Laughing Wolf

by Nicholas Maes

It is the year 2213. Fifteen-year-old Felix Taylor is the last person on Earth who can speak and read Latin. In a world where technology has defeated war, crime, poverty, and famine, and time travel exists as a distinct possibility, Felix's language skills and knowledge seem out of place and irrelevant.

But are they?

A mysterious plague has broken out. Scientists can't stop its advance, and humanity is suddenly poised on the brink of eradication. The only possible cure is Lupus Ridens, or Laughing Wolf, a flower once common in ancient Rome but extinct for more than 2,000 years.

Felix must project back to Roman times circa 71 B.C. and retrieve the flower. But can he navigate through the dangers and challenges of the world of Spartacus, Pompey, and Cicero? And will he find the Laughing Wolf in time to save his family and everyone else from the Plague of Plagues?

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Canada

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

When younger, I thought I was going to be 1) an archeologist 2) a zookeeper, 3) an alchemist and 4) a time traveller. I wound up delivering on all these ambitions (sort of). While I never dug up any ancient cities, I did study Greek and Latin. And while alchemy has always eluded me, I did become a high-school teacher, a job that involves daily transformations. No zoo ever wanted to hire me, but I have three children and a wife: to judge by the noise level in our house, you would swear I lived in a zoo at times (one without cages of course). Finally, I haven't yet managed the trick of time travel but at least I get to write about it.

My idea of a life well spent (excluding work and being useful): hiking with my family; long conversations over endless cups of coffee (some table pounding is permitted); an endless countr.y road and a bike; books and a comfortable armchair; and writing, writing, writing.

And there you have it, Me in a nutshell

Reviews

[Carlos Castrejon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fictional book Laughing Wolf it was in 2213 when a plague broke out in earth were many people started noticing symptoms such as rashes, blisters, and as no one expected it many people started dying. Felix (main character) in the story is one of the only people in the world who still knows Latin due to his father teaching him from old books that still remained. Where later Felix notices that in one of those book he sees that in 70 BC their was also a plague that had hit in the era and their was a flower named Laughing Wolf that had cured some people. Sooner or later Felix's father was sitting in front of the house when out of nowhere collapses to the ground, Felix sees this and runs worriedly to come see if he's ok he notices blisters and the system they have in their house suddenly starts lifting him up and gets a stretcher and gets sent to the hospital. As this happens Felix wants to get the flower from Roman times in order to save the world from this deadly plague that has occurred he will need help from Carolyn a skilled girl that is trained for combat and is sharp. He will need to teleport back to 70 BC in Rome, Italy and encounter many challenges kthat existed in order to get the flower to cure the population from dying. They will need togas and Felix will be the one doing the talking since he knows Latin the people getting them ready to teleport give them a jar of cinnamon which was very valuable during that time the professors tell him that a pinch of that cinnamon will get them a blanket and many more things but if they make a mistake they can trigger a butterfly effect which can cause changes in the past and can change the future.

[Neill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two hundred years in the future technology has cured all of society’s ills except possibly intellectual arrogance. When plague breaks out, Felix and his father are the only people who are still studying ancient history and they realize that a similar disease struck ancient Rome. Felix must time travel to ancient Rome as quickly as possible and bring back a plant, laughing wolf, from which the antidote can be derived in order to save society. However upon arriving in Rome he is drawn into the slaves’ revolt under Spartacus and speed becomes a problem.

[Lady Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fairly decent read. I enjoyed the plot and really connected with Felix. By biggest complaint was the suddenness of the ending and the non-closure between Felix and Carolyn. This is one to recommend to teens (or older) interested in historical fiction, science fiction or even some fantasy lovers.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book - an intriguing premise, and I liked the flip between futuristic and ancient times. I found the lead male to be less likeable than I would have wanted him to be, but overall it was a fun read. Good for reminding us not to forget about the past as we hurdle headlong in to new discoveries!

[William McGinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3/4 B

Laughing Wolf has a very neat way of time travel just like Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red and the brief history lessons bring fascinations rather than the pretentiousness of needing to show; I'll never forget the Romans cherished cinnamon. Maybe the book would've worked better if it was a trilogy though.

You can read my full review at http://www.weldonwitness.weebly.com/b...

[Sydney23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it didn't take into account some possibilities with time travel, like paradoxes, multiple selfs, or events in the past due to future time travel. It's less confusing without them, thought.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good sci fi time-travel back to ancient Rome to procure a flower, called Laughing Wolf, that can cure a plague about to wipe out all mankind in 2213.

[Breanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing.!!!!

[Charank20 · Rating 1 out of 5]

i really did not like this book it was cery boring and i didn't even finish it it was so... well i just could not bring myself to read it

[Aine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blah, i didn't even finish it

[Mike Kic]

A Sci-Fi Thriller where much of the action takes place during the Reign of Rome.

[Sumayyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit heavy-handed with the morals and messages, but a decent, quick read.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. A combination of futuristic-science-fiction and mystery! My kind of genre!