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Son of the Sword
In 1713, with Scotland about to be overrun by English oppressors, the faerie Sianann enlists the aid of a most unlikely hero to save her beloved homeland, Dylan Matheson, a modern-day martial arts and fencing expert who finds himself swept back in time by a magical broadsword. Reprint.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
Julianne Lee
12 books40 followersIn the words of Bill Cosby, "I started out as a child." I was born in California, at the age of about zero, on the United States Naval Base at Point Mugu. Dad was a pilot and Mom a former WAVE. For about a year I was an only child, but then my brother was born, and over the years I collected siblings like they were beanie babies. A brother, two sisters, later on a half sister, and we'll not get into the scads of stepbrothers and former stepbrothers.
At twelve I began to write for fun, which I think is the only real reason to write fiction. I figured it beat reality any old day, and I liked sitting at the desk in my room, pretending to be doing something worthwhile. Daydreaming with a purpose, and gradually I realized I could gain approval for the very thing teachers used to criticize me for in class. I wanted to be an actor, and by the age of sixteen my dream - pipe dream - was to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts . But I knew it would never happen. The Academy was in New York, and that was too far away to even contemplate seriously. So I started college as an art major. I was a terrible artist. I did a good job of fooling myself and everyone around me, but eventually I gave up the charade and left home for Los Angeles at twenty.
What, ho! When I got there I found the American Academy had recently opened
up a campus in Pasadena. By the kindness of some people I met in L.A., I was recommended to the school and accepted. The following two years was a turning point, that changed my life in ways that are still unfolding. Though an education in theatre bestows skills that are not terribly marketable in ordinary life, the things I learned at that school have benefited me every day since. Stage fright has not since held the terror it once did. At the school, I discovered I could be funny, a fact that might have saved me a lot of grief had I known it in grammar school. I could have been a fabulous class clown. In addition to this self-discovery, while I was at the Academy I wrote my first novel. In longhand. I still had no idea I wanted to be a writer; all I knew was that there could be peace in living inside a story about someone else.
Almost immediately after graduating from the Academy, I met and married Dale Lee. We left Los Angeles, but I was kicking and screaming the whole way. Twenty-odd years later, I still miss the place. We had two kids right away, so I now had three children, one of each: a boy, a girl, and a husband. There were a couple of acting jobs, most notably two days on "At Close Range," a feature film starring Christopher Walken and Sean Penn, and a TV movie starring Ann-Margaret. But in trying to be an actor in Nashville, I realized most of the other actors in town were looking forward to their big chance to leave for Los Angeles, and I knew that would never be a possibility for me. At thirty I decided I was getting old faster than I was getting famous, so I looked for something to do besides acting and changing diapers. Throughout this time I'd kept writing, though sporadically, and about then I began a second novel. Gradually an inkling came there might be a possibility of becoming published. I sure wasn't any good at anything else I might have done locally. On January 27, 1987 I bought my first copy of Writers Digest. Another turning point in my life. For the next several years I wrote manuscripts, sent the work out, joined writers groups, and workshopped my novels with the Green River Writers in Louisville, KY. After seven years I sold my first short story, Culture Control, to the now defunct Cosmic Unicorn. Immediately afterward I was hired by the local newspaper. From there I went to writing actor interviews for Starlog Magazine , a job for which I was singularly qualified.
I also wrote some video sleeve copy for Fox Home Video. That stands as the most highly paid time per hour I've ever spent, and I loved it even if it did attract sympathy from misguided folks who thought it less
At twelve I began to write for fun, which I think is the only real reason to write fiction. I figured it beat reality any old day, and I liked sitting at the desk in my room, pretending to be doing something worthwhile. Daydreaming with a purpose, and gradually I realized I could gain approval for the very thing teachers used to criticize me for in class. I wanted to be an actor, and by the age of sixteen my dream - pipe dream - was to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts . But I knew it would never happen. The Academy was in New York, and that was too far away to even contemplate seriously. So I started college as an art major. I was a terrible artist. I did a good job of fooling myself and everyone around me, but eventually I gave up the charade and left home for Los Angeles at twenty.
What, ho! When I got there I found the American Academy had recently opened
up a campus in Pasadena. By the kindness of some people I met in L.A., I was recommended to the school and accepted. The following two years was a turning point, that changed my life in ways that are still unfolding. Though an education in theatre bestows skills that are not terribly marketable in ordinary life, the things I learned at that school have benefited me every day since. Stage fright has not since held the terror it once did. At the school, I discovered I could be funny, a fact that might have saved me a lot of grief had I known it in grammar school. I could have been a fabulous class clown. In addition to this self-discovery, while I was at the Academy I wrote my first novel. In longhand. I still had no idea I wanted to be a writer; all I knew was that there could be peace in living inside a story about someone else.
Almost immediately after graduating from the Academy, I met and married Dale Lee. We left Los Angeles, but I was kicking and screaming the whole way. Twenty-odd years later, I still miss the place. We had two kids right away, so I now had three children, one of each: a boy, a girl, and a husband. There were a couple of acting jobs, most notably two days on "At Close Range," a feature film starring Christopher Walken and Sean Penn, and a TV movie starring Ann-Margaret. But in trying to be an actor in Nashville, I realized most of the other actors in town were looking forward to their big chance to leave for Los Angeles, and I knew that would never be a possibility for me. At thirty I decided I was getting old faster than I was getting famous, so I looked for something to do besides acting and changing diapers. Throughout this time I'd kept writing, though sporadically, and about then I began a second novel. Gradually an inkling came there might be a possibility of becoming published. I sure wasn't any good at anything else I might have done locally. On January 27, 1987 I bought my first copy of Writers Digest. Another turning point in my life. For the next several years I wrote manuscripts, sent the work out, joined writers groups, and workshopped my novels with the Green River Writers in Louisville, KY. After seven years I sold my first short story, Culture Control, to the now defunct Cosmic Unicorn. Immediately afterward I was hired by the local newspaper. From there I went to writing actor interviews for Starlog Magazine , a job for which I was singularly qualified.
I also wrote some video sleeve copy for Fox Home Video. That stands as the most highly paid time per hour I've ever spent, and I loved it even if it did attract sympathy from misguided folks who thought it less
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 16, 2007
SON OF THE SWORD-VG-SciFi - Time travel / Romance, fairie, 1713 Scotland
Lee, J. Ardian (aka Julianne Lee)
In this earnest mix of history and romance, in the tradition of Twain's Connecticut Yankee, a contemporary American travels back in time, here to 1713 Scotland, where Jacobite rebels are in deep trouble. Alas, his story fails to generate much excitement until the poignant ending. England and Scotland have fought off and on over the centuries, with the English usually victorious. After yet another Scottish defeat, the faerie Sinann Eire holds up a great sword and calls upon it to "bring me a hero, a Cuchulain." The sword obliges. From Tennessee, Dylan Matheson, an expert in Scottish history, swordplay and kung fu, suddenly finds himself in a rude Scotland of three centuries earlier. In due course he proves himself a worthy champion to the plain folk, faces death and falls in love with the beautiful Caitrionagh, daughter of a haughty laird. He also tolerates the mischievous attentions of the faerie who plucked him out of the present.
Lee, J. Ardian (aka Julianne Lee)
In this earnest mix of history and romance, in the tradition of Twain's Connecticut Yankee, a contemporary American travels back in time, here to 1713 Scotland, where Jacobite rebels are in deep trouble. Alas, his story fails to generate much excitement until the poignant ending. England and Scotland have fought off and on over the centuries, with the English usually victorious. After yet another Scottish defeat, the faerie Sinann Eire holds up a great sword and calls upon it to "bring me a hero, a Cuchulain." The sword obliges. From Tennessee, Dylan Matheson, an expert in Scottish history, swordplay and kung fu, suddenly finds himself in a rude Scotland of three centuries earlier. In due course he proves himself a worthy champion to the plain folk, faces death and falls in love with the beautiful Caitrionagh, daughter of a haughty laird. He also tolerates the mischievous attentions of the faerie who plucked him out of the present.
May 15, 2008
The story is entertaining, even though it's silly. Disappointing because it pales in comparison to the Outlander series. I would want to read the next in the series to see what happens, but I can't get over the covers.
March 28, 2011
Decent writing, not nearly as good as Outlander, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for Scotland and time travel.
June 24, 2022
"Ancient sword of my people, bring me a hero to save from tyranny the sons and daughters of this land. Let a Matheson lay hands on you and become that hero ..."
"So speaks the faerie Sinann as she musters what is left of her powers in a desperate attempt to save her beloved homeland. In 1713, Scotland's Jacobite rebels face their darkest hour. They need new blood, a new leader to help them fight British oppression. And they are about to get one ...
"Dylan Matheson is an ordinary guy with ordinary problems: family, girlfriend -- the usual. He likes his life. He's happy living above the dojo where he teaches martial arts and swordfighting. He has a few close friends who share his interest in things ancient and Scottish. Then one day at a Medieval Faire, he sees a magnificent broadsword. He takes it in hand -- and is transported to a time and place he has only read about.
"Now Dylan Matheson, ordinary guy, is about to embark upon an extraordinary adventure. Trapped in the past, he will find the sweetness of true love -- and the bitterness of betrayal. And it will take all of his skills -- plus a bit of magic -- just to survive."
~~ back cover
Ordinarily I'm not big on time travel and historic love, but this one's different. It's a remarkably true portrayal of life in 18th Century Scotland -- life then wasn't a day at the beach by any means. And I did become hooked on the romance, and was absolutely devastated when ... well, that would be a spoiler. The ending is absolutely unexpected and the part before the ending is even more so. The reader is left with a sense of unresolved loose ends. Fortunately, there's Outlaw Sword to look forward to.
"So speaks the faerie Sinann as she musters what is left of her powers in a desperate attempt to save her beloved homeland. In 1713, Scotland's Jacobite rebels face their darkest hour. They need new blood, a new leader to help them fight British oppression. And they are about to get one ...
"Dylan Matheson is an ordinary guy with ordinary problems: family, girlfriend -- the usual. He likes his life. He's happy living above the dojo where he teaches martial arts and swordfighting. He has a few close friends who share his interest in things ancient and Scottish. Then one day at a Medieval Faire, he sees a magnificent broadsword. He takes it in hand -- and is transported to a time and place he has only read about.
"Now Dylan Matheson, ordinary guy, is about to embark upon an extraordinary adventure. Trapped in the past, he will find the sweetness of true love -- and the bitterness of betrayal. And it will take all of his skills -- plus a bit of magic -- just to survive."
~~ back cover
Ordinarily I'm not big on time travel and historic love, but this one's different. It's a remarkably true portrayal of life in 18th Century Scotland -- life then wasn't a day at the beach by any means. And I did become hooked on the romance, and was absolutely devastated when ... well, that would be a spoiler. The ending is absolutely unexpected and the part before the ending is even more so. The reader is left with a sense of unresolved loose ends. Fortunately, there's Outlaw Sword to look forward to.
June 15, 2022
Kinda meh.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews