Book Review: CAESAR NOW BE STILL

TITLE: Caesar Now Be Still

AUTHOR: Frank Schildiner

253 pages, Belanger Books, ISBN 9798326602428 (hardcover, paperback, e-book)

MY RATING: 5 stars out of 5

Frank Schildiner’s Caesar Now Be Still is the first book of what I hope will be many novels and stories featuring New York City Detective Wilson Hargreave. If the character’s name sounds familiar, you are probably an avid Sherlock Holmes reader. Hargreave is mentioned in the Holmes canon just once, referenced by the Great Detective in “The Adventure of the Dancing Men” as a friend of Holmes among the police in New York City. No details of Hargreave’s career or life, no hint of how he became friends with the world’s most famous consulting detective, just a mention that Hargreave had often made use of Holmes’ knowledge of London crime and had now returned the favor. From this small mention, Schildiner crafts a character with a background that spans the US, the UK, and France, with time spent on both sides of the law, who has a moral code that invites mockery mixed with grudging respect from his peers and enemies alike. And while he doesn’t seem to have many friends, he does have obnoxious coworkers and dangerous enemies to spare. Hargreave’s history is revealed slowly throughout the course of the book – it’s not always pleasant but it explains a lot about the man he is when this book takes place. I found him an intriguing and personable main character (the first-person narration may have helped with that), flawed and scarred and tragic in some ways, but also noble and hopeful.

Fans of Sexton Blake, Sherlock Holmes, and Solar Pons, as well as fans of historical crime novels are sure to enjoy this book as much as I did. Grittier than the standard Holmes or Pons fare but with the same sense of justice the Great Detective’s adventures usually possess. The author seamlessly melds several mystery/crime sub-genres in this book: there’s the Holmesian mystery aspect (while Hargreave may work for the NYC police department, he is clearly treated as more of a consultant by peers and higher-ups who disdain the methods Hargreave learned from Holmes), the brutal crime aspect (so much blood and viscera at the crime scenes), the noir aspect (complete with instigating rich female client and various femme fatales), and the historical aspect (1890s New York City on full display, including all of the gang fighting and corruption). Other hands attempting such a mash-up of tones might have been less successful, but Schildiner knows his genres and knows this period of NYC history very well. It all comes together smoothly and to a highly satisfactory conclusion that leaves the way open for future adventures.

Long-time Schildiner readers will not be surprised there are also tons of easter eggs involving a plethora of literary and historical figures of the time. Schildiner weaves these references throughout the book effortlessly, never marring the pace or tone of the book. With as many as I recognized, I’m sure I still missed some that more astute readers will have picked on.

I am an enthusiastic fan of Frank Schildiner’s work across genres, and I do think this might be the best book he’s written yet. Belanger Books should be commended for bringing it out, and are encouraged to continue the series. Highly recommended.

Series Saturday: Frank Schildiner's Frankenstein novels

This is a blog series about … well, series. I love stories that continue across volumes, in whatever form: linked short stories, novels, novellas, television, movies, comics.

The Frankenstein novels (3 volumes)

Written by Frank Schildiner

published by Black Coat Press (2015 – 2019)

Titles:

·       The Quest of Frankenstein (2015)

·       The Triumph of Frankenstein (2017)

·       The Spells of Frankenstein (2019)

Mary Shelley’s classic creation Frankenstein has spawned more sequels and reinterpretations than I have the energy to count at the moment. Back in 1957-58, French screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière wrote a series of novels featuring Frankenstein’s Monster, now named Gouroull and traveling the world following an agenda of his own making. Gouroull has utter disdain for humanity as a whole and is as likely to murder temporary allies as he is enemies. I’ve never read the Carrière novels (English translations appear to be out of print and highly priced on the secondary market), but I have read Frank Schildiner’s three sequels published by Black Coat Press, which are the subject of today’s post.

Frank Schildiner is a wonderful “new pulp” author whose work runs from pulp adventure (The New Adventures of Thunder Jim Wade) to sword-and-sorcery (The Warrior’s Pilgrimage) to espionage (The Klaus Protocol) to westerns, science fiction, and horror. Much of his work mixes genres, and the Frankenstein novels are no exception. Primarily horror, the books also include elements of classic pulp adventure (scientific or occult investigator type characters) and espionage thrillers (the political machinations of the fictional South American country in which The Triumph of Frankenstein takes place).

Gouroull himself is a far cry from the sympathetic Monster of Shelley’s original novel (who simply wanted to understand his place in the world and have a mate to love) and the childlike force of nature of the early Universal Studios films. If any connection/comparison is to be made, I’d say the Monster as played by Bela Lugosi (when evil hunchback Ygor’s brain had been transplanted into the Monster’s body) comes closest tonally to Carrière/Schildiner’s Gouroull. But where Lugosi’s Monster simply had the potential to be a Force of Evil, Gouroull IS that force. We are meant to be afraid of a creature made by Man but unaffected by human emotions of love and want. Gouroull’s search for someone capable of creating him a Mate is powered by the biological imperative to propagate the species as much as by his disdain for weaker/lesser humanity – there’s not a speck of sentiment or loneliness to be seen. This makes Gouroull a hard character to sympathize with – which is not the same as making him a hard character to root for.

On the contrary, throughout the three books I found myself mostly wanting Gouroull to succeed, mostly because the other characters he encounters and does battle with are even less friendly/sympathetic. (I say “mostly” only because Gouroull’s quest in The Spells of Frankenstein involves bringing the Elder Gods of the Lovecraft Mythos back to Earth, and I mean really, who wants that mission to succeed?) Gouroull does battle with vampires (including but not limited to several “soul clones” of Dracula), sorcerers, necromancers, ghosts, mad scientists (paging Doctors Herbert West and Elizabeth Frankenstein) and other supernatural menaces, but even the theoretically heroic characters he meets (monster hunters named Hezekiah Whately and Martin Mars) are reprehensible, highlighting the worst in human greed and hubris. It’s a pleasure to see characters like these get their come-uppance against a force of nature they cannot overcome.

Even though Gouroull is the focus of each book, these are very much ensemble cast novels. Chapters switch between various characters’ points of view as they are drawn into contact with the Monster, and we get insight into who they are before they encounter in (and why they’re searching for him, when they are) as well as how their encounter changes them (when they survive, that is). It’s an effective way to build tension in each book, but is particularly effective in The Spells of Frankenstein, where we meet a pair of heroic human characters of Schildiner’s creation who I would love to see more of in their own books/stories: the Muslim adventurers Faisal and Fatimah. (To a lesser extent, I was also intrigued by  Moraika, the tribal wise woman/shamaness Schildiner created for a sub-plot in Triumph and would like to see her plotline continued as well.)

As is the wont of many “new pulp” writers, Schildiner tosses “easter eggs” liberally throughout these books – nods at classic horror and adventure literary and movie characters. And he does it in ways that don’t distract from the on-going narrative. If you know who is being referenced, great. If not, you can always check the author’s notes at the end of each book. I found those notes inspiring interest in a long list of books I’ve not yet read and movies I’ve not yet seen, especially where the nods were in the form of pastiche or homage rather than outright use of a character.

It’s rare these days for an author to write a series in which the books can be read in any order. Like Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series, Frank Schildiner’s Frankenstein books each stand alone, complete unto themselves while still having an obvious place in the overall structure of the series. Read the series in publication order (as I did) or in character chronology order (or, I guess, if you’re one of the lucky folks who have the Carrière novels, read Schildiner’s books where they take place within that chronology), whichever fits your fancy.

There may or may not be further Gouroull novels by Schildiner and Black Coat Press. If there are, I look forward to which gaps in the character’s history Schildiner fills in next. If there aren’t, these books together still tell a trio of tales about a version of Frankenstein’s Monster that is not sympathetic but is compelling.

Book Review: The Warrior's Pilgrimage

TITLE: The Warrior’s Pilgrimage (The Adventures of Remus, Book 1)

AUTHOR: Frank Schildiner

103 pages, Frank Schildiner (publisher), ASIN B08RZDG9K6 (Kindle, print release forthcoming)

DESCRIPTION: (from Goodreads): In the days before the rise of Rome, two mighty champions of mankind appeared among the ancient tribes of Latinium. Their names: Romulus and Remus. Only half of their story remains. The true tale of the forgotten twin, Remus, is one of power, slavery, horror, and heroism. Remus shall battle warriors, horrors from the days of ancient myths, and a giant from the mysterious lands of the East. THE WARRIOR'S PILGRIMAGE tells the first story of Remus, the lost brother of King Romulus of Rome. All profits from this book shall St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for the treatment of pediatric cancer.

MY RATING: 5 out of 5 stars

MY THOUGHTS: Frank Schildiner’s love of the sword-and-sandal genre is clearly on display in the first book of this planned series focusing on the exploits of Remus, the oft-forgotten twin brother of the founder of Rome. Schildiner has crafted a loving tribute to the Italian Peplum film genre of the 1950s and 1960s (personified by Steve Reeves), the Ray Harryhausen stop-motion fantasy films of the 1970s and 1980s, and the Roman mythology upon which those films were based.

As a novella, this “origin” story for Schildiner’s version of Remus is action-packed, moving from one fight to another, from one minor menace to another, with the speed of the movies it is emulating. The fight scenes are wonderfully written and varied in length and in adversaries. But the book isn’t all fights. There is plenty of time for Remus to be introspective, questioning why his personality and goals differ so from his older twin and what his role in the world is if not to be co-ruler of a new nation.

Remus is guided on his path, in the very best Harryhausen tradition, by representatives of the gods – in this case primarily priestesses of Athena and Hecate. The priestesses have abilities granted to them by their patrons but are also constrained in what they can accomplish themselves, which is where Remus comes in. And of course, there’s always the question of whether the priestesses’ agendas match what their patron deities want.

The classic elements of the Romulus and Remus myth are all here: a pre-birth prophecy about their greatness sentences them to death by abandonment. They are rescued by a shepherd, raised unaware of their regal origins. Remus is taken as a prisoner by the local king the brothers are destined to overthrow, is rescued by his brother, and then the brothers fight, and Remus is killed.

But Schildiner tweaks the classic elements to fit the type of story he’s telling. Instead of being suckled by a she-wolf before being rescued and raised by shepherds, the twins are rescued quickly and adopted by a human community separated into animal clans that include wolves and horses. Romulus and Remus are trained in different philosophies within the same community, leading to Remus being more peaceful and thoughtful (but not a pacifist) and Romulus being more confrontational and emotional. It’s no surprise that their differing personalities, along with the prompting of gods and adopted parents, lead to a parting of the ways.

Schildiner spends a fair amount of time showing us Remus’ gladiatorial enslavement before confronting the biggest problem with making Remus the hero of his own story. The classic Romulus and Remus myth usually ends with the brothers disagreeing about how Rome will be ruled and Romulus killing (in some cases, “sacrificing”) his brother for the good of the Empire (or just because he’s an egotistical, controlling ass). Schildiner’s inventive twist on this moment occurs about halfway through the novella, allowing his Remus to continue beyond the traditional myth and hopefully have many more adventures through the growing Latin world and beyond.

During his enslavement, Remus is trained by a group of women warriors with ties to the Amazons of legend. They sadly disappear from the story once Romulus rescues Remus from the arena. I really hope we’ll see them again and learn more of their history in future installments. Or maybe they’ll get a novella or two of their own. The priestesses are equally intriguing, their agendas pushing Remus towards being something greater than he could have imagined.

Through the priestesses, Schildiner makes it clear that while Remus has the potential to be a force for good in the world, there’s no whiff of Destiny to be smelled. Schildiner neatly challenges the “chosen one” trope: Remus isn’t the only tool in the gods’ arsenal, and if he falls there will be someone else to do what needs to be done to judge the world towards safety and away from chaos. It’s a refreshing twist on an over-used trope.

Schildiner’s Remus combines the larger-than-life physicality of Peplum-era Hercules, Maciste, Ursus, and Goliath, with the thoughtful leadership of Harryhausen’s Jason, Perseus, and Sinbad. His supporting cast of strong women and comical sidekicks, series of brutish controlling antagonists, and intermittently involved gods enhance the story.

In short, A Warrior’s Pilgrimage is a great start to a hopefully long series of adventures set in the classical world, perfect for lovers of Roman mythology, Peplum or Harryhausen movies, or solid adventure tales with supernatural elements.

Review of THE KLAUS PROTOCOL

TITLE: The Klaus Protocol

AUTHOR: Frank Schildiner

158 pages, Frank Schildiner Books, ISBN 9781395000780 (format)

DESCRIPTION: (from online retail listings): "You will do this, Comrade Captain," Yehzov said in a strangled whisper, "or the torture you received from Commandant Blokhin will feel like the gentle caress from a lover." SOVIET UNION 1938: Army Captain and former military intelligence officer Konstanin Kalinin has a simple choice. Discover a high ranking traitor stationed on the Soviet/Japanese Asian border, or receive a slow death by torture. He has less than two months to untangle a web of deceit and death as two countries prepare for bloody war. Can Konstanin discover the double agent before the spy or the Soviet secret police capture or kill him? Based on real events just prior to World War 2, THE KLAUS PROTOCOL is a mystery thriller set before the little known war between the Soviet Union and the Empire of Japan. 

MY RATING: Five stars out of five

MY THOUGHTS: Frank Schildiner’s new self-published novella retains all the hallmarks of his traditionally-published works: fast-moving action and strong characterization built off of meticulous research into the genre or series in which he is writing. Fans of Schildiner’s fantasy/horror Frankenstein and Vampire Hunters novels from Black Coat Press or his short story work in a variety of New Pulp anthologies will not be disappointed in his first straight-up spy novel.

After a short framing sequence, Schildiner immerses the reader in the Soviet Union political landscape of the late 1930s. The depth of his research into the back-stabbing manipulations by various Soviet sub-leaders of the military and secret police shines through on almost every page without ever distracting from the on-going action. He artfully avoids info-dumping historical perspective on the reader (saving most of that for the author’s note at the end) by tying the backgrounds and butchery of the real-life leaders to the internal thoughts and previous experiences of his protagonist, Captain Konstanin Kalinin.

Kalinin himself feels like a character out of a LeCarre novel: an everyman with a certain set of skills who finds himself thrust into situations potentially beyond his abilities but who rises to the occasion (not without error along the way; Kalinin is good, but he’s not perfect) rather than be overwhelmed. Although this novella takes place before World War Two, I can easily envision a world in which Kalinin and LeCarre’s George Smiley are at least aware of the others’ activities and successes from opposite sides of the political chessboard. And because Kalinin is an everyman (troubled marriage, troubled career, a bit downtrodden but not completely without hope), it is very easy to root for him to succeed despite the fact that failure could spell defeat for the Soviet Union in their war against Japan.

The mystery aspect – Kalinin’s mission to uncover who is behind the leak of military secrets – is played out well: multiple plausible suspects, red herrings, characters with their own sub-agendas and secrets, and an ultimately satisfactory reveal. But don’t read the author’s end-notes first if you want to be surprised or try to work it out yourself alongside the main character. The action sequences, including several motorbike chase sequences, are exciting, and the several scenes of torture (usually with our main character on the receiving end as opposed to other characters) are brutal while staying shy of being “too much.”

There are a number of intriguing secondary characters that add depth to the story as well. Strong female characters abound as a match for Kalinin (whether they’re on his side or not is something I won’t spoil). Fans of M*A*S*H will recognize a particular type in the character of Sergeant Mosin, who I would be happy to see in a short story of his own. And of course both the real-life and fictional bad-guys are well-drawn and complex.

This one comes with full recommendation to fans of historical spy novels and action-adventure novels. It’s out now for Nook and Apple Books, and should be on Amazon in a few days.