Sharpen your blade for a mystery spanning lifetimes in The Sword of Agrippa: Antioch

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As humans, we like to think that we are in control of things and that our knowledge puts us at the top of the evolutionary pyramid.  But how much do we really know?  If you consider just our senses - there are many examples showing that we are inferior to most other creatures.  That leaves us with the ability to reason as one of the things that sets us apart.  And because of this, the science industry is trying desperately to sell the idea that we now know everything there is to know.

Anything that can't be explained by science is tackled by the religious establishment, who have their own reasons for wanting things to stay the same.  Don't think that by wrapping themselves in the blanket of religion, that they are going to be understanding of those (especially scientists) who make new and profound discoveries.  Look up Giordano Bruno and see how the church dealt with scientists who may have held a view differing from theirs.

In between the establishments of science and religion, there is an area where a person can feel the walls of both moving together with them in the middle - and this is exactly where Roy Swenson is.  Roy is on to something - something big.  Something that will shake the establishments down to their core.  Dark energy.  Energy that will change the world.  Energy that powerful will surely draw some attention.

What Roy doesn't know is that he has been chasing this dream not just his whole life, but for lifetimes spanning the past 2,000 plus years.  As a Roman engineer named Agrippa.  Some of this is starting to come back to Roy, but things are still a little hazy.  Roy finds that there are many people who are willing to help him that have been with him through lifetimes, but also just as many who have gone out of their way to stifle his search for just as long.

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The Swords of Agrippa: Antioch is an book with quite an ambitious plot.  The size of the plot is much too broad for one book to contain it, unless you want something on the scale of Stephen King or George R. R. Martin.  I believe that Lloyd has a great concept for an excellent series.  I would like to see more character development, as it is hard to connect with them since the time of the book setting shifts from 2025 to the times of the pharaohs.  I knew from the plot concept and the size of the book that everything wasn't going to be wrapped up nice and tight with a bow on it at the end, but the author already has book two started, so the wait won't be long.

The only other observation about the book is that, other than the abstract "people" who aren't going to like the path that Roy Swenson is headed with his experiments, we never really quite get to know the actual "danger" that he is facing.  I am hoping this side of the story gets told in book two.  

I can easily see this being at least a four or five book series - and one that, when finished, could be truly noteworthy.

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(This review is part of a paid ad that only allowed the book to move to the head of the line on the wait list.  This in no way has any bearing on the review.)