Maximus, by Richard L. Black
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Maximus, by Richard L. Black
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A sweeping Christian fiction epic, the story is also part mystery, part detective story and filled with intrigue.
General Maximus is a battle-weary commander of one of Rome's finest legions. When he returns from a long, bloody campaign Maximus finds himself questioning his life. Word has reached Rome of a man named Jesus who is causing a stir in faraway Judea. Maximus, disguised as a Jew, is sent to investigate the situation and assess his potential threat to Rome. In this innovative rendering of the story of Christ we see Jesus from the perspective of an outsider who is stripped of his cultural identity and therefore free to ponder whether he can believe Jesus and find a new purpose in his own life.
Maximus, by Richard L. Black- Amazon Sales Rank: #1039267 in Books
- Brand: Black, Richard L.
- Published on: 2015-03-03
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.20" h x 1.70" w x 6.30" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 464 pages
Review ''Maximus and Androcles were unknowingly part of a new religious movement, breaking through legalism to become a global religion. In light of the movement of the spirit, all movements were too small to contain the message of Jesus. Jew and Greek, male and female, slave and free, and every other polarity was relativized and healed by the grace of God…We are invited to take up the restless and adventurous faith of Androcles and Maximus as God's restless movement of creative transformation lures us forward to lively visions of Christianity for our changing times.'' --Patheos''Interesting premise…Richard L. Black…has done his homework about that era and includes rich and detailed descriptions that clearly share the settings.'' --Deseret News''A sword-and-sandal epic that combines warrior odyssey with spiritual enlightenment...Engaging...the characters themselves are interesting and placed in historical contexts well...Incorporates some careful period research...Combines faith and fantasy to the maximum, taking its characters on a religious journey to find salvation.'' --Foreword Reviews
About the Author Richard L. Black is a writer with a background in the software industry who has worked closely with Department of Defense and intelligence community, an experience which informs his writing style which shows a flair for undercover mystery and intrigue. A native of San Diego, he now lives with his family in the Southwest and is an avid car enthusiast and guitar player. This is his debut novel.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. So Much Potential... By Lillian @ Mom with a Reading Problem **I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.**Hmmm....this story had SO much potential but it just didn't cut it for me. Maybe I expected too much? I was really excited to read Maximus by Robert L. Black. From the moment I saw the cover and then read the synopsis I thought "This book will be awesome!" Sadly it wasn't.Maximus follows the story of a Roman general - the book's namesake - sent to investigate the claims of Pontius Pilate in Judaea about a Jewish rabbi claiming to be the long awaited messiah. Maximus takes his deputy commander Androcles with him and together they disguise themselves as Jews, learn the customs and find themselves following Christ.Maximus is an interesting, yet flat character. He is a high-ranking Roman general, unhappy with his gods and the continuous fighting of Rome. When offered this campaign of spying, very different from leading men on the battlefield, he accepts immediately though not without reservations. Taking his best friend with him, the reader gets a glimpse into the transformation of the two soldiers as they take on their roles as Jews.The story doesn't just follow them though. It also follows Liora and her family as they become disciples of Jesus, believing him the prophesied Messiah. I like Liora and I can relate to her. She is kind-hearted, speaks her mind, yet loves her family with a devotion that anyone can see. It's no wonder when the two Romans disguised as Jews show up they fall in love with them.The plot is pretty self-explanatory as Maximus and Androcles first travel to Judaea and then search for this Jewish rabbi. My problem with this is that it was poorly executed. There is A LOT of three/four word sentences that describe every detail, but not a lot of actual witnessing of Christ. There is a secondary plot where the two Roman soldiers fall in love with two Jewish girls, which while good drew attention away from the ultimate goal of following Jesus.Maybe I'm being too critical, but when the synopsis says this is a story about Jesus as told through the eyes of a Roman soldier, I expected more Jesus and less of everything else. Instead the reader is given glimpses of Jesus and then nothing more is really mentioned until the very end when the crucifixion occurs. The resurrection is only mentioned in passing during the two page epilogue, which I was shocked since this is a redemption/salvation story as the Roman soldiers come to know the one true God.I had a really hard time following the story because of multiple, MULTIPLE points of view. I like a lot of points of view, however as one reviewer described it "head-hopping" is not my thing. It was like every other page was a different character and I had a hard time connecting to any of them or understanding their motives.Overall, the book itself was just okay for me. I had a hard time following with the multiple points of view. I felt like the romance of the story distracted me from the redemptive parts. Don't get me wrong the book had its moments, otherwise I wouldn't give it three stars. I feel that I should also note that I read an advanced, unedited copy of the book. That being said I hope that some of the "head-hopping" and basic, descriptive sentences were edited to flow better. I do plan to get a copy and find out.If you enjoy historical fiction, Christian literature I think you'll enjoy the book. Despite it's flaws, I still found it enjoyable and I rooted for the characters in the end. My only wish was that the Christian aspects of the book would have stood out more.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A great read for the Easter season! By Blogging Under the Shade Tree MaximusByL BlackMaximus has never known peace. In command of one of Rome's finest legions, he and his closest friend, Androcles, have fought side by side to uphold the glory of the empire.But at the end of a long and bloody campaign, Maximus begins to question his purpose, his past, and the gods he has been taught to believe in.When word reaches Rome of a man named Jesus who is causing a stir in faraway Judaea, Maximus and Androcles are sent, disguised as Jews, to ascertain the truth of the situation: Is this Jesus merely a radical preacher, or is he instigating a revolution against Rome?As Maximus immerses himself in Jewish culture, he must confront questions that could change his life: Is it possible this carpenter from Nazareth is the Son of God? Is it possible for a man of war to live a life of peace?REVIEWWhen I read the synopsis for Maximus, my first thoughts were of the classic novel that I have read and has been memorialized in celluloid, The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas. I remember this story of the roman soldier and his discovery of “the Christ”. Maximus, is of much the same premise, but instead of a tribune, this time the Roman soldier is none other than a decorated General, who has come to investigate the rumors and stories of this Jesus of Galilee who some claim to be the Messiah, and a pretender to the throne of Judea.The great general of the Roman army, who has led a legion of war hardened men, has three short weeks to transform himself and his commander (and best friend) into passable Jewish merchants, so that they can go into the back country of Judea and mingle with the crowds without raising eyebrows and learn more about this “upstart”.Through the cover of bringing the two “converts” up to speed, Ezra (the Jewish merchant and Rabbi) provides them with a brief history of the Jewish people, from creation to the claims of Jesus of Nazareth being of the linage of the House of David.I enjoyed how Mr. Black worked the two “Roman Jews” into the very fabric of the last few weeks of Jesus’ ministry. Because of Maximus’ position of reporting to Pilate on Jesus, he found himself in Pilate’s presence at critical times when the Sanhedrin leadership was pushing for Jesus’ arrest and death. Watching both men struggle with their inner demons and at the same time, the discovery and wonderment of the Jewish Jehovah was interesting. These sections were thoughtful and well written, especially the scene where Maximus comes to grip with his own acceptance of God. The theological message was well presented between the folds of action, as the two men sought answers to who Jesus was, for both the Roman Empire, and finally for themselves.My only drawback and the only issue I have with this book is that I feel that in the zeal to present his theological message, though a very good and sound one, Mr. Black dropped the ball in other areas of import. The storyline is an excellent one. The love story, within the story is delightful. But, I felt there were shortcuts taken on researching the historical aspects of the novel. I feel that with a little more work, this good novel could become a great novel. All the parts are here. There are just some areas that need to be corrected, filled out, and finished.Because of this, it has been difficult to rate this novel. If I were to rate it on the story and what Mr. Black did with it, I would give it a good 4.5 stars for the story. But in the area of application of research and demonstration of knowledge historical and cultural subject matter, I would rate the novel with 3 stars for technical issues.Hello Richard, thank you for coming by Shade Tree Book Reviews. It was interesting that you worked the story of the final days of Christ from both a Jewish sideliner’s point of view and from a Roman’s point of view.How were you able to resolve the issue of such divergent thought and philosophy of these two cultures to come to such a cohesive work?First of all let me explain that I wanted to make sure that the story portrayed within the pages of Maximus was true to events within the KJV New Testament. I have read the New Testament many times and am familiar with the stories and the attitudes of the various peoples represented within its pages. The Jewish perspective was easy. We have many examples in the NT of disciples and non-disciples perspective. Not all non-disciples were “anti” Jesus of Nazareth; they simply didn’t “hear the voice” or comprehend the message or the messenger. The detractors were also portrayed many times in the New Testament. They were described as vehement in their persecution and zeal to find a crack in the armor of Jesus. Their poisonous attitude was spawned from jealously, guilt, ignorance and fear. There were even those that believed His message but were unwilling to make the sacrifice necessary to commit to discipleship - e.g. Nicodemus, and the wealthy young lawyer.The question of gentiles (non-Jews) is less defined. I did what I suppose most authors do, I closed my eyes and asked the question – If I were there and knew nothing of this Nazarene, or of God for that matter, simply stumbled across Jesus of Nazareth and observed his actions, what would I think? What would I do? How would I feel? Would I be sympathetic or apathetic? I had to take a step back from my own knowledge and belief and ask myself – what if this were me?Maximus was in that place that a lot of men find themselves; dissatisfied with his life and current situation. But he was humble and receptive to new ideas and looking for change, so Jesus’ message and example hit a chord deep within him. Also, the family of Jershon and the mentorship of Ezra had an illuminating affect on him. He had no idea when he accepted the assignment from Emperor Tiberius and boarded the Egyptian ship to Judea what he would encounter, but he put himself in a position to receive inspiration. Many of us want change in our lives but are unwilling to take the risk of abandoning our preconceptions and pride and opening our hearts and minds to real lasting change and then committing to the work and sacrifice that change may demand from us. Maximus found himself in the “Bermuda Triangle” of life changing opportunity and committed to the change.How did you come up with the idea for an undercover Roman soldier investigating the supposed Christ in Judea?The word “undercover” has a contemporary feel to it. There were certainly spies mentioned in the Bible. Moses sent “spies” into the Promised Land before sending the children of Israel to inhabit it. There were Roman and Roman conscripts throughout Judea at the time of Christ. But my thinking was that a Roman soldier would have less access and not be able to get as close to the center of the storm as a simple Jew would. Maximus and Androcles by virtue of their disguise were able to have unprecedented and equal access to these events without raising suspicion – it seemed logical to have them pose as common Jews and add a deeper dimension of discovery to their mission.Do you plan on a sequel to this story? A continuing story of the early church?Hopefully the book, like a good rock-concert, ends with the concert-goers/readers clamoring for more – at least this is my hope. My own wife when she read the ending said, “That was abrupt.” But in my heart it was time to end the story with a “hopeful” conclusion. There are a thousand questions the reader could ask and it lends itself to a second book. I have begun to jot down thoughts, as they come to me, about that story. But it all really depends on the success of Maximus. Tell us a little about yourself. What are some of the things you enjoy doing for fun? I love good books and good movies. I love seeing at the end of a movie the tagline – Based on the Novel by -----. I love to travel and I love the ocean. I grew up in San Diego. The ocean invigorates me. It inspires me. It heals me. It makes me think bigger thoughts. It makes me want to throw off my self-imposed limits of thinking and accomplishment. It makes me want to be better, grow, succeed, reach-out, expand, create. I am a creative hands-on person. I really shouldn’t be in sales; I should be a carpenter or an auto-mechanic. I love working on cars with my four sons. It is the highlight of my Saturdays during the summer – diving into some broken car. I’ve recently enjoyed building bookcases and furniture for my children and myself. Of course, who can deny the joy I receive from being with my 3 grandchildren – that truly is a glimpse of Heaven.What types of books do you enjoy readings? Who are your favorite authors?Historical Fiction. I cut my teeth on Michener, Wouk and Clavell. I also like Michael Crichton, I wish he were still with us. I like the way he makes you think. Crichton had an incredible gift of imaginative storytelling. I like to walk away from a book having learned something. It is my hope that readers will walk away from Maximus having learned something. That would be very gratifying to have someone say that about the book.I also read a lot of non-fiction, particularly about World War ll and Wall Street; disparate subjects for sure.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. An enjoyable read... By My Book Addiction and More MAXIMUS by Richard L. Black is a inspirational historical fiction. An interesting tale, that is familiar but told in a different perception. The re-telling of the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth. Told though the eyes of Maximus, a General who commands legions of up to men, and his second-in-command, Androcles.While, an interesting and intriguing, I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters. I felt they lacked true character. We all know the story of Jesus', his crucifixion, his death, and his resurrection, but we hardly hear stories of Maximus, who begins to follow Jesus, and tells Pilate he is not a threat to Rome and others, who was present in Jesus' life.While, this is an enjoyable and satisfying read, it was missing something. I had a hard time connecting to some of the characters, but with this said it was an enjoyable read. We find faith, healing, learning to follow your heart, and opening to the unexpected circumstances of life. This is the story of Romans, Judeans, soldiers, fishermen, Jerusalem, family, Galileans, trust, justice, injustice, a journey of life and faith. This author definitely shows his deep, and extensive research into this tragic story. I would read another story written by this author. He did a just job of this story, you can easily tell this was a labor of love. Any inspirational readers, historical fiction readers, and anyone who enjoys reading of Bible characters. In the end an enjoyable and satisfying read.*Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley*Rating: 3Heat Rating: SweetReviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
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