Destruction and Devotion…. a review of Faith & The Undead.

© 2010 theimagedesigns.com/Benjamin Rogers/Library of the Living Dead

 

I have been a fan of the Zombie genre for many years since I saw my first Romero film at a very young age (to be honest maybe a bit too young) I have watched many films and literally read hundreds of books and from time to time you comes across one that just stands out in the pack (World War Z, and Patients Zero to name but two) and this is one such book, in fairness I must say I am a friend of Benjamin Rogers but this is a friendship that came around from this very book.

A few short months ago I was contacted via a mutual friend on Facebook because of several factors we had in common ( we both had an interest in all things Zombie and were both Freemasons) he asked me if I’d read a couple of chapters of a book he was writing and give an honest opinion …. I of course said yes.

I was expecting to be confronted with the usual gory, slightly shallow, men and women protecting a shopping Mall kind of story but I was pleasantly surprised. For the fans of gore worry not there is gore but there is also a well constructed character driven story. 

I only had the opportunity to read the first few  unedited chapters but the story even at that point grabbed me so like you all I had to wait until it was published to read the full adventures of Frank and his brethren, and the moment it ‘hit the newsstands’ I got my copy.

The story moves at a fast pace with several well rounded characters, one must take into account that this is the first of a trilogy of books so those few missing areas in a characters profile I am sure will appear in the continuing trilogy, if anything it encourages me to wait with baited breath for that continued adventure.

It is refreshing to see a gore fest that is deeper than the average Zombie novel. As you work through the pages you join Frank Payens on his awakening of the understanding of THE HOME and his own personal Faith, and the development of strong and secure friendships. The story places you in a world of destruction and devotion, fear and faith. Join Frank on his journey you won’t be disappointed.

Now if I have to give it a mark I’d give it a well deserved 8 out of 10 why not ten out of ten when he is my friend well what would he have to strive for if I did.

Back to you…

They say a picture paints a thousand word and they are not wrong so I’ll let this picture do the talking …. the recently revealed back cover of the much-anticipated forthcoming Templar Zombie Novel….. 

FAITH & THE UNDEAD

© 2010 theimagedesigns.com/Benjamin Rogers/Library of the Living Dead

 

Hot on the trail of compleating the book cover for the upcoming Zombie Novel release FAITH & THE UNDEAD I have been working with the author to prepare a Fan Club Membership Pack, for a modest fee the Club members will receive.

A wallet sized membershop card:

 

 

a quality membership certificate signed by the author:

 

 

and a very nice iron on woven military style patch as seen on the cover of the book:

 

 

To add to this their email will be placed on an exclusive list to receive updates artwork, and even a few FAITH & THE UNDEAD stories which may never see light anywhere else.

I am also working a few other projects with Ben one of which is described by the leaflet below:

© 2010 theimagedesigns.com/Benjamin Rogers

 

Ben hasn’t yet released the back cover of the book but keep checking back I am sure you won’t be disappointed

Worms attack

 

Just a few days after I shared the beautiful Royston Cave this piece of news has been brought to my attension it seem that the 700 year old carvings are at risk of being destroyed by the creepy crawly critters. click the link below to read the full article

700-year-old cave carvings with links to Knights Templar at risk as worms eat walls

Book cover released….

For those of you on Facebook this image will come as no surprise it is the front cover of the upcoming Zombie novel by author Benjamin Rogers.

© 2010 theimagedesigns.com/Benjamin Rogers/Library of the Living Dead

The cover shows the crest of  THE HOME a military group who may be the only thing between the Zombie hoards and the destruction of mankind.

To read more about this brilliant book jump over to the Undead Trilogy BLOG where the author is keeping us up to date with the progress leading to the publication of FAITH & THE UNDEAD.

for those of you who have a dream of appearing in a YouTube trailer for a book ‘FAITH & THE UNDEAD’ go on over to the blog and send in your ZOMBIE picture if your picture is chosen not only will it appear in the video but your name will appear in the credits at the end of the trailer.

Noble defenders of the BLOG

So ok I got a little distracted this afternoon and the iron giant nearly managed to infultrate the Templar Ephemera BLOG but those noble Knights Templars gave their lives to defend it’s honor.

yup I was bored ho hum!!!

Royston Cave

'Roi' or 'Rose Stone'

Royston Cave can be found in Hertfordhsire UK and has a strong connection with the Knights Templars, it is a circular beehive-shaped chamber some 26’ high, with a 17’ diameter, discovered accidently in 1742 by workmen.

They had been digging around a curious stone known as th ‘Roi’ or Rose stone that stood at a crossroads the two roads intersecting at this point followed the cardinal directions.

The cave is covered in many carving and is a facinating entry into the history of the Knights.

There are a wealth of images and inform tion to be found at the Royston Cave website and a good article can be found at ellisctaylor.com by Dan Green (I would highlight the fact I am leading you to this article does not mena I actually agree with everything he say but just want to give you the opportunity to read it yourself) For those of you who like nice pictures and music why not have a look at the video posted below.

The story begins?

 

© 2010 David Naughton-Shires

Armand gently brushed the years of dust away to reveil the lid of a small wooden box, taking a deep breath he grasped the sides and slowly lifted the aged wood as the rusted hinges let out a small complaint of  resistance.

As the light fell upon the contents for the first time in many years Armand knew his quest had in one moment in time both ended and began.

The quest for the discovery had finished with the creak of the hinges; and his quest for the salvation of mankind had just started………

……the story continues.

MCKim: Knights Templar images

For those of you who follow my other blog or my online newsletter The Masonic Art Exchange Newsletter, you will be aware I am a huge fan of the digital art of Stephen McKim. (There is a great introduction to Stephen by his friend Carson Smith in issue 4 of the newsletter) 

Templar Cross ©Stephen McKim

Hailing from Indiana (via Scotland if he had his own way) Stephen produces some of  the if not THE best Masonic Art on the web. But he is not limited to just what is called ‘the Craft’ he also creates many images for the other appendent bodies which of course includes the Knights Templar.

Every so often he will send me a beautiful image via email. But you can find loads of his work on his web site. I want to just take a moment to say I have received permission form Stephen to use his images and I totally beleive that copyright is a very important thing.

Templars Riding ©Stephen McKim

I know that when I spend a few hours on a picture or text project it rages me when someone comes along and uses the images without.

1. Permission.

2. Giving due credit.

Some of the images Stephen creates take well over 100 hours to complete and are made up of many many seperate images themnselves. So I would say please enjoy Stephens work, share it if you like but only via the links to his page and under the copyright rules he has posted at the bottom of his home page.

Knight Templar ©Stephen McKim

If you do like his work drop him a note and say so or why not just pop a fiver in his paypal account his work is beautiful.

Letter from Baldwin II to Bernard de Clairvaux [June 28, 1119 - October 15, 1126]

Baldwin of Bourcq Count of Edessa and king of Jerusalem (Baldwin II) Painting by Odier, 1870

Balduinus, miseratione Iesu Christi rex Ierosolymorum, princeps Antiochie, venerabili patri Bernardo, in regno Gallie degenti, totius reverentie digno, abbati monasterii Clarevallis, prompte voluntatis obsequium. Fratres Templarii,quos Dominus ad defensionem hujus Provincie excitavit et mirabili quodam modo conservavit, apostolicam confirmationem obtinere et certam vite normam habere desiderant. Ideo, mittimus ad vos Andream et Gundemarum, bellicis operibus et sanguinis stemmate claros, ut a pontifice ordinis sui approbationem obtineant, et animum ejus inclinent ad prestandum nobis subsidium et auxilium contra inimicos fidei, quiomnes uno animo parique consensu ad supplantandum subvertendumque regnum nostrum insurgunt. Et quia non me latet quanti ponderis sit intercessio vestra, tam apud Deum quam apud ejus vicarium et ceteros orthodoxes Europe principes, prudentie vestre utrumque hoc negotium duximus committendum, quorum expeditio erit nobis gratissima. Constitutiones Templariorum taliter condite, quod et a strepitu et bellico tumultu non dissentiant, et principum christianorum auxilio sint utiles. Sic agite, ut felicem exitum hujus rei, vita comite, videre possimus. Deo pro nobis preces fundite. Valete.

From Cartulaire Général de l’ordre du Temple, ed. Marquis d’Albon (Paris, 1913)

 

Stained glass representing St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Upper Rhine, ca. 1450.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 
Baldwin, by the mercy of Jesus Christ king of Jerusalem and prince of Antioch, to the venerable father Bernard residing in the kingdom of France, worthy of every reverence, the abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux, with ready willingness to serve. Templar brothers, whom the Lord incited to defend this realm and whom he has somewhat miraculously preserved, wish to obtain an apostolic confirmation and to have a strict rule of life. For that reason, I am sending to you Andreas and Gundemar, distinguished in matters of war and in their bloodlines, so that they might obtain the approval of their Order from the Pope and incline his heart towards offering us help and reinforcement against the enemies of our faith, who are all rising up united with the goal of overthrowing and subverting our kingdom. Since it is not hidden from me of what weight would be your involvement, both in the eyes of the Lord and his vicar and in the eyes of other faithful European rulers, I decided that I should commit to your wisdom these matters, whose resolution will be pleasing to me. The principles of the Templars are such that they should not object to the uproar and the turmoil of war, and that they be of help to the rulers of Christendom. So, act that we may see a happy outcome of this matter, provided that we all live. Pray for me. Farewell.