Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Author and Creator of Sherlock Holmes. by Travis Simpkins

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Author and Creator of Sherlock Holmes. Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

( 1859 - 1930 )

Physician and Author

Writer of Detective / Crime Fiction

Creator of Sherlock Holmes

Spiritualist and Freemason

Member of

Phoenix Lodge No. 257

Portsmouth, England

by Travis Simpkins

 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 For more info, please visit:

arthurconandoyle.com

and

sherlock-holmes.org.uk/

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes. The Hound of the Baskervilles. by Travis Simpkins

Dr Watson. Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Watson. Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. by Travis Simpkins

Sketch of

Dr. Watson

John H. Watson

Character in the Sherlock Holmes stories of

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

by Travis Simpkins

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlockian. Art by Travis Simpkins

For more info, please visit:

sherlock-holmes.org.uk/ 

Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Dr. Watson. by Travis Simpkins

Sherlock Holmes in Deep Meditation. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. by Travis Simpkins

Sherlock Holmes in Deep Meditation. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. by Travis Simpkins

Illustration of

Sherlock Holmes 

in Deep Meditation

 based on a similar work published in

The Adventure of the Lion's Mane

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

1926

by Travis Simpkins

 

 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

For more info, please visit:

arthurconandoyle.com 

and

classic-literature.co.uk/lions-mane-sherlock-holmes

Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Dr Watson. by Travis Simpkins

Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlockian Art by Travis Simpkins

Dan Brown. Author. The Secret of Secrets. Robert Langdon. by Travis Simpkins

Dan Brown. Author. The Secret of Secrets. Robert Langdon. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Dan Brown

Novelist

Best-Selling Author of The Da Vinci Code

and other Robert Langdon Novels 

 

by Travis Simpkins

The Secret of Secrets

For more info, please visit:

www.danbrown.com

Dan Brown. Author. The Secret of Secrets. Robert Langdon. by Travis Simpkins

The Way of Kings. Book One. The Stormlight Archive. Brandon Sanderson. The Cosmere. Fantasy

The Way of Kings. Book One. The Stormlight Archive. Brandon Sanderson. The Cosmere. Fantasy

 I'm off on another epic journey within the Cosmere, enjoying "The Way of Kings" Book One of the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.

 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive, begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion.

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.

Speak again the ancient oaths:

Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.

and return to men the Shards they once bore.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

https://amzn.to/3OrwhlB 

 

The Last Wish. The Witcher. Andrzej Sapkowski. Fantasy. Geralt of Rivia

The Last Wish. The Witcher. Andrzej Sapkowski. Fantasy. Geralt of Rivia

 I'm enjoying "The Last Wish" the first book in The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski.

Geralt the Witcher—revered and hated—holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in this collection of adventures, the first chapter in Andrzej Sapkowski’s groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games.

Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter. Yet he is no ordinary killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.

But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good . . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

Witcher collections
The Last Wish
Sword of Destiny

Witcher novels
Blood of Elves
The Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire 
The Tower of Swallows
Lady of the Lake
Season of Storms
Crossroads of Ravens

Hussite Trilogy
The Tower of Fools
Warriors of God

Translated from original Polish by Danusia Stok

https://amzn.to/4kzPDRx 

 

Psychic Witch. A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick and Manifestation. Mat Auryn

Psychic Witch. A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick and Manifestation. Mat Auryn

I'm enjoying the new deluxe hardcover edition of "Psychic Witch" by Mat Auryn. It was released last year.

The paperback was originally published in 2020. A contemporary "classic."

Discover how to be a powerful psychic witch with this book on wielding energy and awakening your psychic senses. Psychic Witch explores the relationship between psychic ability and magick, interweaving them to create a strong foundation for accessing the full potential of your mind, body, and spirit.

Mat Auryn reveals some of his most closely guarded tips, secrets, practices, and meditations so that you can master the perception and manipulation of energy. Featuring over ninety exercises and the inner tools you need to perform magick anywhere and at any time, Psychic Witch helps you tune in to yourself and the subtle energies of the world.

https://amzn.to/4tzmWIf 

 

Jonathan Hal Reynolds. Author. Monsterstreet. Book Series. The Harvard Lodge. by Travis Simpkins

Jonathan Hal Reynolds. Author. The Harvard Lodge. Freemason. Monsterstreet. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Jonathan Hal Reynolds

Author of the

Monsterstreet Book Series

Freemason

Member of The Harvard Lodge

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

by Travis Simpkins

J.H. Reynolds - Monsterstreet Book Series

For more info, please visit:

jhreynolds.com

J. H. Reynolds. Author. Monsterstreet. Book Series. by Travis Simpkins

 

The Outsider. A Novel. Stephen King

The Outsider. A Novel. Stephen King

 I'm enjoying "The Outsider" by Stephen King.

 

Evil has many faces…maybe even yours in this #1 New York Times bestseller from master storyteller Stephen King—also an HBO limited series starring Ben Mendelsohn!

An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is discovered in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens—Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon have DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.

As the investigation expands and horrifying details begin to emerge, King’s story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.

 

https://amzn.to/4ke22KA 

 

Warbreaker. Brandon Sanderson. The Cosmere. Fantasy

Warbreaker. Brandon Sanderson. The Cosmere. Fantasy

 I'm enjoying "Warbreaker" by Brandon Sanderson.

 
In the world of Warbreaker, each person is born endowed with the power of one Breath―which can be sold and collected by others, then used to Awaken objects and even corpses to do their bidding. A few individuals who die in glory return as gods, with the power of thousands of Breath, but no memory of their mortal lives―and are enthroned in the Court of Gods in Hallandren’s capital. To Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris, the abuse of Breath and the claim of the Returned to be gods are repugnant blasphemy. But with one princess wed to the God King of their nation’s enemies in a bid for peace, the other finds she must rely on Breath-using mercenaries to try to rescue her sister from her monstrous husband.

Lightsong the Bold, a lesser god who doubts his own religion, starts investigating mysterious murders in the Court of Gods and uncovers haunting clues to his own forgotten past. He is one of four gods who controls the army of Awakened Lifeless soldiers, and one faction is inciting an invasion of Idris despite the marriage treaty. Vasher―wielder of the sapient sword Nightblood―works behind the scenes against the declaration of war, but Lightsong’s visions of bloodshed prophesy its inevitability. Can the new queen, unaware of her sister’s imminent rescue attempt, persuade Lightsong and also somehow get through to the aloof God King―who she has been forbidden to speak to or even look in the eyes―before her homeland is destroyed?

https://amzn.to/4bAdwG1 

 

Egyptian Prosperity Magic. Claudia R. Dillaire

Egyptian Prosperity Magic. Claudia R. Dillaire. Money Magick

 I'm enjoying "Egyptian Prosperity Magic" by Claudia Dillaire.

 

Boost your cash flow and free yourself from financial uncertainty with the Egyptian deities. From choosing a new career to surviving a layoff, this magic book offers more than two dozen simple spells and rituals to attract fortune and abundance.

Work with Horus, Isis, Thoth, Amun, and other gods and goddesses from the Egyptian pantheon to help you catch a prospective employer's attention, design the perfect budget, control debt, and much more. You'll also create over twenty magical oils to bring greater success to your spellwork, job interviews, and résumés.

Praise:
"This book will delight the lovers of all things Egyptian and those who crave a historical basis to their spellwork."―Dana Eilers, author of The Practical Pagan

https://amzn.to/4kgk5Qc 

 

Tarot. The Library of Esoterica. Jessica Hundley

Tarot. The Library of Esoterica. Jessica Hundley

 I'm enjoying the "Tarot" volume by Jessica Hundley from the Library of Esoterica.

 

To explore the Tarot is to explore ourselves, to be reminded of the universality of our longing for meaning, for purpose and for a connection to the divine. This 600-year-old tradition reflects not only a history of seekers, but our journey of artistic expression and the ways we communicate our collective human story.

For many in the West, Tarot exists in the shadow place of our cultural consciousness, a metaphysical tradition assigned to the dusty glass cabinets of the arcane. Its history, long and obscure, has been passed down through secret writing, oral tradition, and the scholarly tomes of philosophers and sages. Hundreds of years and hundreds of creative hands—mystics and artists often working in collaboration—have transformed what was essentially a parlor game into a source of divination and system of self-exploration, as each new generation has sought to evolve the form and reinterpret the medium.

Author Jessica Hundley traces this fascinating history in Tarot, the debut volume in TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica series. The book explores the symbolic meaning behind more than 500 cards and works of original art, two thirds of which have never been published outside of the decks themselves. It's the first ever visual compendium of its kind, spanning from Medieval to modern, and artfully arranged according to the sequencing of the 78 cards of the Major and Minor Arcana. It explores the powerful influence of Tarot as muse to artists like Salvador Dalí and Niki de Saint Phalle and includes the decks of nearly 100 diverse contemporary artists from around the world, all of whom have embraced the medium for its capacity to push cultural identity forward. Rounding out the volume are excerpts from thinkers such as Éliphas Lévi, Carl Jung, and Joseph Campbell; a foreword by artist Penny Slinger; a guide to reading the cards by Johannes Fiebig; and an essay on oracle decks by Marcella Kroll.

About the series

The Library of Esoterica explores how centuries of artists have given form to mysticism, translating the arcane and the obscure into enduring, visionary works of art. Each subject is showcased through both modern and archival imagery culled from private collectors, libraries, and museums around the globe. The result forms an inclusive visual history, a study of our primal pull to dream and nightmare, and the creative ways we strive to connect to the divine.

https://amzn.to/3Nj7Bey 

 

Enchanter's Endgame. Book Five. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

Enchanter's Endgame. Book Five. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

 I'm enjoying "Enchanter's Edgame" Book Five of The Belgariad by David Eddings.

 

 The fifth and final novel of The Belgariad. The ancient Mrin Codex foretold the battle between of the heir to the Rivan throne and the evil God Torak, which will decide the fate of the world. Garion, the Rivan heir, is far from ready to face Torak, who is awakening from a long, enforced sleep. Garion, Belgarath and their wily friend Silk slip out of the castle without telling anyone to travel to where this final confrontation will take place. A story of endurance, valor, loyalty and love by one of the most popular fantasy writers of all time. "Eddings' BELGARIAD is exactly the kind of fantasy I like. It has magic, adventure, humor, mystery, and a certain delightful human insight." - Piers Anthony on PAWN OF PROPHECY "Absorbing. Touches all the right Fantasy bases. Warring gods, political intrigues, supernatural creatures, and appealingly human magicians." - Publishers Weekly on QUEEN OF SORCERY "A graceful, fluid style of storytelling rare in fantasy writing.” - Publishers Weekly about the author: David Eddings published his first novel, HIGH HUNT, in 1973, before turning to the field of fantasy with The Belgariad, which hit the New York Times bestseller lists, as did his Malloreon series, The Elenium and The Tamuli series. Born in Spokane, Washington, he served in the United States Army and taught college English. His wife Leigh Eddings collaborated with her husband for more than a dozen years on numerous bestsellers.

https://amzn.to/49ns1M3 

 

Castle of Wizardry. Book Four. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

Castle of Wizardry. Book Four. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

 I'm Enjoying "Castle of Wizardry" Book Four of The Belgariad by David Eddings.

 

 A magnificent epic set against a history of seven thousand years of the struggles of Gods and Kings and men - of strange lands and events - of fate and a prophecy that must be fulfilled!

THE BELGARIAD

It had all begun with the theft of the Orb that had so long protected the West from the evil God Torak. Before that, Garion had been a simple farm boy. Afterward, he discovered that his aunt was really the Sorceress Polgara and his grandfather was Belgarath, the Eternal Man. Then, on the long quest to recover the Orb, Garion found to his dismay that he, too, was a sorcerer.

Now, at last, the Orb was regained and the quest was nearing its end. Of course, the questors still had to escape from this crumbling enemy fortress and flee across a desert filled with Murgo soldiers searching for them, while Grolim Hierarchs strove to destroy them with dark magic. Then, somehow, they must manage to be in Riva with the Orb by Erastide.

After that, however, Garion was sure that his part in these great events would be finished.

But the Prophecy still held future surprises for Garion - and for the little Princess Ce'Nedra!

THUS CONTINUES BOOK FOUR OF THE BELGARIAD

https://amzn.to/3Nunw9I 

 

Magician's Gambit. Book Three. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

Magician's Gambit. Book Three. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

 I'm enjoying "Magician's Gambit" Book Three of The Belgariad by David Eddings.

 

 Garion, Belgarath, Polgara and their companions face new challenges as they continue their quest to retrieve the stolen Orb before it can be delivered to the evil god Torak.When they reach the mile-high tower of Ctuchik, who has the Orb and whose followers practice Torak's cruel rites of human sacrifice, Belgarath must use all his strength, guile and sorcery as he faces his most fearsome enemy. Garion's strange powers continue to grow, as he plays an increasingly crucial role in this world's future. "Eddings' BELGARIAD is exactly the kind of fantasy I like. It has magic, adventure, humor, mystery, and a certain delightful human insight."- Piers Anthony on PAWN OF PROPHECY"Absorbing. Touches all the right Fantasy bases. Warring gods, political intrigues, supernatural creatures, and appealingly human magicians." - Publishers Weekly on QUEEN OF SORCERY"A graceful, fluid style of storytelling rare in fantasy writing.” - Publishers Weeklyabout the author:David Eddings published his first novel, HIGH HUNT, in 1973, before turning to the field of fantasy with The Belgariad, which hit the New York Times bestseller lists, as did his Malloreon series, The Elenium and The Tamuli series. Born in Spokane, Washington, he served in the United States Army and taught college English. His wife Leigh Eddings collaborated with her husband for more than a dozen years on numerous bestsellers.

https://amzn.to/49xfy7e 

 

Sir Thomas North. Translator of Plutarch's Lives. Shakespeare source Author. by Travis Simpkins

Sir Thomas North. Translator of Plutarch's Lives. Shakespeare source Author. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Sir Thomas North

( 1535 - 1604/07? )

English Translator, Author

Military Officer, Lawyer 

and Justice of the Peace

best known for his translation of

Plutarch's Lives 

of the Noble Greeks and Romans

by Travis Simpkins

composite likeness inspired by known portraits

of his father and brother, Edward North and Roger North

Sir Thomas North - Michael Blanding

Sir Thomas North. North by Shakespeare. Michael Blanding. Portrait by Travis Simpkins

For more info, please visit:

sirthomasnorth.com

and

michaelblanding.com

Sir Thomas North. Translator of Plutarch's Lives. Shakespeare source Author. by Travis Simpkins

 

Michael Blanding. Investigative Journalist. North by Shakespeare. Sir Thomas North. by Travis Simpkins

Michael Blanding. Investigative Journalist. North by Shakespeare. Sir Thomas North. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Michael Blanding

Investigative Journalist

Published in

The New York Times, The Boston Globe, etc.

Author of

North by Shakespeare

A Rogue Scholar's Quest to Discover 

the Truth Behind the Bard's Work

by Travis Simpkins

Sir Thomas North - Michael Blanding

Sir Thomas North. North by Shakespeare. Michael Blanding. Portrait by Travis Simpkins

For more info, please visit:

michaelblanding.com

Michael Blanding. Investigative Journalist. North by Shakespeare. Sir Thomas North. by Travis Simpkins

 

Queen of Sorcery. Book Two. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

Queen of Sorcery. Book Two. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

 I'm enjoying "Queen of Sorcery" Book Two of The Belgariad by David Eddings.

 

BOOK 2 OF THE BELGARIAD, the worldwide bestselling fantasy series by master storyteller David Eddings. Discover the epic story that inspired thousands - from Raymond Feist''s The Riftwar Cycle series to George R. R. Martin''s A Game of Thrones.

The Accursed One is not dead...
He only sleeps...

The evil God Torak covets dominion over all men. If the stolen Orb of Aldur reaches him, he will surely gain what he desires.

Garion travels through strange lands with master sorcerers Belgarath and Polgara in frantic pursuit of the Orb. But as his own powers grow, Garion starts to realize that he too may have a part to play – a part he is not sure he wants...

https://amzn.to/4rH5Uaz 

 

Elric of Melnibone. The Elric Saga. Volume One. Michael Moorcock. Fantasy

Elric of Melnibone. The Elric Saga. Volume One. Michael Moorcock. Fantasy

 I'm enjoying "Elric of Melnibone" Violume One of The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock.

 

From World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Moorcock comes the first book in his famous Elric of Melniboné series, brought to vivid new life with stunning illustrations.

In one of the most well-known and well-loved fantasy epics of the 20th century, Elric is the brooding, albino emperor of the dying Kingdom of Melnibone. With Melnibone’s years of grandeur and decadence long since passed, Elric’s amoral cousin Yrkoon sets his eyes on the throne. Elric, realizing he is his country’s best hope, must face his nefarious cousin in an epic battle for the right to rule.

Elric of Melnibone is the first in Michael Moorcock’s incredible series, which created fantasy archetypes that have echoed through the genre for generations. The beautiful, vivid illustrations bring new life to the story and are sure to captivate fans, new and old.

https://amzn.to/4aiMWAx 

 

Pawn of Prophecy. Book One. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

Pawn of Prophecy. Book One. The Belgariad. David Eddings. Fantasy

 I'm enjoying "Pawn of Prophecy" Book One of The Belgariad by David Eddings.

 

BOOK 1 OF THE BELGARIAD, the worldwide bestselling fantasy series by one of the godfathers of the tradition. Discover the epic stories that inspired generations of fantasy writers - from Raymond Feist''s The Riftwar Cycle to George R. R. Martin''s A Game of Thrones.

A battle is coming...
...And in that battle shall be decided
the fate of the world

Myths tell of the ancient wars of Gods and men, and a powerful object – the Orb – that ended the bloodshed. As long as it was held by the line of Riva, it would assure the peace.

But a dark force has stolen the Orb, and the prophecies tell of war.

Young farm boy Garion knows nothing of myth or fate. But then the mysterious Old Storyteller visits his aunt, and they embark on a sudden journey. Pursued by evil forces, with only a small band of companions they can trust, Garion begins to doubt all he thought he knew...

https://amzn.to/4pw4q0D