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Royal Serf
The intellectual revolt against the government of thugs, by thugs, for US Presidential candidate Apollo Marianto battles the camouflage used to business’ Goliath image. Having a monopoly on coercive power, only the govt. can become a Goliath. Govt-Goliath terrorizes. Corporate America, the Royal Serf, is under a bipartisan dictatorship. Apollo “The MikeMilkenist Party is grounded in the Declaration of Independence & Objectivism, thus advocates capitalism. Let us constitutionalize coercion-free economics & absolute property rights.” British PM Ian Washington “Individual rights are not subject to a public vote. The individual is sovereign– his life belongs to him, not to the state.” King William, the Commander in Chief, agrees. In the crosshairs, Apollo & Ian must Freedom or the Crown Prince desirous of freeing a royal serf of tradition, duty, & public himself. Apollo adores the beau ideal dragooned to kill him. Ian loves the perfect assassin.
- GenresPolitics
286 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2009
63 people want to read
About the author
Ilyn Ross
2 books137 followersI learned fiction writing from Ayn Rand's The Romantic Manifesto (A Philosophy of Literature), and from books that pleasure me. I revere Ayn Rand and her hero in The Fountainhead, Howard Roark.
I adore men of mettle like Dr. Jose Rizal, President George Washington, President Thomas Jefferson, the other Founding Fathers, and President Abraham Lincoln. I admire great innovators like Galileo, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, James Jerome Hill, and Mike Milken.
The values, virtues, and achievements of my heroes, as well as their battles, are an inspiration in my life and writing.
I work in the IT department of a company located in Midtown Manhattan.
My political articles are here: http://ilynross.blogspot.com/
I adore men of mettle like Dr. Jose Rizal, President George Washington, President Thomas Jefferson, the other Founding Fathers, and President Abraham Lincoln. I admire great innovators like Galileo, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, James Jerome Hill, and Mike Milken.
The values, virtues, and achievements of my heroes, as well as their battles, are an inspiration in my life and writing.
I work in the IT department of a company located in Midtown Manhattan.
My political articles are here: http://ilynross.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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April 10, 2009A political thriller about the real-life enslavement of the world’s lifeblood, the consequent devastating loss of jobs, and the intellectual revolution against the government of thugs, by thugs, for thugs.
Dedication page:
The world’s work needs to be done
..... They toil, the glorious ones
For life’s comforts, jobs, and gems
..... Thank you, dear Businessmen.
Though shackled, their toil goes on
..... Unleash these noble Dons
Tyrants’ bashing must now end
..... Hands off the Businessmen!
***
The world is blind, soon it shall see
..... The Royal Serfs shall then be free
Hated as selfish, hogtied as greedy
..... Soar proudly, Businessmen, enjoy the glory.
Dedication page:
The world’s work needs to be done
..... They toil, the glorious ones
For life’s comforts, jobs, and gems
..... Thank you, dear Businessmen.
Though shackled, their toil goes on
..... Unleash these noble Dons
Tyrants’ bashing must now end
..... Hands off the Businessmen!
***
The world is blind, soon it shall see
..... The Royal Serfs shall then be free
Hated as selfish, hogtied as greedy
..... Soar proudly, Businessmen, enjoy the glory.
August 21, 2009
I received this book as a free giveaway from the GoodReads site. The description sounded interesting, so I was looking forward to reading it. And I do appreciate the author giving it to me for free. I wish I could give it a better review.
This book is a piece of Libertarian propoganda wrapped in a very flimsy plot. It is simply a rant against the two-party system in the United States and a book that advocates being "selfish" and having the right to pursue being "selfish" without the pesky government requiring any contributions from the individual to the larger society, and thereby restricting the individual's rights, as accorded to him or her by the Constitution. What a bunch of hogwash. And it is written poorly, to boot.
I imagine the reason the author even bothered to attach a so-called plot to this book was to sell it as a novel, thereby putting all kinds of claims in the book about Obama and McCain and 9-11 without having to cite actual sources. Ah, that would be far too much work....and undoubtedly would not support the author's goal.
Don't be fooled by this book marketing itself as political intrigue. It may be political, but is certainly not intriguing. Were it possible, I would give it zero stars.
This book is a piece of Libertarian propoganda wrapped in a very flimsy plot. It is simply a rant against the two-party system in the United States and a book that advocates being "selfish" and having the right to pursue being "selfish" without the pesky government requiring any contributions from the individual to the larger society, and thereby restricting the individual's rights, as accorded to him or her by the Constitution. What a bunch of hogwash. And it is written poorly, to boot.
I imagine the reason the author even bothered to attach a so-called plot to this book was to sell it as a novel, thereby putting all kinds of claims in the book about Obama and McCain and 9-11 without having to cite actual sources. Ah, that would be far too much work....and undoubtedly would not support the author's goal.
Don't be fooled by this book marketing itself as political intrigue. It may be political, but is certainly not intriguing. Were it possible, I would give it zero stars.
July 23, 2009
The author used a very good idea of seperating historial parts (like that one about people who sign The Declaration of Independence) from parts from modern times. Using the lines with date is very good, cause the reader isn't cofused by jumps between different periods of time (end of 18th cebtury, 1996, 2008 and 2012). The charcters are named and showed in such a way that the reader knows who is who. The political stuff is presented well for a person with just basic knowledge about political systems.
June 2, 2009
Superb! Excellent piece. Ilyn Ross has touched a dynamite ready to explode.
June 5, 2009
An eye-opener! Totally engrossing! Highly recommended, indeed!
October 15, 2009
I really WANT to like this book. It's libertarian in essence, appears to fit several other categories of fiction that I enjoy. It is, however, a REAL STRUGGLE to get through. I normally finish a book of this length in 2-3 days. I've been working on this one for 2-3 months.
The writing is very reminiscent of Ayn Rand at her most pedantic. Most of what I have gotten through reads like a series of essays on libertarian / objectivist ideas, with two linked story-lines blended in. I have gotten into the story lines, really starting to enjoy the twists and turns, and then I find myself in the middle of another essay, and I have to hunt back to realize that someone is talking in an interview, or a conversation.
The attempts to hide real people with clever twists on names, and the secret society that's trying to influence events, both just have been confusing and annoying.
The ideas presented, when I can decipher them, are clever and well argued, except for a marked tendency to be hostile to faith and people of faith. I'm honestly not sure from the book if the attack is on Christianity, all religions, or just people who "need the crutch" or are "dependent on Someone else". All of those arguments have been weak, and frankly just irritating. The objectivist ideas, especially the concept of selfishness as a good thing, are explained well.
I'll keep plugging, and when it finishes well, I'll gladly rewrite this review.
The writing is very reminiscent of Ayn Rand at her most pedantic. Most of what I have gotten through reads like a series of essays on libertarian / objectivist ideas, with two linked story-lines blended in. I have gotten into the story lines, really starting to enjoy the twists and turns, and then I find myself in the middle of another essay, and I have to hunt back to realize that someone is talking in an interview, or a conversation.
The attempts to hide real people with clever twists on names, and the secret society that's trying to influence events, both just have been confusing and annoying.
The ideas presented, when I can decipher them, are clever and well argued, except for a marked tendency to be hostile to faith and people of faith. I'm honestly not sure from the book if the attack is on Christianity, all religions, or just people who "need the crutch" or are "dependent on Someone else". All of those arguments have been weak, and frankly just irritating. The objectivist ideas, especially the concept of selfishness as a good thing, are explained well.
I'll keep plugging, and when it finishes well, I'll gladly rewrite this review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2009
Royal Serf is the second 'free giveaway' that I have won. As with the previous free giveaway (which was a book of poetry), I took a bit of risk when entering the contest. Royal Serf is a book that is largely on politics and, well, I am not even remotely interested in politics. But maybe this book could broaden my horizon a bit.
I started reading Royal Serf about a week ago and struggled from the beginning. After 66 pages I just gave up. Besides the fact that I really don't care about politics, I found the way that the two story lines are mixed somewhat of an obstacle. If they would have been more clearly separated, I might have finished the book by reading the story about Apollo and just skimming the historical notes. Maybe I would have learned something then. Although sentences like "The existential monument to subjectivism is the present state of our culture" will always trouble me: I just don't know what that means!
Well, maybe I will give it another try one day. I don't think I have ever left a book unfinished. And, looking ahead a few chapters, the book seems to become more readable. But for now, I have had enough.
/Martijn
I started reading Royal Serf about a week ago and struggled from the beginning. After 66 pages I just gave up. Besides the fact that I really don't care about politics, I found the way that the two story lines are mixed somewhat of an obstacle. If they would have been more clearly separated, I might have finished the book by reading the story about Apollo and just skimming the historical notes. Maybe I would have learned something then. Although sentences like "The existential monument to subjectivism is the present state of our culture" will always trouble me: I just don't know what that means!
Well, maybe I will give it another try one day. I don't think I have ever left a book unfinished. And, looking ahead a few chapters, the book seems to become more readable. But for now, I have had enough.
/Martijn
August 24, 2009
I'm a first reads winner!
I really wanted to love this book. It had everything I enjoy (history, action, suspense, romance, adventure...) but the writing style was so choppy and disjointed.
My writing tutor in college would have called this "an ok start". Lots of facts and a strong story line but nothing else. I felt like each paragraph was its own separate thought with no flow between ideas. After awhile my head hurt and I gave up on finishing this book.
Anyone want my copy?
I really wanted to love this book. It had everything I enjoy (history, action, suspense, romance, adventure...) but the writing style was so choppy and disjointed.
My writing tutor in college would have called this "an ok start". Lots of facts and a strong story line but nothing else. I felt like each paragraph was its own separate thought with no flow between ideas. After awhile my head hurt and I gave up on finishing this book.
Anyone want my copy?
July 31, 2009
I finished reading the book. It is like awakening from a troubled sleep. The story is full of thrills. The historical facts weaved into it is akin to learning a magician's tricks. On the surface, it's seems hard to fathom but once you understand and see the logic, the truth behind the smoke and mirrors, you'll realize how simple it is. It is a sublime release. Thanks, Ilyn.
August 21, 2009
This is a book that opens your eyes and makes you think. It will puncture your prejudices and probably in some cases make you sick with the realization that you have been so ignorant for so long. But do not despair with the facts presented here. You will learn. And you will understand. Thank you for people like Ms. Ross.
Want to read
July 1, 2009I like to think I'm pretty smart, but the blurb makes NO SENSE to me. Hopefully, the book itself will be more coherent.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews