Mark Glinski-Grant

The Thirteenth: A Novel For Troubled Times - the inspiring and challenging spiritual journey of a reborn Arthurian knight through a dystopian divided England of the near future Mark Glinski-Grant

IN A DIVIDED ENGLAND OF THE NEAR FUTURE

Three Kingdoms, Wessex, Mercia and the London State, compete with their conflicting ideals to lead the world towards a better tomorrow.

The Thirteenth, a reborn Arthurian knight, begins his newest quest.

Wessex promotes radical policies of forgiveness and kindness, together with a new form of education.

Mercia wishes to bring into its cause the oldest souls and restore the dying Earth to a time before Atlantis.

The London State believes that the control of its population through Artificial Intelligence will bring peace, justice and prosperity for all.

On his journey through Wessex and Mercia, The Thirteenth, a reclusive young man from South London encounters friends he has forgotten yet has known for many lifetimes.

The Thirteenth struggles to accept his destiny yet cannot escape endeavouring to inspire his greatest friend and overcome his greatest enemy - himself!

In a Chester Castle of the future, the thirteen members of King Arthur's Ancient Round Table, including Emperor Chan, meet for one last time.

SOME EXCERPTS FROM THE NOVEL:

Harold Rainham (Prime Minister of Mercia):
'The more educated men become, the stupider they get, and so it is that clever fools have brought our sacred Earth almost to its death bed.'

Ayesha of the Sacred Sands:
'Have you not dreamed of a woman who would love you unconditionally, and now you have what you desired, are you so ready to cast me aside? I cannot bear to wait another lifetime to guide you to your true self.'

The Thirteenth:
In later years I understood that Wessex pursued the unusual educational policy of training its children to enter lovingly into any point of view, however extreme, as if each viewpoint was but one necessary perspective of the whole. My education had taught me to more or less hate those with wrong ideas, so I struggled to accept such a radical philosophy. Yet, I could also see that such an upbringing might lead to more natural sympathy between people.

Sir Agravaine (a disembodied Arthurian knight):
'Nothing is truly divided, and even this infinite Universe is not all of creation, for infinity is also finite. And nothing can be further from the truth than truth itself. But enough of my vain chatter that accomplishes nothing! Come! Let us go forth to save my brother knights and the Round Table!

The Thirteenth:
I effortlessly raised his visor. I clasped my strangely glowing sword with both hands, its point downwards, ready to plunge the blade into an eye socket of my hated enemy. He made no gesture of resistance but merely gazed at me with his reproachful blue eyes, which were bluer than blue eyes had a right to be. I hesitated, for I seemed to see in those eyes an accusing record of my guilt.

King Marel (King of the Three Kingdoms):
'So are not those of us who feel that we know what is best for others, perhaps the true fools of the world? I go so far as to say that if any of our varying visions for humanity were to triumph, then hell on earth would be assured.'

The Spectral Queen on Glastonbury Tor:
'Forgiveness without recompense is for the foolish, and those who pretend to forgive the unrepentant deceive only themselves.'

Jupiter (a green-clad of Wessex):
'Had good not grown from evil, humanity would have perished long ago. Those who demand only the good using words of hate are merely fighting for the end of all.'

The Motto of Lucinda Venoix (President of Europe):
'The good of the many outweighs that of the few.'

The Motto of the London State:
'Stay Safe. Be Considerate