, and not at all beneficial to the human race, and maybe in that, Birch has a point?
Get on the internet, and get off social media, and read up on the health benefits of being naked, and you will find a whole range of mass benefits from mental health, to physical health. It calms the mood, and you sleep so much better, and if you actually think about it, it is the most normal aspect of all of us, it is not sexual, it is who you are.
Surely it is time, to start to beat social media and the mainstream at their own game, by educating our children, that our natural human form is not shameful, and is not sexual? We need to step up to the plate before another generation suffers the cruel effects of our world, and its attack on our private personal selves. Children who are taught to accept themselves, are better more rounded individuals in life, and a part of that, is understanding their natural body, is their own private and completely unique form, and no one has the right to tell them different and shame them for it.
The Curio Chronicles was always about a tongue in cheek approach to looking at life through the lens of a wide focus, unlike the narrow focus applied to social so called norms. Yes the books are sexually suggestive, but why is that wrong, and why is that shamed, when again it is a very important aspect of everybody’s life, as is nudity? After all, we never shower with our clothing on, and if you think about it, we always feel wonderful after a shower?
In book one, Roni states during her speech those four words of control. ‘What will People Say?’ That is the moment the self worth dies and the shame begins, and it is up to all of us, to follow her next piece of advice. ‘Does It Really Matter?’
Be curious, and be you.
Curio’s Summer, the second part of the Curio Chronicles series, will be available in spring 2022.
The Curio Chronicles part one Abigail’s Summer by Robin John Morgan, is available in Digital and Print format from all online sources and apps.
I got asked recently, what can be learned from HTTK, and I responded, take a look at the world, and then read the whole series again. Enjoy it, get to know the characters and understand them, and then when you do, consider how much you have in common with them.
Take into account, Kingdom began as an idea in the 1980’s, and I really began to write it in 2006. Honestly, since the writing started, it has become more relevant in my thoughts, as I watch the world today.
Kingdom is written from the point of view of those being oppressed, as they fight their way to freedom. There is a great deal of effort in the writing that places the focus on understanding the freedom and joy all the principal characters share. There is a reason it took 14 years to write the eight books, as they do take a long hard look at the life of mankind. The book is focused on two main characters and their friends, as they take for granted what is all around them. I highlight the success of Lox farm, and its abundance, it is to a degree an idyllic place, of friendship and community, where the goal is almost a utopian ideal of what every reader would want in their own life, which could be why so many readers have identified with the series.
Book one is almost a merry jaunt as the group set off to discover the root of all the evil that is attempting to take all of their abundance away, and in many ways, it does not appear to be that sinister a book. I would say it appears as quite innocent, and yet I would also argue, that when you look past the joy, and the developing love story of Robbie and Runestone, there is a dark sinister presence simmering in the background.
It is easy to miss the most obvious aspect of the Bowman of Loxley, because it is subtle, but if you take a step back, and consider it for a moment, suddenly it is not quite the picturesque picture you first thought it was. I would argue, that there is a very significant warning to be taken from that first innocent feeling book, so let me elaborate.
Early in the book, two things occur that are very important, the first is, that the young Dirk, goes out to hunt for food for his family in a remote and isolated part of middle England. His family have chosen to be isolated, and stay well away from all other communities who are banding together to try and survive, and yet his father chose to hide away, separate from everyone, why?. On Dirks return, his mother, father and little sister, have been brutally murdered and their house burned to the ground. In his heartbreak, he is visited by Opal, who tells him to hide his identity, and take aid in the form of a sword to aide Loxley, and she renames him Rowan of the Woods, why?
Secondly, Rowan is a robust tree, known for its strength and resilience, two qualities needed to resist oppression, it is a very important symbol, and one I may add that made everyone assume he would one day be the leader of the country as a king. Rowan, becomes a vital part of the resistance in later books, at our hero’s side.
The next thing we learn, is that one man, rises out of the destruction, and builds a wall to seal off a part of the nation. He is a hero to his people, who has saved them from a deadly virus… a life-threatening catastrophe, hmm, sound familiar? Out of nowhere, he declares himself by birth right, to be ruler of the land, and he despatches out a ruthless and merciless unit of, for want of a better word, ‘murderers’ to attack and frighten all the survivors. These men are the Cutter Brigade, and they lead by using fear, that sounds familiar too. They rape and kill and take all of the supplies, which are sent back to Cornwall, where the supreme ruler is based. A leader taking all the best for his own needs, with no regard for the people, yep, sounds about right to me.
The man is Mason Knox, a historian of the old world. There is no coincidence he has a past as a history lecturer, it is how he understands dominance, and why he is so organised. Mason means wall, a worker of stone, Knox means vault, think about that for a second. Walls are a symbol of strength, and a vault symbolises wealth, combine money and strength, and you have a recipe for supreme power. If you want an example, look to any dictator of the historical past, they hide in their dwellings behind high walls and security, country’s hide behind walls such as China did, and there is no greater example than the Berlin wall, something that is a stark memory from my youth.
The Cutters are spread far and wide, so much so, they reach the north of England and Robbie come across a small raiding party at Joe’s cabin. Later in the book as the group journey away on a mission to produce the evidence to prove Mason is an illegitimate heir to the throne, they enter a village which has been attacked and devastated by Cutters just north of Loxley. Mason is already trying to surround the town of Loxley. It is a huge surprise for Robbie and Rowan, who question, how did Mason get so far undetected? It is an important question, and one you should ask yourself.
At the Abbey, even further north, a large army is spotted quietly building up strength, and as the group skirt back south, they end up in a small town which is run by organised Marshals, who are confiscating weapons. It is subtle, but look carefully, they are in a town that is organised and operating without any resistance to the Marshals, if anything, they have embraced them for their own security. The path of least resistance does appear right at the time, but it is a dangerous path to walk.
At this point there is a very real plan of action being revealed from Mason Knox, who I deliberately kept out of the book until he was revealed in person at the end. The whole premise of the Bowman of Loxley, was to show the slow subtle build up of Mason’s power, and hope that people would notice a very familiar pattern from the past. Look to the past, and learn for the future, is a line and theme that run through this book, and all the others, and it is not there by chance. It is possibly the most important message of all the books, and a very real warning about allowing others to change our historical concepts of history. In using this line, it does also highlight the very real danger in Mason’s action plan, I would say to be specific, look to Germany 1933.
Okay, so let’s take a moment to understand the plan so far. A self appointed dictator who desires supreme power. A fear driven private military force acting under his personal instruction, and control. The confiscation of weapons from the population, under the guise of protection from the newly imposed state, secret groups attacking at random places whilst slowly building up around its enemy, and a secret police force, in a town that has been compliant and simply accepted their authority without speaking out.
So, so far so good, we have the making of a totalitarian regime by subtle means, and now for the big hint. A rider arrives at Lolxey’s gates demanding entry on the orders of ‘The Duke of Cornwall, and newly elected Governor of England.’ There it is, Mason now sees himself as being completely in control, and all of you have to now do as you are told. It is John Lox who points our the obvious, when he states, “Newly elected, I didn’t vote for him.” Well no, that sort of democracy has gone forever, you now have to blindly obey. If you do not, well that comes at the end of the book, you will be surrounded by an army, and wiped out. There is no coincidence that Loxley and York, the two most organised places had an army on their doorstep, they were in the way, and could foil Mason’s plans, so like every dictator from the past, he was going to silence them, and remove them forever.
Boom! There it is right in your face, no one elected him, he is a self imposed leader, and as you follow the story, you get to see the full power of Mason as he reveals his armies at Tintagel and his weapons creation at Weston Super-mare, and his attempts to quash Caerleon. The end of the book shows the full power of Mason as he finally appears in the book, and tries to take the crown and become supreme ruler of England and all its realms, as the fascist dictator he is.
The simple point is HTTK is written in such a way, you have to look for it, and it is all there in the background quietly building away and actually revealing far more than you would at first realise. Jump to book two, The Lost Sword of Carnac, and yep, it just gets better.
Let’s start with the surrounding area of Canterbury. In an act of temper, Mason labels certain types of people, and sends in his Cutters to destroy them. These people are in no way affiliated to Robbie, and yet Mason labels them, Leaf Lovers, Wood Choppers, and he brutally murders them on mass. Sound familiar? Sadly, this is not fantasy, it happens in our modern world, it is not always as extreme and results in death, but it goes on every day, we just choose to ignore it.
A certain section of society is seen as inferior, and as taking up space, and so they are wiped out completely, look to the past? How may regimes since 1945 have seen their own people wiped out by fascist dictators under the guise of their creed, culture, or religion? A section of their own society is labelled by its government as unfit, and then slaughtered and labelled as inferior, second class, unworthy of the same rights.
Think this is a fantasy, look back at the UK, we may not have wiped them out, but it happens. Back in the seventies, it was the hippies, and the drop outs who had no rights, and were targeted as unfit by the government. Margret Thatcher’s government labelled and stigmatised single parents. Under Tony Blair’s government anyone opposing immigration was a white supremacist or racist. When David Cameron was in power, it was the unemployed, and today with Boris Johnson’ it has recently been the un-vaxxed. It happens every day and we all choose to ignore it, or go happily along with it as the media backs up the government narrative. It is subtle, but it happens, and all it takes is one man to make a stand and seize power, and suddenly, a whole section of society that may even have once been a hero to the people, becomes the enemy, and has to be silenced and beaten into submission. You think this is fantasy, try being a peaceful trucker in a certain part of the world at the moment?
Heirs to the Kingdom may feel like an innocent romp through the woodlands with a bad man after you, but it is a very subtle warning about absolute power. I know, I was facing a localised one when I first began to write this series, and it is really frightening to face alone, or with a few dedicated friends.
The second book reveals the rest of the plan of Mason, with enforced labour camps, where you own nothing, but will be happy. Orphanages that force women into birth to breed a population, rows and rows and grey dull dwellings, suppression of decent, and endless slaughter of those who resist. It is all there, and the most frightening thing about this, is in this modern world of today, it has, and is still happening. Do you think slavery has been abolished? Try looking towards the middle east, open your eyes and it is there right in front of you. One global power, or one person who feels entitled to dominate are always there, and not always who you think, it is the curse of man, and the lessons we refuse to learn from our past.
Book three creates monsters from experimentation, drugs are used to enhance human abilities, and the race for more modern weapons to outsmart the enemy is always on the forefront, as the power and dominance grows as fast as the slavery, as people are controlled with fear to do the bidding of their self imposed masters. Heirs to the Kingdom is a dystopian series, but it hits a hell of a lot closer to home than many have realised.
So how do we win, well we fight, okay, so what with?
There is no coincidence that the swords of power are named such. Truth, Justice, Knowledge, Courage, Honour. These are the ingredients of ‘Democracy, and Freedom.’ They are cherished as they allow for freedom of thought, and the freedom to speak, and through the union of these ideals, we create a world that is fair to all, and that is the message to all the readers of HTTK. Take these qualities into your heart and into your life, and if you do so, they will unite in one union with others, and that my friends, is ‘Destiny.’
The modern world today is not quite as black and white as it first appears, and I would say, that we are all stood on the edge of a woodland glade watching, surrounded by those we love, but Mason is out there, and he is not alone. Behind the scenes he is at work, and it is as clear as day if you open your eyes fully, and stop blindly obeying everything you are told.
You will never get the truth from social media, you will never be able to fully trust the legacy media, they are driven by a controlled system of subtle people of power. Just because everyone else believes it to be true, does not mean it is. At times like this, like Robbie and Runestone, we have to stand alone and take a step back, and look with the eyes of destiny, because if you blink and lose focus, we all will end up in a world ruled by the likes of Mason. The human race stands on the edge, and it is the task of all of us to pay attention, and stop blindly following with our virtue signalling and politically correct adherence. Just because everyone else is doing it, does not make it moral or right.
Be a leaf lover, embrace the role of woodsmen, and fight those who are bringers of stone.
Absolute power, is far more corrosive than rust. Never forget that.
Heirs to the Kingdom by Robin John Morgan, is available in Digital and Print formats from all leading online retailers of books and apps.
