After 2012. A story of Mystery and Magic by R H Politz

A Prophesy or Fiction? Whoa! The world will not end!

2012-02-19T12:53:00.000-08:00

Do you really think the world will end this December and that this is a prophesy?

Once again, I've been asked about this story so here it is. And just in case you're trying to get in all your fun before the world ends this December 2012, just remember, "After 2012" is a fanciful tale of Fiction for children and adults alike.

Oh, and there's no eroticism or sex in it. It's a fun adventure into a land of magic and suspense. AND - you don't have to be a literary PHD to understand it either. It's like me, simple and strange. ~smile~

One alleged "literary professional" thought it was quite childish. Well, of course it is. It's suposed to be! On the other hand, another reviewer, a university professor of literature, called it a very enjoyable adventure into the "what if's" of imagination. Guess everyone has to be on some side of the fence. What side are you on?

If you haven't taken a look at it yet, you can "Look inside the book" at Amazon. It's also available at Smashwords too. So whether you have a Kindle, IPad, Nook, Android, other device or Computer, you can sample this story of a mother's courage and steel free and decide for yourself.

Take a free look.

What Happens AFTER 2012... Chaos?

2011-12-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

An excerpt from the Sequel to "After 2012" - A Magical Adventure in a Land of Suspense and Fantasy

If you haven't read the first story (After 2012), you can find it at: Amazon - Smashwords - Barnes and Noble

Guiden Voss Awakens

~*~

It was that time of day when dark gives way to the faint rays of light from the eastern horizon. Surely you've seen what it's like. Everything becomes ever so slightly visible through the mist and shadows slowly dissipating from blackness, especially that of a dark moonless night. It is such a wonderful magical time but this dawn was even more than that.

He stood at the edge of a country road, a tall man of powerful stature, motionless, next to his horse, holding its reins with one hand, the other clutching the collar of a long leather coat. This man and his horse looked much like a statue planted on the side of a sparsely traveled country road. It was quite odd; quite real looking but quite odd just the same.

Suddenly, the man blinked, the horse shook its head and they began to move. A statue...? Obviously not! Something else was happening on this unusual morn.

One hand moved up from his collar to touch his face, the other instinctively gripped the reins of his horse when it whinnied and bobbed its head as if to say, "This is not a dream."

He took a very, very slow deep breath, rubbed his eyes as if finally awakening from a long winter's sleep and exhaled with a deep gravely sounding grunt. He was, in fact, there on a road, alive, and real, but had no idea why or how.

Ahead, buildings came into view through the thinning mist; a village or town of some sort? "That must be my destination," he muttered, "but something is strange... something––" But the stiffness in his neck and shoulders interrupted his train of thought so he rolled his head, stretched his arms and suddenly froze with his eyes wide open..., and felt it. Time...! Time was the culprit. It had changed, passed him by somehow. How could such a thing happen?

Squinting past the early morning sun at every detail revealed no clues and nothing remarkable caught his eye. The road was... normal... and vacant. The village ahead was as it should be and nothing unusual was in sight. He took another long breath and tried again. "Remember the past," he muttered to himself, "Remember the time before now."

A scene flashed in his thoughts. Then another and another until he finally realized who and what he was.

"I can see the past," he grumbled softly. "I have the power," he pronounced in a louder tone. "I must see," he growled in a rasping powerful voice and concentrated with a force only a necromancer could muster. “Let-me-see-the-past!” he commanded. “Show me the moment I arrived at this place!" he bellowed throwing his fists up to the sky. "Show-me-NOW!”

His arrival played through his mind like a clear recording of events from long forgotten history. The horse was carrying him at a maddeningly slow pace carefully picking each step in the pitch black night and gradually approaching a village without benefit of moonlight or torches to reveal the ground ahead. The entire town was asleep. Streets, buildings, alleys and walkways were dark, hidden in predawn's dim eerie shadows so he stopped, dismounted and waited for the rising sun to light the way. Soon he could see the shapes of buildings dotting the main street and moments later, the detail of shops and their signs. He strained his eyes waiting for the approaching dawn and minutes later spotted his goal; faint white letters that read “Blacksmith”.

"Ah-ha, they’ll have a forge," he heard himself say. "That should do nicely!" But before he could take another step, a thick black cloud descended over the entire region freezing everyone and everything in place.

Clocks stopped ticking, people stopped breathing and Guiden Voss, the King’s most powerful necromancer, stood frozen like stone unable to move or speak. The sorcerer who had trapped Bixby and his people in an underground prison was now himself trapped by the amateur chants of his victim, miles away, delirious from lack of water and desperate to free his people before his own life expired. Bixby could only guess at the power of his garbled words weakly spoken with his remaining strength from the confines of a sealed library closet, but the effect was most powerful indeed.

Guiden focused on the spell’s makeup trying to see its source but all he could discern was opaque blackness and the suspension of time. The black fog would give up no further detail.

"Focus… concentrate… find the source!" he commanded. But something blocked his powers, something even more powerful than he prevented him from seeing the source of this accursed nightmare. With both hands on his face, Guiden concentrated even harder trying to break through, trying to learn why or how but, no matter how hard he tried, no other thing was revealed.

Suddenly, his trance was broken by a hand touching his shoulder. “Sir… sir… are you all right?” came a question from a stranger.

He jerked, opened his eyes and saw two men, residents of the village, who had come to his aid. They had seen him standing with both hands on his face shaking slightly as he strained to see through his vision’s blackness, making it appear, to them at least, that he was injured or having a seizure of some kind.

“It’s all right, you’re among friends,” said one. “Are you feeling ill?” asked the other. “Can we offer some help?”

Being quite unfamiliar with an act of kindness, Guiden instinctively held up his arms to protect himself before finally relaxing and saying, “I am quite well and am in need of no help. Do you live in this place?”

“Well, yes Sir… yes we do!” replied the older of the two.

“What happened here?”

“Happened…? I don’t know what you mean.”

“And you…?” He glared at the younger man who shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. “Does any person here know what happened last night?”

The two men looked at each other quizzically and the elder replied, “Sir, nothing of any consequence happened here last night. It was quiet and peaceful.”

“Humph!” blustered Guiden as he turned and walked away in a hurry. But as he questioned those on the street of the freshly awakened town, he received the same response, “Nothing happened. It was a quiet and peaceful night.”

"These idiot commoners are no help," he muttered with disgust mounting his horse. "Which road leads north?" he yelled. "I must see the King!"

Several people pointed back toward the road from which he came and one said, "When you come to the first fork, take the right most path but be careful. There are robbers on the way."

At last, someone with an answer, he thought as he spurred his horse around. "Robbers you say...?" he bellowed. "I have no fear of such pitiful fellows!" And with that, he galloped away focused on finding out exactly why he was there in the first place.

If you haven't read the first story (After 2012), you can find it at: Amazon - Smashwords - Barnes and Noble

Christmas for the Invisible Lookout in the Tower

2011-10-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from "After 2012" - An Adventure for Children of all ages.

A cold breeze was making its way through the lookout openings causing them all to shiver a little and the rising sun was as yet insufficient to warm them. They decided that this room definitely needed some heat and, some glass in the windows.

Diane called out, “Artemus are you here? We have some presents for you!”

“How nice of you to visit me today Your Majesty” replied the invisible sentry! “And what a nice banquet you brought. I did not expect any of you until the next summer sun but this is a welcome surprise indeed.”

“We came to wish you a very happy Christmas and bring you a few gifts and a little company. I wasn’t sure what you like to eat, so we just brought some of everything we have. There are fruits, breads, cookies, and other treats. We hope you’ll like them!”

“Yeah, and they’ll keep for quite a while, ‘cause it’s really cold up here! Brrrrr” chimed the children in unison!

“Ah! Well, thank you Your Majesty and Your Royal Highnesses! I always welcome such enjoyable company and, I see that you all now have a master key. That should make things much more convenient for you but, what is Christmas that you all wish to be happy? I am unfamiliar with the word.”

Diane explained: “We celebrate this day each year by putting out festive decorations, making some special meals and treats, giving gifts, and wishing everyone peace and happiness. Our God’s son was born on this day and preached love and forgiveness to his followers. We are called Christians. There are others who call God different names and celebrate in different ways, but I don’t think he cares what name we use as long as we remember that we are all his children and should treat each other with respect and compassion.”

“Hmmm… I think I understand” replied Artemus. “You are nice to others on this day each year. What about the other days? What do you do then?”

A lively conversation ensued, bouncing back and forth between the invisible lookout and each member of the Royal Family as they took turns explaining everything from Christmas to the war they had recently survived.

Amy was extremely curious about the creepy lookout. “You really scared me the last time I was up here Artemus. I thought I'd never get out! How come you didn’t say anything when I was pulling on that door? And… why can’t we see you?”

“Well… I do not know why you cannot see me,” replied the disembodied voice. “But you did not address me and, of course, I would never speak to a Royal unless spoken to first, although, I did take a chance and thanked you for the food… remember?”

“Oh, yeah!” mumbled Amy, looking at the floor. “Well, that wasn’t very nice. You shouldn’t have made me wait so long to get out. I was scared!”

“A thousand apologies, Your Royal Highness, do you want me to greet you first the next time you come up in the dumbwaiter? I am always happy to do as you wish.”

A slight frown of embarrassment fell across Amy’s face. “No, never mind, and besides, the door isn’t stuck shut anymore!”

Diane put her arm around Amy and said, “Come on, Amy, we made it through it okay. It’s not as if you got hurt. Besides, how cool is it to have an invisible friend?”

“Yeah Amy” snickered Julie. “Don’t be such a wuss!”

“Well,” grumbled Amy, “he could’ve said something a lot sooner!” Diane smiled and touched her key. "Yeah Mom, I guess it's not a problem anymore."

They continued their tête-à-tête and discovered that Artemus never needed food or water but liked the company of those who brought it. Instead, he fed it to the birds and animals that passed by, which made Diane’s last surprise a perfect choice. She opened the sack and withdrew a partially assembled birdhouse and some tools with which to mount it in one of the turret’s openings. With a little work the birdhouse was in place, complete with birdseed in a little tray providing that elusive white dove with a safe place to rest and get out of any bad weather.

“There, done!” Diane brushed her hands together. “Artemus, there’s a white dove we sometimes see, and this is her new home, if she so chooses. Way up here it will provide her with safety, and you might enjoy the company as well. I hope that this pleases you.”

They could hear Artemus moving around but still couldn't see him. “This is wonderful Majesty. I have never had such attention and I do not know quite what to say, but I will see to the food and water for Hestia.”

“Hestia? Who's Hestia?” they all asked. “Is there someone else here as well?”

“Oh… Hestia is the Goddess of the Hearth, the one who brought you here from the outside world. Did you not know? You must be very special people or she would not have done so. I'm sure that she will very much like this little house you've provided. Oh, this is wonderful. At last I shall have someone with whom to visit. This makes me very happy for the first time in two thousand years.”

There’s that two-thousand year thing again Diane thought. "Two-thousand years huh? Okay look, I have to ask, just how old are you Artemus?”

“I am sorry Ma’am but, I really do not know.”

“Then how do you know you’ve been around for two-thousand years? That sounds quite impossible.”

“All I can tell you Ma’am is that I was at my post during a battle when something knocked me down. When I awoke, the battle was over and I was the only one up here, so I stayed.”

“Why would you stay if the battle was over? Wouldn’t you eventually go down to eat or something?”

“Oh no Ma’am, I cannot leave my post until properly relieved… and, I have not yet been properly relieved. But it’s all right. I've become accustomed to this place.”

Get the complete story at Amazon or Smashwords or Barnes & Noble

After 2012 - Excerpt - Underground City

2011-09-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

After 2012 - An eBook at Amazon.com

Julie grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her back into the bedroom. “Mom’s right Amy... they’ll be okay! Come on, let’s get our shoes… and hurry up. It’s spooky in this dark hall!”

Their feet clattered on the steps as they ran down the staircase wondering if they could even find Bixby at this early hour, but he too had been awakened and met them at the library door. The flickering light from the fireplace directly behind him, allowed them to see only the silhouette of their stout teacher, however, it was apparent that he was hastily buckling his belt hurrying to get dressed. Their eyes quickly adjusted, revealing his concerned expression. If he was alarmed then it had to be serious.

“Bart! What is that noise? What’s happening?” they all asked together.

He looked up and even in the dim flickering light it was obvious he was frightened. “Come, come… come quickly! Follow me! We must all hide until the danger has passed. Please hurry, hurry… this way. We must go through the secret passage until we learn what is coming.”

He was still buttoning his shirt while hopping on one foot trying to put on his other shoe. It was actually a bit comical watching him bounce across the room toward his closet.

Julie whispered, “Secret passage…? Hey Amy, this could be fun! We’re going to see another secret in this castle. I wonder what it’ll be like? Maybe it’s a dungeon!”

“Yeah Julie, a secret,” replied Amy with a frown. “Exciting––not! I just want to go back to bed.”

They rushed through the opening and Bixby closed the door enveloping them in complete darkness. Then, they heard the same loud clanking noises he made on that first day when they released him but, even Diane, who could see fairly well in extremely dim light, was blind to what was happening.

“Bart… Bart, uh, Lord Bixby, did you lock the door? What was that clanking noise?”

“Yes Your Majesty, I did… um, a moment please.”

He felt his way to the back wall and pushed on one of several stone ornaments. The entire wall slid open revealing a well lit hallway. It wasn’t a tiny closet after all, but instead, a portal to a hidden place secured from the world above.

“If you please Ma’am, Princesses...” He extended his open hand, motioning them into the passage and followed them in. RUMBLE, RUMBLE, THUD, the wall slid shut behind them.

Down a long flight of stairs and through a corridor they ran until suddenly, they found themselves in an underground room that was even larger than the great room above.

"Secret passage all right! This is another whole castle under the one we live in!" exclaimed Diane. "Holy buckets!"

It was even more expansive and grandiose than their castle on the surface. She stared for a moment but her gaze was interrupted by Amy pulling on her hand.

“Come on Mom! We have to keep going.”

There was no time to look around and gawk at this surprise subterranean structure so they hurried to catch up to Bixby and Julie.

He led them to a small alcove furnished with a beautiful ornate table and several comfortable chairs. It looked like a reading or study area, quite cozy in fact, but it was also very strange to see such a place this far under the surface.

“There now…! Please” –– Bixby put both hands on a chair and tried to catch his breath –– “please, make yourselves comfortable.” His concerned look evaporated and he changed back to his usual self. “My Queen, Princesses, would you like a cup of tea while we wait for the approaching creatures to be identified?”

After 2012 - eBook from Amazon

Excerpt from "After 2012" by R H Politz

2011-07-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from "After 2012" - A story for the whole family.

She stared out her window at the grayish black smoke still rising on the distant horizon, sighed and checked her cell phone but it still displayed 'No Signal'. Then she saw a group of people coming down the street. Finally, she mumbled, help is coming.

A moment later they swarmed up the steps of the first house on the street like a stampede of bulls smashing their way through the front door.

"Oh no...!" she gasped, they're a gang of looters! Amy, Julie, quick…, we have to hide...!" she yelled as she ran to the kitchen. "Get down to the cellar! Girls...? Where are you?”

Her children ran out from their bedroom; Amy’s face went white with fear. “What's happening Mom," she screamed! "Are there more bombs?”

“Don’t talk… just go––Go––GO! Right now… hurry!”

Down the cellar stairs they ran, pulling the door closed behind, wondering what to do next.

"We need a place to hide," whispered Diane.

"Over there Mom," suggested Amy, "in that big cabinet!"

Diane glanced at it and breathed, "Good idea!"

But Julie wasn't so sure. "It's really dirty in there Mom. I don't want to––"

"Shush!" blustered Diane. "Just get in. Those thugs will be looking for anything they can use and maybe they won't bother with an old broken down cabinet."

"But Mom...."

"No buts Julie. Get in..., now!"

"If Daddy were here, he'd protect us," Julie mumbled with a pouty expression.

"Julie..., Daddy's been dead for two years. Now if you don't get in and shut up, we might be dead in a few minutes!"

They climbed into the huge old armoire, pulled the doors shut, huddled together at the bottom and covered themselves with the old clothes, rags and blankets. Seconds later, they heard the sound of breaking glass, then of heavy boots clunking down the stairs. Someone approached, closer and closer. They held their breath and shivered with fear. It was maddening trying to stay quiet under the dusty filthy rags.

Suddenly - “Nothin’ useful down here” shouted a deep voice to someone upstairs. “Is just a pile a old junk. Thought they might be some food but don’t see none!” Thud… thud… thud, the sound of his boots came closer. Then, the armoire door burst open. They tried not to move or scream or even breathe. The robber looked inside, picked up the corner of a tattered moth-eaten blanket on top of the pile covering the shivering family and sneezed. “Whew," he said wiping his nose on his sleeve. "Taint nothin’ but rags, old rags they is” he yelled.

“How ‘bout dis one ova here” said another man who had followed him down to the cellar.

Without looking further, he brushed his hands and walked away. Several layers below, Diane, Amy and Julie finally exhaled a quiet shivering breath of relief.

They could hear the men crashing and banging as they rummaged through the other side of the cellar complaining that there was nothing of value. Seconds ticked by but each one seemed like days and the layers of dust on the old rags made Diane want to sneeze. She held her breath and pinched her nose… choking… gulping... ignoring the irritation in her sinuses. Red-faced from the strain, she swallowed the intense urge and finally, the men stomped back up the stairs.

After several minutes, they carefully, and so very, very slowly, peeked out from the cabinet and listened but there was no further noise from above.

“I think they've left,” Diane whispered. “Girls, you stay here. I’m going upstairs to check things out. Stay hidden till I come back… and don’t make any noise… understood?”

(This story of adventure, mystery, magic, love and survival is available at Amazon and other fine retailers of books.)

Picking up the pieces and moving on.

2011-07-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

What would you do if everything you'd worked so hard to build was completely destroyed? Your home, your job and even your family and friends... obliterated in the span of a few days! For Diane, Armageddon had arrived.

She and her two daughters did the only thing they could. They carried on with hope, persistence and courage. Giving up was not an option. Survival was their immediate goal, and survive they did.

Could you adapt and continue in the face of a horrible aftermath and insurmountable odds? They did. And what they found was both exciting and scary to say the least. Things were different in this new landscape and they had to learn a completely new set of rules.

Magic was no longer a child's fantasy. It was real. And some of it was lethal.

They nearly perished getting there but this land, their new home, welcomed them and gave them a new destiny. The people in the underground city made them rulers - but - were they really ruling..., or being ruled?

Adventure, suspense, love, laughter, tears and courage filled each day as they discovered the Ghosts of Blackthorn Forest, the Dark Tower and most of all, Lord Bixby.

Enjoy the story in ebook or paperback and be entertained in this tale of courage for the whole family.

Why no Father? - R. H. Politz

2011-06-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

Question: How come there's no Husband/Father in this story?

Answer: Because Diane was one of the millions of single Mothers who had to struggle just to provide the basics for her two daughters and she did it, tirelessly, relentlessly, constantly working to make their lives better.

Question: How did they survive that war and make it to such a strange place?

Answer: Did they survive or is it just a dream? You, the reader, will have to decide but their new home is an interesting and wonderful place filled with surprises and laughter. Of that, there's no doubt.

Question: Does Magic really exist?

Answer: Magic is a thing of the mind. What one truly believes to be real..., is. Decide for yourself knowing that strange things happen in real life, things that cannot be explained, things that make us laugh or question or sigh. Perhaps there is a coming change but, in the meantime, enjoy the story for adventure, tears and smiles are what make the present worth living.

Video Book Trailer - "After 2012" by R H Politz

2010-09-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

"After 2012" A Fantasy Adventure Novel by R H Politz
Rated for the whole family.

Fantasy or Predictions...?

2010-09-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

The original book (Caryn's New World), written several years ago and from which "After 2012" was produced, described how the USA's politicians led the country into "recession" and other country's governments into a war that destroyed everything.

Of course, both of these novels are works of fiction but somehow, events of the past two years seem to be leading us in exactly the direction described in "Caryn's New World". I can only hope it's just a coincidence and not some prophetic destiny from my deepest fears.

2012 is fast approaching. I hope level heads prevail when it arrives.

Reader comments - "After 2012"

2010-07-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled at the reader comments for my recently released book "After 2012".

Carolyn said, "Despite the fact that I do not often read stories in this catagory, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'll be back for more."

And Melody said, "I just finished reading your first chapter - thanks for writing. I wanted to let you know I enjoyed it very much."

From Earnest, "Wow, that's a really nice read."

And from Hildebert, "Such a wonderful story. My compliments. You are a fantastic writer."

It's wonderful to hear that my creation provided some smiles, laughter, a few tears and a bit of suspense but, if you've been entertained, then I've met my goal. I can't thank you enough dear readers for, without you, I'd have no reason to write.

This fanciful story is available as a Softcover Book and as an eBook for Kindle at Amazon.com, Createspace and other fine retailers.

See more of my books at http://www.politz.com/books_by_politz.html

And stay tuned for updates and new releases.