Crown of Serpents on Masonic Central

[Dean Kennedy]

On Blog Talk Radio at 6pm PST/9pm EST
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Masonic-Central/2009/11/09/Crown-of-Serpents-on-Masonic-Central

Where does National Treasure meet The Lost Symbol? Wound together into a Crown of Serpents.

Masonic fiction is an infrequent thing, especially when written by a brother. The Lost Symbol is a good example of the fraternity in a modern fiction, in the same way that National Treasure brought the fraternity to the cinema. This Sunday, we have the opportunity to talk about the latest edition of Masonic fiction from author Michael Karpovage, who has just released his new book Crown of Serpents.

From the books website the Crown of Serpents is a mystery thriller set in the former heartland of the Iroquois Empire and takes its hero, Jake Tununda, on a fast-paced hunt to find and protect the elusive crown. In the story he teams up with Rae Hart, who is an alluring state police investigator, and together they snake their way across a politically turbulent landscape marked with murder, lies, and deceit, deciphering codes, digging up war loot, and fending off a ruthless casino magnate. Their survival skills are put to the test when the clues to the crown ultimately lead them deep within sacred Indian caves hidden under the abandoned Seneca Army Depot where the magnitude of the crown’s power is revealed.

The Crown of Serpents is every bit as exciting as its synopsis suggests, and its weaving in of the fraternity of Freemasonry makes the mystery thriller all the more exciting.

Join us as we talk to author Michael Karpovage about his book, Masonic fiction, and the real life history of Freemasonry that swirls around his new novel, in this hour long program on Masonic Central Sunday, October 18th starting at 6pm PDT / 9pm EST. We encourage your questions and comments to the show by calling (347) 677-0936 during the program. The show goes live promptly at the hour.

On Blog Talk Radio at 6pm PST/9pm EST
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Masonic-Central/2009/11/09/Crown-of-Serpents-on-Masonic-Central

[ReeD]

I should not be in a plane, train or car so I will be tuning in.

[Dean Kennedy]

I'm starting in about 15 minutes... So get to your computers.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Masonic...asonic-Central (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Masonic-Central/2009/11/09/Crown-of-Serpents-on-Masonic-Central)

[JebWCarroll]

I recently wrote this as a review of the book which I will be presenting in my Lodge in the future hopefully.

Book Review of Crown of Serpents by Michael Karpovage
By Jeb W Carroll
Kenilworth Lodge #29 GRA
I first heard about the book Crown of Serpents by Michael Karpovage on Masonic Central's podcast October 18th 2009 when they had the author on to talk about it. The book is classified by the author as being a "High Concept" which is similar to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code and Lost Symbol or National Treasure where the author uses historical mysteries to weave a fascinating and intriguing modern day mystery to discover a hidden past. These stories often include secret societies and of course the center of this book is Freemasonry as well as a fictional secret society created by the author called The White Deer Society.
The books prologue is amazing and opens on a bloody battle taking place in 1779 between a small band of Continental Soldiers and the fierce British Rangers and Mohawk Warriors led by Colonel John Butler and Mohawk Indian Chief Joseph Brant. Michael Karpovage's writing of the battle is detailed and sometimes shocking with descriptions such as "His scalp was immediately and thoroughly sliced and peeled back from his head." and "...buried a tomahawk in the back of his skull. The crunch was crisp." It is at the end of this very short and fast paced prologue that the reader is quickly thrown into the realm of the craft when a captured Thomas Boyd uses the mystical sign of a distressed Master Mason at a last ditch attempt to convince his captor and fellow brother of the Craft Chief Joseph Brant to spare his life.
The rest of the novel takes place in modern day upper New York State and we are introduced to the main character Major Jake Tununda, a Native American of the Seneca Tribe, Special Forces Veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, current field historian of the Military History Institute and Master Mason of Military Lodge Land, Sea and Air Number One Iraq. Jake's deep knowledge of American war history and fateful discoveries lead him to the Journal of the captured Thomas Boyd discussed in the prologue and learns about an ancient Native American secret society called the White Deer Society who take their name from the white fur deer in the area who are considered sacred. In the journal Jake Tununda reads that Thomas Boyd discovered part of the White Deer Societies secrets and stashed the clues in different places in upper state New York before going into battle. The clues are hidden in Masonic Cypher and Jake goes on to find them.
Enters at this time an evil character named Alex Nero who is a ruthless mob boss and Casino tycoon who extorts his Native American lineage to amass great wealth from tax free gambling and controlling his own people with an iron fist. He believes himself to be a direct descendent of an ancient evil Indian Wizard who wore a silver Crown of Serpents which gave him mystical powers until it was stolen from him and hidden by the White Deer Society. Now Alex Nero dying of Cancer is desperately searching for the Crown to save his life and become supreme ruler of his people and re-expropriate his land from the white people. He too learns of the Thomas Boyd journal and with his gang of Indian thugs races against Jake Tununda to find the crown creating an amazing story of exciting fights, page turning chases and sometimes jaw dropping plot twists.
The book is excellently narrated with well thought out characters and complete with a detailed historical time line and maps in the book. The author is very upfront about what is factual history and what was created to make the story possible.
Michael Karpovage's character Jake Tununda is fascinating and displays the amazing qualities of a Seneca Indian, An American Soldier and true Freemason. The author being a Freemason was able to weave the craft in and out of the story so well that it didn't appear forced and complemented the plot well. He was also able to describe some small secrets about the Craft which only Freemasons would recognize and stays true to any obligation which is a great accomplishment.
Although the book is a great page turner I do have to point out that it was poorly edited. The book is ripe with words out of place and sentences which should have been rewritten for proper grammar. I suspect that the book was privately published and probably didn't go through a proper editorial process and in my opinion is the books greatest flaw.
Overlooking the editorial errors which plague the book it is exciting, enthralling and makes me proud to be a Freemason and to recommend it to my friends and family who aren't Freemasons. If you don't like picking up historical or esoteric books on the Craft consider buying this one which runs for about $15-$22 on Amazon.com and I promise you that you will find it exciting and easy to get through the 368 pages.
I haven't read every book this year but have read six different Masonic books published in 2009 and I declare this book to be the BEST MASONIC BOOK OF 2009!
Four and a half Square and Compasses out of five.

[Dean Kennedy]

Or bettyer yet Jeb you can support my podcast and get the book directly from the author, instead of supporting Amazon. Because we all know Amazon runs a ton of educational programs for Masons and really needs your money:rolleyes:.

Here is the link to the book for sale via our store and it is mailed directly from the author, supporting the author and Masonic Central. http://www.freemasoninformation.com/e-store/crown-of-serpents/

Every copy sold is signed by the author....

[Frater Cliff Porter]

Purchased WB Dean....now send me my dang book....now, quickly, what the heck....:-)

[Michael Karpovage]

Jeb, thanks so much for your incredible review of Crown of Serpents! BEST MASONIC BOOK of 2009. Wow!

I just joined on TSS today and am excited to be on board.

[Coach N]

Jeb, thanks so much for your incredible review of Crown of Serpents! BEST MASONIC BOOK of 2009. Wow!

I just joined on TSS today and am excited to be on board.
Welcome Brother Michael! :)