Robert Sheppard's Blog: Robert Sheppard's Literary Blog & World Literature Forum , page 29

April 23, 2014

WILL WWIII RESULT FROM A RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE OR A JOINT RUSSIAN-IRANIAN-CHINA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE-EAST OIL RESERVES?——MI6′S NEW SUPERSPY ETIENNE DEARLOVE IS THE NEW JAMES BOND!——-FREE!——-GET THE SNOWDEN-CLANCY-ORWELLIAN CYBERSPY THRILLER

WILL WWIII RESULT FROM A RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE OR A JOINT RUSSIAN-IRANIAN-CHINA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE-EAST OIL RESERVES?——MI6′S NEW SUPERSPY ETIENNE DEARLOVE IS THE NEW JAMES BOND!——-FREE!——-GET THE SNOWDEN-CLANCY-ORWELLIAN CYBERSPY THRILLER NOVEL THAT DEFINES OUR ERA!—-NSA/CIA/MI6/WWIII CYBERTHRILLER EPIC SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD FREE TO YOU DURING THE PUSHCART PRIZE GIVEAWAY CELEBRATION

Spiritus Mundi by R

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Follow the spellbinding Thriller Scenario of a threatened Russian-Iranian-Chinese Pearl Harbor-like sneak attack on the Middle-East Oil Reserves to permanently take away the dominance of the West with a New Eurasian Axis!———-Follow the exploits of MI6′s newest Superspy Etienne Dearlove—The New James Bond—-as he penetrates the closed world of the Chinese Politburo in Beijing to uncover the Secret Geopolitical Conspiracy to fatally change the world’s Balance of Power!——-How will it all end? —-Find out now in the Thriller Geopolitical WWIII Thriller Spiritus Mundi by Robert Sheppard!

World Literature Forum is honored to announce that Spiritus Mundi, the acclaimed Cyberthriller Action Novel by Robert Sheppard, the defining work of our Snowden-Orwellian Era, has been included in the nominations for the presitigious 2014 Pushcart Prize. The thriller action of the novel follows a NSA/CIA/MI6 Counterterrorism team’s cat and mouse cyber-pursuit of nuclear terrorists bent on infiltrating a group of global idealists campaigning for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly for global democcracy, then unearthing a much bigger Apocalyptic conspiracy to start WWIII between a secretly allied China, Russia and Iran to make a Pearl Harbor-like sneak attack on the Middle-East’s oil reserves, severing the energy jugular of the vulnerable declining West. Cutting edge MI6/NSA Cyber-techno-penetration of the top-secret communications network of the Chinese Politburo through the tech-avvy and sexual wiles of neo-Bondian 21st Century MI6 Superspy Etienne Dearlove gives the West its last chance to head off Armageddon. Find out the final fate of the world by reading Spiritus Mundi now!

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ACT NOW TO DISCOVER THE WORLD’S FATE!

GET YOUR FREE e-COPY OF PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINATED CYBERTHRILLER SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD (BOOK I) NOW BY FOLLOWING THIS SMASHWORDS LINK TO DOWNLOAD:

Spiritus Mundi Book I, The Novel (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856

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In celebration of the Pushcart Prize Nomination for Spiritus Mundi a Pushcart Prize Giveaway Celebration has been declared as an introductory offer in which Spiritus Mundi, Book I will be made available free on Smashwords and affiliated outlets, including Barnes & Noble and many others. It is hoped that readers will be inspired by Book I to purchase Book II, Spiritus Mundi the Romance, either later or at the same time at the discount price of $3.99 (Remember you have to read Book II to find out how the story of Book I ends!).

The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best “poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot”published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to six works they have featured. Anthologies of the selected works have been published annually since 1976.

The founding editors are Anaïs Nin, Buckminster Fuller, Charles Newman, Daniel Halpern, Gordon Lish, Harry Smith, Hugh Fox, Ishmael Reed, Joyce Carol Oates, Len Fulton, Leonard Randolph, Leslie Fiedler, Nona Balakian, Paul Bowles, Paul Engle, Ralph Ellison, Reynolds Price, Rhoda Schwartz, Richard Morris, Ted Wilentz, Tom Montag, and William Phillips.

Among the writers who previously received early recognition in Pushcart Prize anthologies were: Kathy Acker, Steven Barthelme, Rick Bass, Charles Baxter, Bruce Boston, Raymond Carver, Joshua Clover, Junot Diaz, Andre Dubus, William H. Gass, Seán Mac Falls, William Monahan, Paul Muldoon, Joyce Carol Oates, Tim O’Brien, Lance Olsen,Peter Orner, Kevin Prufer, Kay Ryan, Mona Simpson, Ana Menéndez, and Wells Tower.

Included in the Pushcart 2014 Nominations were several of well-known author Robert Sheppard’s “Poems from Spiritus Mundi” including “Moby Dick” and “Zeno’s Paradox” which were published in and nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Poetry Pacific and available here and on their website:

http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/poetry-pacific-3-poems-by-robert-sheppard/

INTRODUCING PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD’S EPIC NOVEL SPIRITUS MUNDI

Author’s E-mail: rsheppard99_2000@yahoo.com

ON SPIRITUS MUNDI

“Read Robert Sheppard’s sprawling, supple novel, Spiritus Mundi, an epic story of global intrigue and sexual and spiritual revelation. Compelling characters, wisdom, insight, and beautiful depictions of locations all over the world will power you through the book. You’ll exit wishing the story lines would go on and on.” May 13, 2012

Robert McDowell, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Editorial Cra, The Nature of Words

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“Robert Sheppard’s novel, “Spiritus Mundi,” has everything. “Spiritus Mundi” is Latin, meaning “spirit” or “soul of the world.” According to the Norton Anthology of English Literature, the phrase refers to “the spirit or soul of the universe” with which all individual souls are connected through the “Great Memory.” This amazing novel is all inclusive and unceasingly riveting. If you are interested in politics, philosophy, human relationships, sex, intrigue, betrayal, poetry and even philosophy — buy and read “Spiritus Mundi”!”November 18, 2012

Raymond P. Keen, School Psychologist, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS)

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“Robert Sheppard’s new novel “Spiritus Mundi” is a new twist on a well-loved genre. Robert leaves no stone unturned in this compelling page turner you’ll experience mystery, suspense, thrills, and excitement. Robert touches on sexuality and spirituality in such a way that the reader is compelled to ask themselves “what would you do if faced with these trials?” Robert is a master at taking the reader out of their own lives and into the world he created. If you’re looking for a “can’t put down” read pick up Spiritus Mundi!” May 20, 2012

Nicole Breanne, Content Coordinator, Ranker.com _____________________________________________________

“Longing for a thrilling experience of the sexual and spiritual world? Expecting a thorough summoning of your inner heart? Aspiring to find an extraordinary voice to enlighten your understanding heart? Then you can’t miss this extraordinary novel, Spiritus Mundi by Robert Sheppard. The author will spirit you into a exciting world filled with fantasy, myth, conflicts and wisdom from a fresh perspective. Don’t hesitate, just turn to the 1st page and start out enjoying this marvellous journey.”November 17, 2012

Alina Mu Liu, Official Interpreter, Editor & Translator, HM Courts & Tribunal Service, London UK & the United Nations

—————————————————————————— “Robert Sheppard’s Spiritus Mundi is a literary novel for those with an extensive vocabulary, and who believe how you tell a story is as important as what occurs in it. It is as current as today’s headlines.

Jaime Martinez-Tolentino, Writer” November 19, 2012

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“Robert Sheppard’s exciting new novel, Spiritus Mundi, is an unforgettable read and epic journey of high adventure and self-discovery across the scarred landscape of the modern world and into the mysteries beyond. Its compelling saga reveals the sexual and spiritual lives of struggling global protesters and idealists overcoming despair, nuclear terrorism, espionage and a threatened World War III to bring the world together from the brink of destruction with a revolutionary United Nations Parliamentary Assembly and spiritual rebirth. This modern epic is a must read and compelling vision of the future for all Citizens of the Modern World and a beacon of hope pointing us all towards a better world struggling against all odds to be born.” May 19, 2012

Lara Biyuts, Reviewer and Blogger at Goodreads.com and Revue Blanche

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“Robert Sheppard’s “Spiritus Mundi” is a book of major importance and depth. A must read for any thinking, compassionate human being living in these perilous times. I highly recommend this powerful testament of the current course of our so-called life on his planet. April 25, 2012

Doug Draime Writer, Freelance

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“This new novel ‘Spiritus Mundi’ brings together history, politics, future society, and blends with a plausible World War Three scenario. I have read it and find it over the top fascinating. I am very glad to see Robert share his creativity with the world through this work of fiction, and know it will be a huge hit.” April 28, 2012

Jim Rogers, Owner and Director, AXL

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“Robert Sheppard is an exceptional thinker! His work should be read and made the subject of critical study.”May 26, 2012

Georgia Banks-Martin, Editor, New Mirage Journal

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“This novel rocks the reader with its supple strength. You want to say “No, No,” and you end up saying, “Maybe.” Political science fiction at its highest, most memorable level.”November 17, 2012

Carl Macki, Owner, Carl Macki Social Media

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“Robert Sheppard’s Novel Spiritus Mundi confronts politics and philosophies of the world. He’s examined multiple layers of personality in his characters; male, female, Chinese, Arab, English, and American melding them into a story of possible outcomes. How else can I convey the intelligent presentation of fiction woven with sensitivity to our world’s governments, religious influences and sectarian principles? We must not forget the influence of a largely secular world. Robert tirelessly checked, rechecked and triple checked his resources in order to bring a fiction of occurrence, and psychological impact as set forth in his novel Spiritus Mundi.”November 18, 2012

Glenda Fralin, Author, Organization NWG

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“Robert was one of my best guests. His novel is as wide ranging as are his interests and expertise. He can explain his various ideas with great clarity and he does this with compassion. Novel is worthwhile reading.”November 18, 2012

Dr. Robert Rose, Radio Show Host, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose

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Related Links and Websites: Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard

For Introduction and Overview of the Novel: https://spiritusmundinovel.wordpress.com/

For Updates on the Upcoming Movie Version of the Novel, Spiritus Mundi & Casting of Actors and Actresses for Leading Roles See: http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read Abut the Occupy Wall Street Movement in Spiritus Mundi: http://occupywallstreetnovel.wordpress.com/

For Author’s Blog: https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read a Sample Chapter from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundisamplechapters.wordpress.com/

To Read Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundifantasymythandmagicalrealism.wordpress.com/

To Read Sexual Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: The Varieties of Sexul Experience: https://spiritusmundivarietiesofsexualexperience.wordpress.com/

To Read Spy, Espionage and Counter-terrorism Thriller Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: http://spiritusmundispyespionagecounterterrorism.wordpress.com/

To Read Geopolitical and World War Three Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundigeopoliticalworldwar3.wordpress.com/

To Read Spiritual and Religious Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundionspiritualityandreligion.wordpress.com/

To Read about the Global Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundiunitednationsparliamentaryassembly.wordpress.com/

To Read Poetry from Spiritus Mundi：https://spiritusmundipoetry.wordpress...

For Discussions on World Literature and Literary Criticism in Spiritus Mundi: http://worldliteratureandliterarycriticism.wordpress.com/

For Discussions of World History and World Civilization in Spiritus Mundi: https://worldhistoryandcivilizationspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Eva Strong from Spiritus Mundi: https://evasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Andreas Sarkozy from Spiritus Mundi: http://andreasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Yoriko Oe from Spiritus Mundi: http://yorikosblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Robert Sartorius from Spiritus Mundi: http://sartoriusblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

I write to introduce to your attention my double novel Spiritus Mundi, consisting of Spiritus Mundi, the Novel—Book I, and Spiritus Mundi, the Romance—Book II. Book I’s espionage-terror-political-religious thriller-action criss-crosses the globe from Beijing to New York London to Washington, Mexico City and Jerusalem presenting a vast panorama of the contemporary international world, including compelling action from the Occupy Wall Street Movement to espionage and a threatened World War Three, deep and realistic characters and surreal adventures, while Book II dialates the setting and scope into a fantasy (though still rooted in the real) adventure where the protagonists embark on a quest to the realms of Middle Earth and its Crystal Bead Game and through a wormhole to the Council of the Immortals in the Amphitheater in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy in search of the crucial Silmaril Crystal, and to plead for the continuance of the human race in the face of threatened extinction from a nuclear World War III, all followed by a triple-somersault thriller ending in which a common garden-variety terrorist attack is first uncovered by MI6 and the CIA as the opening gambit a Greatpower Game of States threatening World War III and then, incredibly, as the nexus of a Time Travel conspiracy involving an attempt by fascist forces of the 23rd Century to alter a benign World History by a time-travelling raid on their past and our present to provoke that World War III, foiled by the heroic efforts of the democratic 23rd Century world government, the Senate of the United States of Earth, to hunt down the fascist interlopers before their history is irrevocably altered for evil.

When activist Robert Sartorius, leading a global campaign to create a European Parliament-style world-wide United Nations Parliamentary Assembly presses the proposal in New York on his old friend the UN Secretary-General and is rebuffed due to the hostile pressure of the conservative American administration, his Committee resolves to fight back by launching a celebrity-driven Bono-Geldof-Band Aid/Live 8-style “People Power” media campaign and telethon, allied to the Occupy Wall Street movement and spearheaded by rock superstars Isis and Osiris and former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to mobilize global public support and pressure. The Blogs of Sartorius, activist Eva Strong and Committee Chairman Andreas Sarkozy reveal the campaign’s working struggle, their tangled love affairs, a loss of faith, attempted suicide, reconciliation of father and son after divorce, and recovery of personal love and faith.

Things fall apart as the idealists’ global crusade is infiltrated by a cell of jihadist terrorists using it as a cover, then counter-infiltrated by CIA agent Jack McKinsey and British MI6 agent Etienne Dearlove. A cat-and-mouse game of espionage and intrigue ensues pitting them against the Chinese MSS espionage network allied with the Iranian Quds Force crossing Beijing, London, Moscow, Washington and Jerusalem unleashing an uncontrollable series of events which sees the American Olympic Track and Field Team bombed on an airplane in London, uncovers a secret conspiracy of China, Russia and Iran to jointly seize the oil reserves of the Middle-East, and witnesses Presidents Clinton and Carter taken hostage with Sartorius, McKinsey, Eva and other activists at a Jerusalem telethon rally cut short by the explosion of a concealed atomic device in a loaned Chinese Terracotta Warrior, then flown by capturing terrorists to Qom, Iran as “human shields” to deter a retaliatory nuclear attack.

In Book II, Spiritus Mundi, the Romance they encounter Iran’s Supreme Leader in Qom as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear confrontation and World War III, while mysterious events unfold leading Sartorius and McKinsey from their captivity in the underground nuclear facilities of Qom into a hidden neo-mythic dimension that takes them to a vast ocean and land at the center of the world, Middle Earth, Inner Shambhala, and to involvement in a mysterious Castalian “Crystal Bead Game” linked to the destiny of the human race on earth. They then embark on a quest for the Silmaril, or Missing Seed Crystal to the central island of Omphalos in the Great Central Sea in the middle of the globe, aided by Goethe, the Chinese Monkey King, Captain Nemo, the African God-Hero Ogun, and a Sufi mystic they traverse a ‘wormhole’ at the center of the earth guarded by ‘The Mothers’ and the fallen angel tribe of the Grigori (Genesis 6:1-4) which leads the way to critical meeting of the “Council of the Immortals” at the Black Hole in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy to determine the final fate of the human species. The heroes battle and overcome the treacherous opposition of Mephisto and his satanic subaltern Mundus through their Underworld and Otherworld adventures and successfully plead the cause of the continuation of the human species before the Immortals, returning with the critical Silmaril Crystal. resolving the Crystal Bead Game and thereby inspiring through the Archangel Gabriel a dream in the mind of Iran’s Supreme Leader which brings a new Revelation causing him to release the hostages and an end the crisis. China and Russia stand down from aiding Iran in seizing the Mid-East oil reserves, but in a treacherous blow the Chinese instead utilize their forward-positioned armies to attack their former ally Russia and seize Siberia with its large oil and gas reserves instead. President Barret Osama, America’s newly-elected first black President then invites Russia, Japan and South Korea to join NATO and together they succeed in expelling the Chinese from Siberia and usher in a new Eurasian and global balance of power and a New World Order.

Rock Superstar Osiris meanwhile, after undertaking a narcissistic Messianic mission in the wake of the Jerusalem atomic blast is dramatically assassinated on live world-wide television on Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa by a disillusioned follower. His wife and rock-star partner Isis then leads a spiritual movement to reconcile and unite the clashing religions and catalyze a common global spiritual Renaissance through a Global Progressive Spiritual Alliance which seeks to construct an Inter-faith Temple on the ruins of the atomic blast in Jerusalem. In counter-reaction to the cataclysmic events the world finally implements Sartorius’ crusade for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, but not before Sartorius has himself has died, Moses-like of a heart attack while helping to foil a metaconspiracy mediated by Time Travel in which a fascist agent from the 23rd Century who has time-transited back to our time to alter a benign history by causing WWIII and thus preventing the evolution of a democratic world government, the United States of Earth, which follows him through time and nabs him just in the “nick of time” to prevent Aramgeddon. The book ends with the opening ceremony of the UN Parliamentary Assembly which is attended in Sartorius’ name by his widow Eva Strong, whom Sartorius had fallen in love with and married in the course of the novel, and by their son Euphy, newborn after Sartorius’ death. They are joined in cinematic climax at the ceremony by newly chosen UN Secretary-General Clinton, President Osama and UN Parliamentary Assembly Committee Chairman Andreas Sarkozy who have just received the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in creation of the world’s first world parliamentary assembly within the United Nations, bringing together the representative voices of the peoples of the world in face-to-face assembly and dialogue for the first time in world history.

Highlights:

All the Highlights of the novel cannot be contained in such a short Introduction, but a few of them would include:

1. Spiritus Mundi is the first novel in world history to portray the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemblyon the working model, inter alia, of the European Parliament;

2. Spiritus Mundi is a prophetic geo-political WWIII novel of the near future forseeing a conflict and conspiratorial surprise attack by a resurgent “Axis” of China, Russia and Iran seeking by a decisive blow in jointly seizing the Middle-East oil fields to radically alter the global balance of power vis-a-vis the West in the world and Eurasia. Like Clancy’s The Bear and the Dragon, it forsees the inclusion of Russia in NATO, and goes far beyond in forseeing the inclusion of South Korea and Japan, following a joint Chinese-Russian occupation of a collapsing North Korea and the Axis strike at the Middle-Eastern oil fields;

3. Spiritus Mundi is an exciting espionage thriller involving the American CIA. British MI6, the Chinese MSS, or Ministry of State Security and the Russian SVR contending in a deul of intrigue and espionage;

4. Spiritus Mundi is a Spellbinding Terrorism/Counterterrorism novel involving a global plot to conceal an atomic bomb in a Chinese Teracotta Warrior to be detonated in Jerusalem;

5. Features the romantic and sexual searching and encounters of dozens of idealist activists, rock-stars, CIA and MI6 agents, public-relations spinmeisters and billionaires with a detour into the bi-sexual and gay scenes of Beijing, New York, California, London and Tokyo:

6. Establishes and grounds the new genre of the Global Novel written in Global English, the international language of the world,

7. Spiritus Mundi is a novel of Spiritual Searching featuring the religious searching of Sufi mystic Mohammad ala Rushdie, as well as the loss of faith, depression, attempted suicide and recovery of faith in life of protagonist Sartorius. Follows bogus religious cult leaders and the Messiah-Complex megalomanic-narcissistic mission of rock superstar Osiris that leads to his dramatic assassination on worldwide television in Jerusalem, followed by the religious conversion of his wife and rock-star parner Isis;

8. Features the search for love and sexual fulfillment of Eva Strong, a deeply and realistically portrayed divorced single mother involved in the United Nations campaign, who reveals her tortured heart and soul in her Blog throughout several disastrous sexual affairs and ultimately through her final attainment of love and marriage to Sartorius;

9. Features Sartorius’ experience of a bitter divorce, alienation and reconciliation with his son, his loss of faith and attempted suicide, his battle against drugs and alcoholism, his surreal and sexual adventures in Mexico City, and his subsequent redeeming love and marriage to Eva Strong;

10. Contains the in–depth literary conversations of Sartorius and his best friend, Literature Nobel Laureate Günther Gross, as they conduct worldwide interviews and research for at book they are jointly writing on the emergence of the new institution of World Literature, building on Goethe’s original concept of “Weltliteratur” and its foundations and contributions from all the world’s traditions and cultures;

11. Predicts the emergence of the institution and quest of “The Great Global Novel” as a successor to the prior quest after “The Great American Novel” in the newer age of the globalization of literature in Global English and generally;

12. Features the cross-cultural experiences and search for roots, sexual and spiritual fulfillment and authenticity of Asian-American character Jennie Zheng, and Pari Kasiwar of India;

13. For the first time incorporates in the dramatic narrative flow of action the mythic traditions of all the cultures and literatures of the world, including such figures as Goethe, The Chinese Monkey King, the African God-Hero Ogun, surreal adventures in the ‘Theatro Magico’ in Mexico City bringing to life figures from the Mayan-Aztec Popul Vuh, Hanuman from the Indian classic the Ramayana, and many more;

14. Book Two, Spiritus Mundi, the Romance is a fantastic Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Rollercoaster Ride: The more mythic Book Two utilizes a Wellsian motif of Time Travel to explore the making of history and its attempted unmaking (a la Terminator) by a hositile raid from the future on the past, our present, and the foiling of the fascist attempt by an alliance of men and women of goodwill and courage from past, present and future generations united in a Commonwealth of Human Destiny; Like Thomas Pynchon’s Against the Day and Welles’ Journey to the Center of the Earth it involves a journey to an interior realm of the “Middle Earth;” it also contains a futuristic travel through a wormhole to the center of our Milky Way Galaxy for a meeting with the “Council of the Immortals” where the fate of the human race will be decided;

15. Is a fantastic read on a roller-coaster ride of high adventure and self-exploration!

NEW BOOK RELEASE: SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD’S SPIRITUS MUNDI NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON! —–INVITATION TO LISTEN TO MAY 17 BLOGTALKRADIO INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR 10:00 AM PST _______________________________________________________________________

We are pleased to announce the launch of SPIRITUS MUNDI on AMAZON , including both Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel (5.0-Star Amazon Rating Average), and Spiritus Mundi, Book II:The Romance (5.0-Star Amazon Rating Average). You can browse and sample both onlline for free now, then purchase immediaetly by clicking on the following Amazon sites:

Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIGJFGO

Spiritus Mundi, Book II: The Romance http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGM8BZG

CHECK OUT SPIRITUS MUNDI’S 5.O-STAR GOODREADS RATING AVERAGE & REVIEWS ON GOODREADS:

Book I (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857619-spiritus-mundi-book-i

Book II (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857704-spiritus-mundi-book-ii-the-romance

CHECK OUT A FULL SUMMARY OF SPIRITUS MUNDI ON SHELFARI before purchasing at:

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123188/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-I-The-Novel http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123187/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-II-The-Romance

Spiritus Mundi is also available on SMASHWORDS in ALL FORMATS:

Book I (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 Book II (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798

Spiritus Mundi is also now available at the following sites:

Spiritus Mundi: Book I: The Novel https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spiritus-mundi-robert-sheppard/1115113181?ean=2940044432598&itm=1&usri=2940044432598 http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Spiritus-Mundi-Book-The-Novel/book-vYffC7MUUEyN0wJTQSpgFQ/page1.html https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/spiritus-mundi/id634577546?mt=11 http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000303856/Sheppard-Robert-Spiritus-Mundi-Book-I-The-Novel/1.html

Spiritus Mundi – Book II: The Romance https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spiritus-mundi-robert-sheppard/1115113152?ean=2940044433182&itm=1&usri=2940044433182 http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Spiritus-Mundi-Book-II-The/book-PlMhvFBI5USTGkLFnO1TQA/page1.html https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/spiritus-mundi-book-ii-romance/id634586781?mt=11 http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000303798/Sheppard-Robert-Spiritus-Mundi-Book-II-The-Romance/1.html

CELEBRATING SPIRITUS MUNDI’S AMAZON RELEASE DAY WITH MAY 17 BLOGTALKRADIO AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH DR. ROBERT ROSE 10:00 AM PST __________________________________________________________________________

We also invite you to listen in to the BlogTalkRadio Interview with Dr. Robert Rose interviewing Robert Sheppard on the topic of “World Consciousness and the Emergencer of World Literature” pre-recorded May 17, 10:00 AM, PST:

How to Tune In: ============ You can tune in by clicking on the following BlogTalkRadio link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2013/05/17/robert-sheppard-global-consciousness

or you can listen in anytime to the recorded Podcasts of the May 17 Interview, or past Interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2012/08/01/robert-sheppard–spiritus-mundi-a-novel

Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard: Table of Contents

Spiritus Mundi

Contents

Book One Spiritus Mundi: The Novel Chapters 1-33

1.Departure (Beijing)

2.A Failing Quest (New York)

3.War Council & Counteroffensive (Geneva)

4.New Beginnings (London)

5.Republic of Letters (Berlin)

6.Fathers and Sons (Washington,D.C.)

7.Ulysses: Blogo Ergo Sum (Beijing)

8.Frequently Asked Questions (London)

9.In the Middle Kingdom (Beijing)

10. Past and Present (London-South Africa)

11. Telemachus (Washington, D.C.)

12. The Everlasting Nay (Beijing)

13. My Brother’s Keeper (London)

14. In the Global Village (Beijing-Tokyo)

15. Deceits and Revelations (London)

16. Be Ready for Anything (Beijing)

17. The Obscure Object of Desire (London-Pyongyang)

18. Sufferings (Beijing)

19. Of the Yearnings of the Caged Spirit (London)

20. Cyclops (Washington, D.C.)

21. The Engines of Illusion (Beijing)

22. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (London)

23. The Temptation of the Sirens (Beijing)

24. Truth or Consequences (London)

25. Lazarus Laughed (Beijing)

26. Neptune’s Fury & The Perils of the Sea (The Maldive Islands)

Naval Diaries and Ship’s Logs of Admiral Sir George Rose Sartorius (1780-1875)

27. Penelope (London)

28. The Volcano’s Underworld (Mexico City)

Teatro Magico

29. The Everlasting Yea (London)

30. Paradise Regained (Little Gidding)

31. To the South of Eden (Kenya-to Midrand-Johannesburg South Africa)

32. In a Glass Darkly (London)

33. Spiritus Mundi

Book Two Spiritus Mundi: The Romance Chapters 1-21

1.Gerusalemme Liberata & Orlando Furioso (Jerusalem)

2.In a Glass Darkly (London)

3.Great Expectations (Jerusalem)

4.The Parable of the Cave (Qom, Iran)

5.The Xth Day of the Crisis (London)

6.The Supreme Leader & The Three Messiahs (Qom)

7.Going for the Jugular (London)

8.The Night Journey, Goethe & The Monkey King (Qom)

9.The Central Sea, The Crystal Bead Game & The Quest

10. The Island of Omphalos & The Mothers

11. The Council of the Immortals & The Trial By Ordeal

12. Nemesis

13. Armageddon (London)

14. The Fever Breaks

15. High Noon & Showdown at the OK Corral (Washington, D.C.)

16. Ecce Homo (Jerusalem)

17. Deliverance (London/Lhasa)

18. For Every Action…. (Moscow/Beijing)

19. The Burial of the Dead (London/Little Gidding)

20. Spiritus Mundi (London/Jerusalem)

21. In My End is My Beginning

—-The Convening of the First Meeting of the

United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (New York)

Appendix 1: A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix 2: Spiritus Mundi: Index of Principal Characters

View more on Robert Sheppard's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on April 23, 2014 10:05

WILL WWIII RESULT FROM A RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE OR A JOINT RUSSIAN-IRANIAN-CHINA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE-EAST OIL RESERVES?——MI6′S NEW SUPERSPY ETIENNE DEARLOVE IS THE NEW JAMES BOND!——-FREE!——-GET THE SNOWDEN-CLANCY-ORWELLIAN CYBERSPY THRILLER

Spiritus Mundi by R

________________________________________________________________

ACT NOW TO DISCOVER THE WORLD’S FATE!

GET YOUR FREE e-COPY OF PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINATED CYBERTHRILLER SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD (BOOK I) NOW BY FOLLOWING THIS SMASHWORDS LINK TO DOWNLOAD:

Spiritus Mundi Book I, The Novel (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856

_______________________________________________________________

http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/poetry-pacific-3-poems-by-robert-sheppard/

INTRODUCING PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD’S EPIC NOVEL SPIRITUS MUNDI

Author’s E-mail: rsheppard99_2000@yahoo.com

ON SPIRITUS MUNDI

Robert McDowell, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Editorial Cra, The Nature of Words

______________________________________________________

Raymond P. Keen, School Psychologist, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS)

—————————————————————-

Nicole Breanne, Content Coordinator, Ranker.com _____________________________________________________

Alina Mu Liu, Official Interpreter, Editor & Translator, HM Courts & Tribunal Service, London UK & the United Nations

Jaime Martinez-Tolentino, Writer” November 19, 2012

————————————————————————–

Lara Biyuts, Reviewer and Blogger at Goodreads.com and Revue Blanche

________________________________________________________

Doug Draime Writer, Freelance

___________________________________________________

Jim Rogers, Owner and Director, AXL

______________________________________________

“Robert Sheppard is an exceptional thinker! His work should be read and made the subject of critical study.”May 26, 2012

Georgia Banks-Martin, Editor, New Mirage Journal

——————————————————————————

Carl Macki, Owner, Carl Macki Social Media

——————————————————————————

Glenda Fralin, Author, Organization NWG

__________________________________________________________

Dr. Robert Rose, Radio Show Host, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose

________________________________________________________________

Related Links and Websites: Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard

For Introduction and Overview of the Novel: https://spiritusmundinovel.wordpress.com/

For Updates on the Upcoming Movie Version of the Novel, Spiritus Mundi & Casting of Actors and Actresses for Leading Roles See: http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read Abut the Occupy Wall Street Movement in Spiritus Mundi: http://occupywallstreetnovel.wordpress.com/

For Author’s Blog: https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read a Sample Chapter from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundisamplechapters.wordpress.com/

To Read Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundifantasymythandmagicalrealism.wordpress.com/

To Read Sexual Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: The Varieties of Sexul Experience: https://spiritusmundivarietiesofsexualexperience.wordpress.com/

To Read Spy, Espionage and Counter-terrorism Thriller Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: http://spiritusmundispyespionagecounterterrorism.wordpress.com/

To Read Geopolitical and World War Three Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundigeopoliticalworldwar3.wordpress.com/

To Read Spiritual and Religious Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundionspiritualityandreligion.wordpress.com/

To Read about the Global Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundiunitednationsparliamentaryassembly.wordpress.com/

To Read Poetry from Spiritus Mundi：https://spiritusmundipoetry.wordpress...

For Discussions on World Literature and Literary Criticism in Spiritus Mundi: http://worldliteratureandliterarycriticism.wordpress.com/

For Discussions of World History and World Civilization in Spiritus Mundi: https://worldhistoryandcivilizationspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Eva Strong from Spiritus Mundi: https://evasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Andreas Sarkozy from Spiritus Mundi: http://andreasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Yoriko Oe from Spiritus Mundi: http://yorikosblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Robert Sartorius from Spiritus Mundi: http://sartoriusblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

Highlights:

All the Highlights of the novel cannot be contained in such a short Introduction, but a few of them would include:

1. Spiritus Mundi is the first novel in world history to portray the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemblyon the working model, inter alia, of the European Parliament;

4. Spiritus Mundi is a Spellbinding Terrorism/Counterterrorism novel involving a global plot to conceal an atomic bomb in a Chinese Teracotta Warrior to be detonated in Jerusalem;

6. Establishes and grounds the new genre of the Global Novel written in Global English, the international language of the world,

12. Features the cross-cultural experiences and search for roots, sexual and spiritual fulfillment and authenticity of Asian-American character Jennie Zheng, and Pari Kasiwar of India;

15. Is a fantastic read on a roller-coaster ride of high adventure and self-exploration!

NEW BOOK RELEASE: SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIGJFGO

Spiritus Mundi, Book II: The Romance http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGM8BZG

CHECK OUT SPIRITUS MUNDI’S 5.O-STAR GOODREADS RATING AVERAGE & REVIEWS ON GOODREADS:

Book I (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857619-spiritus-mundi-book-i

Book II (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857704-spiritus-mundi-book-ii-the-romance

CHECK OUT A FULL SUMMARY OF SPIRITUS MUNDI ON SHELFARI before purchasing at:

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123188/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-I-The-Novel http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123187/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-II-The-Romance

Spiritus Mundi is also available on SMASHWORDS in ALL FORMATS:

Book I (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 Book II (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798

Spiritus Mundi is also now available at the following sites:

How to Tune In: ============ You can tune in by clicking on the following BlogTalkRadio link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2013/05/17/robert-sheppard-global-consciousness

or you can listen in anytime to the recorded Podcasts of the May 17 Interview, or past Interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2012/08/01/robert-sheppard–spiritus-mundi-a-novel

Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard: Table of Contents

Spiritus Mundi

Contents

10. Past and Present (London-South Africa)

11. Telemachus (Washington, D.C.)

12. The Everlasting Nay (Beijing)

13. My Brother’s Keeper (London)

14. In the Global Village (Beijing-Tokyo)

15. Deceits and Revelations (London)

16. Be Ready for Anything (Beijing)

17. The Obscure Object of Desire (London-Pyongyang)

18. Sufferings (Beijing)

19. Of the Yearnings of the Caged Spirit (London)

20. Cyclops (Washington, D.C.)

21. The Engines of Illusion (Beijing)

22. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (London)

23. The Temptation of the Sirens (Beijing)

24. Truth or Consequences (London)

25. Lazarus Laughed (Beijing)

26. Neptune’s Fury & The Perils of the Sea (The Maldive Islands)

Naval Diaries and Ship’s Logs of Admiral Sir George Rose Sartorius (1780-1875)

27. Penelope (London)

28. The Volcano’s Underworld (Mexico City)

Teatro Magico

29. The Everlasting Yea (London)

30. Paradise Regained (Little Gidding)

31. To the South of Eden (Kenya-to Midrand-Johannesburg South Africa)

32. In a Glass Darkly (London)

33. Spiritus Mundi

10. The Island of Omphalos & The Mothers

11. The Council of the Immortals & The Trial By Ordeal

12. Nemesis

13. Armageddon (London)

14. The Fever Breaks

15. High Noon & Showdown at the OK Corral (Washington, D.C.)

16. Ecce Homo (Jerusalem)

17. Deliverance (London/Lhasa)

18. For Every Action…. (Moscow/Beijing)

19. The Burial of the Dead (London/Little Gidding)

20. Spiritus Mundi (London/Jerusalem)

21. In My End is My Beginning

—-The Convening of the First Meeting of the

United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (New York)

Appendix 1: A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix 2: Spiritus Mundi: Index of Principal Characters

View more on Robert Sheppard's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on April 23, 2014 10:05

WILL WWIII RESULT FROM A RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE OR A JOINT RUSSIAN-IRANIAN-CHINA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE-EAST OIL RESERVES?——MI6′S NEW SUPERSPY ETIENNE DEARLOVE IS THE NEW JAMES BOND!——-FREE!——-GET THE SNOWDEN-CLANCY-ORWELLIAN CYBERSPY THRILLER

Spiritus Mundi by R

________________________________________________________________

ACT NOW TO DISCOVER THE WORLD’S FATE!

GET YOUR FREE e-COPY OF PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINATED CYBERTHRILLER SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD (BOOK I) NOW BY FOLLOWING THIS SMASHWORDS LINK TO DOWNLOAD:

Spiritus Mundi Book I, The Novel (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856

_______________________________________________________________

http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/poetry-pacific-3-poems-by-robert-sheppard/

INTRODUCING PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD’S EPIC NOVEL SPIRITUS MUNDI

Author’s E-mail: rsheppard99_2000@yahoo.com

ON SPIRITUS MUNDI

Robert McDowell, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Editorial Cra, The Nature of Words

______________________________________________________

Raymond P. Keen, School Psychologist, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS)

—————————————————————-

Nicole Breanne, Content Coordinator, Ranker.com _____________________________________________________

Alina Mu Liu, Official Interpreter, Editor & Translator, HM Courts & Tribunal Service, London UK & the United Nations

Jaime Martinez-Tolentino, Writer” November 19, 2012

————————————————————————–

Lara Biyuts, Reviewer and Blogger at Goodreads.com and Revue Blanche

________________________________________________________

Doug Draime Writer, Freelance

___________________________________________________

Jim Rogers, Owner and Director, AXL

______________________________________________

“Robert Sheppard is an exceptional thinker! His work should be read and made the subject of critical study.”May 26, 2012

Georgia Banks-Martin, Editor, New Mirage Journal

——————————————————————————

Carl Macki, Owner, Carl Macki Social Media

——————————————————————————

Glenda Fralin, Author, Organization NWG

__________________________________________________________

Dr. Robert Rose, Radio Show Host, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose

________________________________________________________________

Related Links and Websites: Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard

For Introduction and Overview of the Novel: https://spiritusmundinovel.wordpress.com/

For Updates on the Upcoming Movie Version of the Novel, Spiritus Mundi & Casting of Actors and Actresses for Leading Roles See: http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read Abut the Occupy Wall Street Movement in Spiritus Mundi: http://occupywallstreetnovel.wordpress.com/

For Author’s Blog: https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read a Sample Chapter from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundisamplechapters.wordpress.com/

To Read Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundifantasymythandmagicalrealism.wordpress.com/

To Read Sexual Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: The Varieties of Sexul Experience: https://spiritusmundivarietiesofsexualexperience.wordpress.com/

To Read Spy, Espionage and Counter-terrorism Thriller Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: http://spiritusmundispyespionagecounterterrorism.wordpress.com/

To Read Geopolitical and World War Three Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundigeopoliticalworldwar3.wordpress.com/

To Read Spiritual and Religious Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundionspiritualityandreligion.wordpress.com/

To Read about the Global Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundiunitednationsparliamentaryassembly.wordpress.com/

To Read Poetry from Spiritus Mundi：https://spiritusmundipoetry.wordpress...

For Discussions on World Literature and Literary Criticism in Spiritus Mundi: http://worldliteratureandliterarycriticism.wordpress.com/

For Discussions of World History and World Civilization in Spiritus Mundi: https://worldhistoryandcivilizationspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Eva Strong from Spiritus Mundi: https://evasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Andreas Sarkozy from Spiritus Mundi: http://andreasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Yoriko Oe from Spiritus Mundi: http://yorikosblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Robert Sartorius from Spiritus Mundi: http://sartoriusblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

Highlights:

All the Highlights of the novel cannot be contained in such a short Introduction, but a few of them would include:

1. Spiritus Mundi is the first novel in world history to portray the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemblyon the working model, inter alia, of the European Parliament;

4. Spiritus Mundi is a Spellbinding Terrorism/Counterterrorism novel involving a global plot to conceal an atomic bomb in a Chinese Teracotta Warrior to be detonated in Jerusalem;

6. Establishes and grounds the new genre of the Global Novel written in Global English, the international language of the world,

12. Features the cross-cultural experiences and search for roots, sexual and spiritual fulfillment and authenticity of Asian-American character Jennie Zheng, and Pari Kasiwar of India;

15. Is a fantastic read on a roller-coaster ride of high adventure and self-exploration!

NEW BOOK RELEASE: SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIGJFGO

Spiritus Mundi, Book II: The Romance http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGM8BZG

CHECK OUT SPIRITUS MUNDI’S 5.O-STAR GOODREADS RATING AVERAGE & REVIEWS ON GOODREADS:

Book I (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857619-spiritus-mundi-book-i

Book II (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857704-spiritus-mundi-book-ii-the-romance

CHECK OUT A FULL SUMMARY OF SPIRITUS MUNDI ON SHELFARI before purchasing at:

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123188/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-I-The-Novel http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123187/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-II-The-Romance

Spiritus Mundi is also available on SMASHWORDS in ALL FORMATS:

Book I (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 Book II (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798

Spiritus Mundi is also now available at the following sites:

How to Tune In: ============ You can tune in by clicking on the following BlogTalkRadio link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2013/05/17/robert-sheppard-global-consciousness

or you can listen in anytime to the recorded Podcasts of the May 17 Interview, or past Interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2012/08/01/robert-sheppard–spiritus-mundi-a-novel

Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard: Table of Contents

Spiritus Mundi

Contents

10. Past and Present (London-South Africa)

11. Telemachus (Washington, D.C.)

12. The Everlasting Nay (Beijing)

13. My Brother’s Keeper (London)

14. In the Global Village (Beijing-Tokyo)

15. Deceits and Revelations (London)

16. Be Ready for Anything (Beijing)

17. The Obscure Object of Desire (London-Pyongyang)

18. Sufferings (Beijing)

19. Of the Yearnings of the Caged Spirit (London)

20. Cyclops (Washington, D.C.)

21. The Engines of Illusion (Beijing)

22. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (London)

23. The Temptation of the Sirens (Beijing)

24. Truth or Consequences (London)

25. Lazarus Laughed (Beijing)

26. Neptune’s Fury & The Perils of the Sea (The Maldive Islands)

Naval Diaries and Ship’s Logs of Admiral Sir George Rose Sartorius (1780-1875)

27. Penelope (London)

28. The Volcano’s Underworld (Mexico City)

Teatro Magico

29. The Everlasting Yea (London)

30. Paradise Regained (Little Gidding)

31. To the South of Eden (Kenya-to Midrand-Johannesburg South Africa)

32. In a Glass Darkly (London)

33. Spiritus Mundi

10. The Island of Omphalos & The Mothers

11. The Council of the Immortals & The Trial By Ordeal

12. Nemesis

13. Armageddon (London)

14. The Fever Breaks

15. High Noon & Showdown at the OK Corral (Washington, D.C.)

16. Ecce Homo (Jerusalem)

17. Deliverance (London/Lhasa)

18. For Every Action…. (Moscow/Beijing)

19. The Burial of the Dead (London/Little Gidding)

20. Spiritus Mundi (London/Jerusalem)

21. In My End is My Beginning

—-The Convening of the First Meeting of the

United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (New York)

Appendix 1: A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix 2: Spiritus Mundi: Index of Principal Characters

View more on Robert Sheppard's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on April 23, 2014 10:05

WILL WWIII RESULT FROM A RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE OR A JOINT RUSSIAN-IRANIAN-CHINA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE-EAST OIL RESERVES?——MI6′S NEW SUPERSPY ETIENNE DEARLOVE IS THE NEW JAMES BOND!——-FREE!——-GET THE SNOWDEN-CLANCY-ORWELLIAN CYBERSPY THRILLER

Spiritus Mundi by R

________________________________________________________________

ACT NOW TO DISCOVER THE WORLD’S FATE!

GET YOUR FREE e-COPY OF PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINATED CYBERTHRILLER SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD (BOOK I) NOW BY FOLLOWING THIS SMASHWORDS LINK TO DOWNLOAD:

Spiritus Mundi Book I, The Novel (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856

_______________________________________________________________

http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/poetry-pacific-3-poems-by-robert-sheppard/

INTRODUCING PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD’S EPIC NOVEL SPIRITUS MUNDI

Author’s E-mail: rsheppard99_2000@yahoo.com

ON SPIRITUS MUNDI

Robert McDowell, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Editorial Cra, The Nature of Words

______________________________________________________

Raymond P. Keen, School Psychologist, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS)

—————————————————————-

Nicole Breanne, Content Coordinator, Ranker.com _____________________________________________________

Alina Mu Liu, Official Interpreter, Editor & Translator, HM Courts & Tribunal Service, London UK & the United Nations

Jaime Martinez-Tolentino, Writer” November 19, 2012

————————————————————————–

Lara Biyuts, Reviewer and Blogger at Goodreads.com and Revue Blanche

________________________________________________________

Doug Draime Writer, Freelance

___________________________________________________

Jim Rogers, Owner and Director, AXL

______________________________________________

“Robert Sheppard is an exceptional thinker! His work should be read and made the subject of critical study.”May 26, 2012

Georgia Banks-Martin, Editor, New Mirage Journal

——————————————————————————

Carl Macki, Owner, Carl Macki Social Media

——————————————————————————

Glenda Fralin, Author, Organization NWG

__________________________________________________________

Dr. Robert Rose, Radio Show Host, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose

________________________________________________________________

Related Links and Websites: Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard

For Introduction and Overview of the Novel: https://spiritusmundinovel.wordpress.com/

For Updates on the Upcoming Movie Version of the Novel, Spiritus Mundi & Casting of Actors and Actresses for Leading Roles See: http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read Abut the Occupy Wall Street Movement in Spiritus Mundi: http://occupywallstreetnovel.wordpress.com/

For Author’s Blog: https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read a Sample Chapter from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundisamplechapters.wordpress.com/

To Read Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundifantasymythandmagicalrealism.wordpress.com/

To Read Sexual Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: The Varieties of Sexul Experience: https://spiritusmundivarietiesofsexualexperience.wordpress.com/

To Read Spy, Espionage and Counter-terrorism Thriller Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: http://spiritusmundispyespionagecounterterrorism.wordpress.com/

To Read Geopolitical and World War Three Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundigeopoliticalworldwar3.wordpress.com/

To Read Spiritual and Religious Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundionspiritualityandreligion.wordpress.com/

To Read about the Global Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundiunitednationsparliamentaryassembly.wordpress.com/

To Read Poetry from Spiritus Mundi：https://spiritusmundipoetry.wordpress...

For Discussions on World Literature and Literary Criticism in Spiritus Mundi: http://worldliteratureandliterarycriticism.wordpress.com/

For Discussions of World History and World Civilization in Spiritus Mundi: https://worldhistoryandcivilizationspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Eva Strong from Spiritus Mundi: https://evasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Andreas Sarkozy from Spiritus Mundi: http://andreasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Yoriko Oe from Spiritus Mundi: http://yorikosblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Robert Sartorius from Spiritus Mundi: http://sartoriusblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

Highlights:

All the Highlights of the novel cannot be contained in such a short Introduction, but a few of them would include:

1. Spiritus Mundi is the first novel in world history to portray the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemblyon the working model, inter alia, of the European Parliament;

4. Spiritus Mundi is a Spellbinding Terrorism/Counterterrorism novel involving a global plot to conceal an atomic bomb in a Chinese Teracotta Warrior to be detonated in Jerusalem;

6. Establishes and grounds the new genre of the Global Novel written in Global English, the international language of the world,

12. Features the cross-cultural experiences and search for roots, sexual and spiritual fulfillment and authenticity of Asian-American character Jennie Zheng, and Pari Kasiwar of India;

15. Is a fantastic read on a roller-coaster ride of high adventure and self-exploration!

NEW BOOK RELEASE: SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIGJFGO

Spiritus Mundi, Book II: The Romance http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGM8BZG

CHECK OUT SPIRITUS MUNDI’S 5.O-STAR GOODREADS RATING AVERAGE & REVIEWS ON GOODREADS:

Book I (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857619-spiritus-mundi-book-i

Book II (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857704-spiritus-mundi-book-ii-the-romance

CHECK OUT A FULL SUMMARY OF SPIRITUS MUNDI ON SHELFARI before purchasing at:

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123188/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-I-The-Novel http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123187/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-II-The-Romance

Spiritus Mundi is also available on SMASHWORDS in ALL FORMATS:

Book I (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 Book II (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798

Spiritus Mundi is also now available at the following sites:

How to Tune In: ============ You can tune in by clicking on the following BlogTalkRadio link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2013/05/17/robert-sheppard-global-consciousness

or you can listen in anytime to the recorded Podcasts of the May 17 Interview, or past Interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2012/08/01/robert-sheppard–spiritus-mundi-a-novel

Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard: Table of Contents

Spiritus Mundi

Contents

10. Past and Present (London-South Africa)

11. Telemachus (Washington, D.C.)

12. The Everlasting Nay (Beijing)

13. My Brother’s Keeper (London)

14. In the Global Village (Beijing-Tokyo)

15. Deceits and Revelations (London)

16. Be Ready for Anything (Beijing)

17. The Obscure Object of Desire (London-Pyongyang)

18. Sufferings (Beijing)

19. Of the Yearnings of the Caged Spirit (London)

20. Cyclops (Washington, D.C.)

21. The Engines of Illusion (Beijing)

22. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (London)

23. The Temptation of the Sirens (Beijing)

24. Truth or Consequences (London)

25. Lazarus Laughed (Beijing)

26. Neptune’s Fury & The Perils of the Sea (The Maldive Islands)

Naval Diaries and Ship’s Logs of Admiral Sir George Rose Sartorius (1780-1875)

27. Penelope (London)

28. The Volcano’s Underworld (Mexico City)

Teatro Magico

29. The Everlasting Yea (London)

30. Paradise Regained (Little Gidding)

31. To the South of Eden (Kenya-to Midrand-Johannesburg South Africa)

32. In a Glass Darkly (London)

33. Spiritus Mundi

10. The Island of Omphalos & The Mothers

11. The Council of the Immortals & The Trial By Ordeal

12. Nemesis

13. Armageddon (London)

14. The Fever Breaks

15. High Noon & Showdown at the OK Corral (Washington, D.C.)

16. Ecce Homo (Jerusalem)

17. Deliverance (London/Lhasa)

18. For Every Action…. (Moscow/Beijing)

19. The Burial of the Dead (London/Little Gidding)

20. Spiritus Mundi (London/Jerusalem)

21. In My End is My Beginning

—-The Convening of the First Meeting of the

United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (New York)

Appendix 1: A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix 2: Spiritus Mundi: Index of Principal Characters

View more on Robert Sheppard's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on April 23, 2014 10:05

WILL WWIII RESULT FROM A RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE OR A JOINT RUSSIAN-IRANIAN-CHINA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE-EAST OIL RESERVES?——MI6′S NEW SUPERSPY ETIENNE DEARLOVE IS THE NEW JAMES BOND!——-FREE!——-GET THE SNOWDEN-CLANCY-ORWELLIAN CYBERSPY THRILLER

Spiritus Mundi by R

________________________________________________________________

ACT NOW TO DISCOVER THE WORLD’S FATE!

GET YOUR FREE e-COPY OF PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINATED CYBERTHRILLER SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD (BOOK I) NOW BY FOLLOWING THIS SMASHWORDS LINK TO DOWNLOAD:

Spiritus Mundi Book I, The Novel (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856

_______________________________________________________________

http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/poetry-pacific-3-poems-by-robert-sheppard/

INTRODUCING PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD’S EPIC NOVEL SPIRITUS MUNDI

Author’s E-mail: rsheppard99_2000@yahoo.com

ON SPIRITUS MUNDI

Robert McDowell, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Editorial Cra, The Nature of Words

______________________________________________________

Raymond P. Keen, School Psychologist, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS)

—————————————————————-

Nicole Breanne, Content Coordinator, Ranker.com _____________________________________________________

Alina Mu Liu, Official Interpreter, Editor & Translator, HM Courts & Tribunal Service, London UK & the United Nations

Jaime Martinez-Tolentino, Writer” November 19, 2012

————————————————————————–

Lara Biyuts, Reviewer and Blogger at Goodreads.com and Revue Blanche

________________________________________________________

Doug Draime Writer, Freelance

___________________________________________________

Jim Rogers, Owner and Director, AXL

______________________________________________

“Robert Sheppard is an exceptional thinker! His work should be read and made the subject of critical study.”May 26, 2012

Georgia Banks-Martin, Editor, New Mirage Journal

——————————————————————————

Carl Macki, Owner, Carl Macki Social Media

——————————————————————————

Glenda Fralin, Author, Organization NWG

__________________________________________________________

Dr. Robert Rose, Radio Show Host, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose

________________________________________________________________

Related Links and Websites: Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard

For Introduction and Overview of the Novel: https://spiritusmundinovel.wordpress.com/

For Updates on the Upcoming Movie Version of the Novel, Spiritus Mundi & Casting of Actors and Actresses for Leading Roles See: http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read Abut the Occupy Wall Street Movement in Spiritus Mundi: http://occupywallstreetnovel.wordpress.com/

For Author’s Blog: https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read a Sample Chapter from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundisamplechapters.wordpress.com/

To Read Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundifantasymythandmagicalrealism.wordpress.com/

To Read Sexual Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: The Varieties of Sexul Experience: https://spiritusmundivarietiesofsexualexperience.wordpress.com/

To Read Spy, Espionage and Counter-terrorism Thriller Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: http://spiritusmundispyespionagecounterterrorism.wordpress.com/

To Read Geopolitical and World War Three Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundigeopoliticalworldwar3.wordpress.com/

To Read Spiritual and Religious Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundionspiritualityandreligion.wordpress.com/

To Read about the Global Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundiunitednationsparliamentaryassembly.wordpress.com/

To Read Poetry from Spiritus Mundi：https://spiritusmundipoetry.wordpress...

For Discussions on World Literature and Literary Criticism in Spiritus Mundi: http://worldliteratureandliterarycriticism.wordpress.com/

For Discussions of World History and World Civilization in Spiritus Mundi: https://worldhistoryandcivilizationspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Eva Strong from Spiritus Mundi: https://evasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Andreas Sarkozy from Spiritus Mundi: http://andreasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Yoriko Oe from Spiritus Mundi: http://yorikosblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Robert Sartorius from Spiritus Mundi: http://sartoriusblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

Highlights:

All the Highlights of the novel cannot be contained in such a short Introduction, but a few of them would include:

1. Spiritus Mundi is the first novel in world history to portray the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemblyon the working model, inter alia, of the European Parliament;

4. Spiritus Mundi is a Spellbinding Terrorism/Counterterrorism novel involving a global plot to conceal an atomic bomb in a Chinese Teracotta Warrior to be detonated in Jerusalem;

6. Establishes and grounds the new genre of the Global Novel written in Global English, the international language of the world,

12. Features the cross-cultural experiences and search for roots, sexual and spiritual fulfillment and authenticity of Asian-American character Jennie Zheng, and Pari Kasiwar of India;

15. Is a fantastic read on a roller-coaster ride of high adventure and self-exploration!

NEW BOOK RELEASE: SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIGJFGO

Spiritus Mundi, Book II: The Romance http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGM8BZG

CHECK OUT SPIRITUS MUNDI’S 5.O-STAR GOODREADS RATING AVERAGE & REVIEWS ON GOODREADS:

Book I (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857619-spiritus-mundi-book-i

Book II (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857704-spiritus-mundi-book-ii-the-romance

CHECK OUT A FULL SUMMARY OF SPIRITUS MUNDI ON SHELFARI before purchasing at:

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123188/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-I-The-Novel http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123187/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-II-The-Romance

Spiritus Mundi is also available on SMASHWORDS in ALL FORMATS:

Book I (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 Book II (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798

Spiritus Mundi is also now available at the following sites:

How to Tune In: ============ You can tune in by clicking on the following BlogTalkRadio link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2013/05/17/robert-sheppard-global-consciousness

or you can listen in anytime to the recorded Podcasts of the May 17 Interview, or past Interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2012/08/01/robert-sheppard–spiritus-mundi-a-novel

Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard: Table of Contents

Spiritus Mundi

Contents

10. Past and Present (London-South Africa)

11. Telemachus (Washington, D.C.)

12. The Everlasting Nay (Beijing)

13. My Brother’s Keeper (London)

14. In the Global Village (Beijing-Tokyo)

15. Deceits and Revelations (London)

16. Be Ready for Anything (Beijing)

17. The Obscure Object of Desire (London-Pyongyang)

18. Sufferings (Beijing)

19. Of the Yearnings of the Caged Spirit (London)

20. Cyclops (Washington, D.C.)

21. The Engines of Illusion (Beijing)

22. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (London)

23. The Temptation of the Sirens (Beijing)

24. Truth or Consequences (London)

25. Lazarus Laughed (Beijing)

26. Neptune’s Fury & The Perils of the Sea (The Maldive Islands)

Naval Diaries and Ship’s Logs of Admiral Sir George Rose Sartorius (1780-1875)

27. Penelope (London)

28. The Volcano’s Underworld (Mexico City)

Teatro Magico

29. The Everlasting Yea (London)

30. Paradise Regained (Little Gidding)

31. To the South of Eden (Kenya-to Midrand-Johannesburg South Africa)

32. In a Glass Darkly (London)

33. Spiritus Mundi

10. The Island of Omphalos & The Mothers

11. The Council of the Immortals & The Trial By Ordeal

12. Nemesis

13. Armageddon (London)

14. The Fever Breaks

15. High Noon & Showdown at the OK Corral (Washington, D.C.)

16. Ecce Homo (Jerusalem)

17. Deliverance (London/Lhasa)

18. For Every Action…. (Moscow/Beijing)

19. The Burial of the Dead (London/Little Gidding)

20. Spiritus Mundi (London/Jerusalem)

21. In My End is My Beginning

—-The Convening of the First Meeting of the

United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (New York)

Appendix 1: A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix 2: Spiritus Mundi: Index of Principal Characters

View more on Robert Sheppard's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on April 23, 2014 10:05

WILL WWIII RESULT FROM A RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE OR A JOINT RUSSIAN-IRANIAN-CHINA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE-EAST OIL RESERVES?——MI6′S NEW SUPERSPY ETIENNE DEARLOVE IS THE NEW JAMES BOND!——-FREE!——-GET THE SNOWDEN-CLANCY-ORWELLIAN CYBERSPY THRILLER

Spiritus Mundi by R

________________________________________________________________

ACT NOW TO DISCOVER THE WORLD’S FATE!

GET YOUR FREE e-COPY OF PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINATED CYBERTHRILLER SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD (BOOK I) NOW BY FOLLOWING THIS SMASHWORDS LINK TO DOWNLOAD:

Spiritus Mundi Book I, The Novel (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856

_______________________________________________________________

http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/poetry-pacific-3-poems-by-robert-sheppard/

INTRODUCING PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD’S EPIC NOVEL SPIRITUS MUNDI

Author’s E-mail: rsheppard99_2000@yahoo.com

ON SPIRITUS MUNDI

Robert McDowell, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Editorial Cra, The Nature of Words

______________________________________________________

Raymond P. Keen, School Psychologist, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS)

—————————————————————-

Nicole Breanne, Content Coordinator, Ranker.com _____________________________________________________

Alina Mu Liu, Official Interpreter, Editor & Translator, HM Courts & Tribunal Service, London UK & the United Nations

Jaime Martinez-Tolentino, Writer” November 19, 2012

————————————————————————–

Lara Biyuts, Reviewer and Blogger at Goodreads.com and Revue Blanche

________________________________________________________

Doug Draime Writer, Freelance

___________________________________________________

Jim Rogers, Owner and Director, AXL

______________________________________________

“Robert Sheppard is an exceptional thinker! His work should be read and made the subject of critical study.”May 26, 2012

Georgia Banks-Martin, Editor, New Mirage Journal

——————————————————————————

Carl Macki, Owner, Carl Macki Social Media

——————————————————————————

Glenda Fralin, Author, Organization NWG

__________________________________________________________

Dr. Robert Rose, Radio Show Host, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose

________________________________________________________________

Related Links and Websites: Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard

For Introduction and Overview of the Novel: https://spiritusmundinovel.wordpress.com/

For Updates on the Upcoming Movie Version of the Novel, Spiritus Mundi & Casting of Actors and Actresses for Leading Roles See: http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read Abut the Occupy Wall Street Movement in Spiritus Mundi: http://occupywallstreetnovel.wordpress.com/

For Author’s Blog: https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read a Sample Chapter from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundisamplechapters.wordpress.com/

To Read Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundifantasymythandmagicalrealism.wordpress.com/

To Read Sexual Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: The Varieties of Sexul Experience: https://spiritusmundivarietiesofsexualexperience.wordpress.com/

To Read Spy, Espionage and Counter-terrorism Thriller Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: http://spiritusmundispyespionagecounterterrorism.wordpress.com/

To Read Geopolitical and World War Three Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundigeopoliticalworldwar3.wordpress.com/

To Read Spiritual and Religious Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundionspiritualityandreligion.wordpress.com/

To Read about the Global Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundiunitednationsparliamentaryassembly.wordpress.com/

To Read Poetry from Spiritus Mundi：https://spiritusmundipoetry.wordpress...

For Discussions on World Literature and Literary Criticism in Spiritus Mundi: http://worldliteratureandliterarycriticism.wordpress.com/

For Discussions of World History and World Civilization in Spiritus Mundi: https://worldhistoryandcivilizationspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Eva Strong from Spiritus Mundi: https://evasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Andreas Sarkozy from Spiritus Mundi: http://andreasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Yoriko Oe from Spiritus Mundi: http://yorikosblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Robert Sartorius from Spiritus Mundi: http://sartoriusblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

Highlights:

All the Highlights of the novel cannot be contained in such a short Introduction, but a few of them would include:

1. Spiritus Mundi is the first novel in world history to portray the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemblyon the working model, inter alia, of the European Parliament;

4. Spiritus Mundi is a Spellbinding Terrorism/Counterterrorism novel involving a global plot to conceal an atomic bomb in a Chinese Teracotta Warrior to be detonated in Jerusalem;

6. Establishes and grounds the new genre of the Global Novel written in Global English, the international language of the world,

12. Features the cross-cultural experiences and search for roots, sexual and spiritual fulfillment and authenticity of Asian-American character Jennie Zheng, and Pari Kasiwar of India;

15. Is a fantastic read on a roller-coaster ride of high adventure and self-exploration!

NEW BOOK RELEASE: SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIGJFGO

Spiritus Mundi, Book II: The Romance http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGM8BZG

CHECK OUT SPIRITUS MUNDI’S 5.O-STAR GOODREADS RATING AVERAGE & REVIEWS ON GOODREADS:

Book I (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857619-spiritus-mundi-book-i

Book II (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857704-spiritus-mundi-book-ii-the-romance

CHECK OUT A FULL SUMMARY OF SPIRITUS MUNDI ON SHELFARI before purchasing at:

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123188/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-I-The-Novel http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123187/Spiritus-Mundi—Book-II-The-Romance

Spiritus Mundi is also available on SMASHWORDS in ALL FORMATS:

Book I (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 Book II (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798

Spiritus Mundi is also now available at the following sites:

How to Tune In: ============ You can tune in by clicking on the following BlogTalkRadio link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2013/05/17/robert-sheppard-global-consciousness

or you can listen in anytime to the recorded Podcasts of the May 17 Interview, or past Interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2012/08/01/robert-sheppard–spiritus-mundi-a-novel

Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard: Table of Contents

Spiritus Mundi

Contents

10. Past and Present (London-South Africa)

11. Telemachus (Washington, D.C.)

12. The Everlasting Nay (Beijing)

13. My Brother’s Keeper (London)

14. In the Global Village (Beijing-Tokyo)

15. Deceits and Revelations (London)

16. Be Ready for Anything (Beijing)

17. The Obscure Object of Desire (London-Pyongyang)

18. Sufferings (Beijing)

19. Of the Yearnings of the Caged Spirit (London)

20. Cyclops (Washington, D.C.)

21. The Engines of Illusion (Beijing)

22. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (London)

23. The Temptation of the Sirens (Beijing)

24. Truth or Consequences (London)

25. Lazarus Laughed (Beijing)

26. Neptune’s Fury & The Perils of the Sea (The Maldive Islands)

Naval Diaries and Ship’s Logs of Admiral Sir George Rose Sartorius (1780-1875)

27. Penelope (London)

28. The Volcano’s Underworld (Mexico City)

Teatro Magico

29. The Everlasting Yea (London)

30. Paradise Regained (Little Gidding)

31. To the South of Eden (Kenya-to Midrand-Johannesburg South Africa)

32. In a Glass Darkly (London)

33. Spiritus Mundi

10. The Island of Omphalos & The Mothers

11. The Council of the Immortals & The Trial By Ordeal

12. Nemesis

13. Armageddon (London)

14. The Fever Breaks

15. High Noon & Showdown at the OK Corral (Washington, D.C.)

16. Ecce Homo (Jerusalem)

17. Deliverance (London/Lhasa)

18. For Every Action…. (Moscow/Beijing)

19. The Burial of the Dead (London/Little Gidding)

20. Spiritus Mundi (London/Jerusalem)

21. In My End is My Beginning

—-The Convening of the First Meeting of the

United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (New York)

Appendix 1: A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix 2: Spiritus Mundi: Index of Principal Characters

View more on Robert Sheppard's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on April 23, 2014 10:05

February 14, 2014

SCIENCE FICTION IN WORLD LITERATURE: FROM LUCIAN AND IBN AL-NAFIS TO HEINLEIN, ASIMOV, ARTHUR C. CLARKE, URSULA K. LE GUIN AND BEYOND———FROM THE WORLD LITERATURE FORUM SUGGESTED CLASSICS AND MASTERPIECES SERIES, ROBERT SHEPPARD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SCIENCE FICTION IN WORLD LITERATURE: FROM LUCIAN AND IBN AL-NAFIS TO HEINLEIN, ASIMOV, ARTHUR C. CLARKE, URSULA K. LE GUIN AND BEYOND———FROM THE WORLD LITERATURE FORUM SUGGESTED CLASSICS AND MASTERPIECES SERIES, ROBERT SHEPPARD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WORLD LITERATURE FORUM

Robert Sheppard, Editor-in-Chief, World Literature Forum

SCIENCE FICTION IN WORLD LITERATURE: FROM LUCIAN AND IBN AL-NAFIS TO HEINLEIN, ASIMOV, ARTHUR C. CLARKE, URSULA K. LE GUIN AND BEYOND

H.G.Wells’ War of the Worlds—World Classic of Science Fiction

What is “Science Fiction?” By its terms science fiction is the conjunction of “science” and “fiction,” which is to say the world of what we hold to be the most confirmable “reality” of our lives, or “what really is,” in fruitful union with the richest realm of the imagination, our deepest dreams of that alternative reality of “what could be,” or what might most delight us or be desired to be, or that which is most feared to be. It is also not incidentally, as is all art and literature, among our deepest conjectures of who we are and who we may dream ourselves to be, or to become.

According to science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein a handy short definition of almost all science fiction might read: “realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method.” Rod Serling’s definition is “fantasy is the impossible made probable. Science fiction is the improbable made possible.” Lester del Rey wrote, “Even the devoted aficionado—or fan—has a hard time trying to explain what science fiction is,” and that the reason for there not being a “full satisfactory definition” is that “there are no easily delineated limits to science fiction.”

Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about alternative possible worlds or futures. It is similar to, but differs from pure fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated physical laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation).

The settings for science fiction are often contrary to those of consensus reality but most science fiction still relies on a considerable degree of suspension of disbelief, which is facilitated in the reader’s mind by potential scientific explanations or solutions to various fictional elements. Science fiction elements include:

A time setting in the future in alternative      timelines or in a historical past that      contradicts known facts of history or the archeological record;
A spatial setting or scenes in outer      space (e.g. spaceflight), on      other worlds, or subterranean      earth;
Characters that include aliens, mutants, androids      or humanoid robots and other types of characters      arising from a future human evolution;
Futuristic or plausible technology such as ray guns,      teleportation machines, and humanoid computers;
Scientific principles that are new or that contradict      accepted physical laws, for example time travel, wormholes or      faster-than-light travel or communication      (known to be possible but not      yet feasible).
New and different political or social systems, e.g. dystopian,      post-scarcity or post-apocalyptic;      Paranormal abilities such as mind control, telepathy, telekinesis      and teleportation;
Other universes or dimensions and travel between them.

Exploring the consequences of scientific innovations is one purpose of science fiction, as is making it a “literature of ideas.” Further, Science Fiction has evolved to be used by authors as a device to discuss philosophical questions of identity, the nature of humanity and the human condition, morality, desire and social structure.

THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION: WHO WAS THE “FIRST SCIENCE FICTION WRITER” IN WORLD LITERATURE?

Of course, the identification of the first science fiction writer in history is dependent upon our definition of what is science fiction. That in turn will depend on our definitions of what is science and what is fiction. These terms are not constant but vary and shift with historical, intellectual and cultural circumstance. Nonetheless, looking back on all known past literature it is possible to identify writers in the past who approached most nearly the modern themes, subject matter and imaginative intent of the institution we now regard as the modern genre of “Science Fiction.” Various national or individual claimants to the title of the “the first work of science fiction” are proposed from time to time, from the True History of 2nd Century Roman writer Lucian to some of the tales of the 1001 Arabian Nights, to the 10th Century Japanese “Tale of the Bamboo Cutter” to the Robinson Crusoesque desert island tale Theologus Autodidacticus (The Self-Taught Theologist) by 13th Century Arabic writer Ibn al-Nafis. In my judgment, the Roman writer Lucian has the strongest claim to the title of “the father of science fiction.”

Lucian–2nd Century AD Roman Writer—-The First Science Fiction Writer in World Literature

LUCIAN’S “TRUE HISTORY” AS SCIENCE FICTION

As most of us are not familiar with Lucian and his True History or Ibn al-Nafis’ Theologus Autodidacticus I shall take a bit more time and space to outline their contents compared to other modern works presented below with which the reader is presumed to be more knowledgeable.

In his Roman 2nd Century AD classic, True History, Lucian as narrator joins a company of adventuring heroes similar to “Jason and the Argonauts” sailing westward through the “Pillars of Hercules” (the Strait of Gibraltar) in order to explore lands and inhabitants beyond the Ocean. They are blown off course by a strong wind, and after 79 days come to an island. This island is home to a river of wine filled with fish, and bears a marker indicating that Hercules and Dionysius have traveled to this point, alongside normal footprints and giant footprints.

Shortly after leaving the island, they are lifted up by a tornado-like whirlwind and after seven days aloft are deposited on the Moon. There they find themselves embroiled in a full-scale war between the king of the Moon and the king of the Sun over colonization of the Morning Star, involving armies including such exotica as stalk-and-mushroom men, acorn-dogs (“dog-faced men fighting on winged acorns”), and cloud-centaurs. Unusually, the Sun, Moon, stars and planets are portrayed as locales, each with its unique geographic details and inhabitants. The war is finally won by the King of the Sun’s armies clouding the Moon over. Details of the Moon follow: there are no women, and children grow inside the calves of men prior to birth.

After returning to Earth, the adventurers become trapped in a giant 200 mile-long whale where live many groups of people whom they rout in war. They also reach a sea of milk, an island of cheese and “The Isle of the Blessed,” a species of afterworld. There Lucian meets the heroes of the Trojan War from the Iliad, other mythical men and animals, and even Homer himself. They find the historian Herodotus being eternally punished for the “lies” he published in his “Histories.”

After leaving the Island of the Blessed, they deliver a letter to Calypso given to them by Odysseus explaining that he wishes he had stayed with her so he could have lived eternally. They then discover a chasm in the Ocean, but eventually sail around it, discover a far-off continent, prophetic of Columbus’ discovery of America, and decide to explore it. The book ends rather abruptly with Lucian saying that their adventure there will be the subject of following books.

Lucian’s True History eludes a clear-cut literary classification or genre. Its multilayered character has given rise to interpretations as diverse as science fiction, fantasy, satire or parody of such classics as the Odyssey, depending on how much importance scholars attach to Lucian’s explicit intention of telling a story of candid falsehoods. Nevertheless, I feel on the whole that True History may properly be regarded effectively as science fiction because Lucian often achieves that sense of “cognitive estrangement” which Darko Suvin has defined as the generic distinction of Science Fiction, that is, the depiction of an alternate world, radically unlike our own, but relatable to it in terms of continuity of the laws and limits of action. Thus, part of the tale that qualifies it as science fiction, rather than as fantasy or imaginative fiction, involves Lucian and his seamen living out an epic battle for territorial and colonization rights that preserves a field of action, including reality and science-based laws and limitations alongside human and social motivations, continuous of our own world’s realities.

In sum, characteristic of science fiction themes and topoi, Lucian’s True History depicts:

travel to outer space
encounter with alien life-forms, including the      experience of a first encounter event
interplanetary      war and imperialism
colonization of planets
artificial atmosphere
liquid air
reflecting telescopes
motif of giganticism
creatures as products of human technology (robot theme)
worlds working by a set of alternate ‘physical’ laws
explicit desire of the protagonist for exploration and      adventure

Ibn al-Nafis—13th Century Arabic Writer—The First Islamic Science Fiction Writer in World Literature

IBN AL-NAFIS’ THEOLOGUS AUTODIDACTICUS (The Self-Taught Theologue)

Ibn al-Nafis’ 13th Century classic Theologus Autodidacticus and its progenitors were part of “The Islamic Golden Age” that is often overlooked in its contributions to both modern science and science fiction. From the establishment of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad the Arab world took greater care than the Christian West to preserve and build upon the rationalist heritage of the Greek and Roman classical heritage through the works of such renown scholars as Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Al-Ghazali, Moses Maimonides and others, who in turn at a later time contributed to the rediscovery of the rationalist Greco-Roman classical tradition through their influence on medieval scholars such as the neo-Aristotelian St. Thomas Aquinas and their successors embodied in the Western Renaissance.

The Theologus Autodidacticus was less a work of imaginative science fiction than a continuation of a philosophical thought experiment deriving from the prior Islamic Golden Age works The Incoherence of the Philosophers by Ibn Sina and its more immediate precursor work by Ibn Tufail (Abubacer), the Philosophus Autodidacticus (Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān “Alive, Son of Awake” or “The Self-Taught Philosopher: The Improvement of Human Reason: Exhibited in the Life of Hai Ebn Yokdhan.” These philosophical works sought to explore the relationship of human reason, scientific proof based on individual observation of the world and religious revelation through the thought experiment of placing a feral child on a desert island without human language, society, education or guidance and speculating as to what naked observation of the world and reason would produce in human understanding. Ibn Tufail, like St. Thomas Aquinas seeking to reconcile reason and the creator-God of a rational universe, speculated that the island boy armed only with scientific observation and reason would arrive at the same rational understanding as the most learned philosophers armed with the Islamic and Greco-Roman tradition. Ibn al-Nafis, who was not original but rather copied Ibn Tufail’s desert island feral child motif, sought to take exception with Ibn Tufail and invoke more a process of independent religious revelation which would lead to independent discovery and affirmation of Islam by the feral child, supplementing the role of naked reason and scientific observation. Nonetheless he affirmed that all was reconcilable and harmonious. Both desert island works had far-reaching effects through translation in the West, and Daniel Defoe was known to have read a translation prior to composing Robinson Crusoe, and such speculations informed the reasoning of Enlightenment figures such as Voltaire and the voyage of discovery in Candide, the Cartesian Method of Descartes, and the tabula rasa of Locke, precursors of the rise of science.

Theologus Autodidacticus thus presents less of a voyage of discovery into an alternative universe than an account of a feral boy’s development on a desert island and his self-education, followed by his discovery and return to civilization by sailors and the attempt to reconcile autonomously-derived understanding with traditional and civilization-derived understanding. The last two chapters of the Theologus Autodidacticus, however, exhibit some characteristics of science fiction as they relate how the feral boy, Kamil, has independently arrived at the Biblical and Koranic prediction of Revelations and the Koran of the Apocalypse, “end of the world” and “Last Judgment” involving the resurrection of the bodies of the dead. He derives this prophetic knowledge scientifically through the study of astronomy, in which he observes a process of the slow destruction of the earth’s ecliptic, or slant relative to the sun from which the seasons arise. Thus in the modern science fiction tradition Ibn al-Nafis in the 13th Century predicts a Climate Change Apocalypse where the slant of the ecliptic will be lost, leading to a destruction of the seasons, the overheating of the equator and freezing of the poles and a consequent forced migration of peoples from now intolerable climates resulting in clashes and a World War of Armageddon which extirpates the human race from the planet. All is not lost however, as the re-tilting of the planet relative to the sun will eventually tilt over in the opposite direction, restoring the seasons, and the benign return of Climate Change will result in a resurrection of the dead bodies and a new cycle of resurgent life.

The other contenders for the title of the first work of science fiction are clearly much weaker. The 1001 Nights Arabian Entertainment, though incorporating some sci-fi motifs is clearly of the fantasy rather than sci-fi genre, with the laws of science not restraining the free play of fantasy and negating the comparability of the fantastic realm with the world of our lived-in reality. The Japanese 10th Century “Tale of the Bamboo Cutter” (Taketori Monogatari) presents a fantasy of a “Tom Thumb” sized princess, Princess Kayuga, discovered and born from a bamboo stalk by a cutter who proves to be a princess of the Moon People. The tale tells of how she grows up on earth in the family of the bamboo cutter and is courted by all the earthly princes and proposed to by the Emperor of Japan. She rejects all these suitors, however, until an embassy from the Moon comes to return her to her lunar home, evocative also of the Chinese tale of Chang’E. Though incorporating the motif of interplanetary travel and civilizations, there is little of science or continuity of the laws of nature as a restraint on pure fantasy and impossibility. Thus, on the whole, the title of “The Father of Science Fiction” and “The First Work of Science Fiction” in history and World Literature is best conferred on Lucian and his “True History.”

Gulliver’s Travels–Proto-Science Fiction

PROTO-SCIENCE FICTION FROM THE ENLIGHTENMENT TO THE ROMANTIC AGE

Arising from the Age of Reason and the development of modern science itself, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels was one of the first true science fantasy works, together with Voltaire’s Micromegas (1752) and Johannes Kepler’s Somnium (1620). Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan have termed the latter work the first science fiction story. It depicts a journey to the Moon and how the Earth’s motion is seen from there. The Blazing World written in 1666 by English noblewoman Margaret Cavendish has also been described as an early forerunner of science fiction. Another example is Ludvig Holberg’s novel Nicolai Klimii iter subterraneum, 1741. Some have argued that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) was the first work of science fiction.

Following the 18th-century development of the as a novel itself literary form, in the early 19th century, Mary Shelley’s books Frankenstein and The Last Man helped evolve the form of the science fiction novel; later Edgar Allen Poe wrote a story about a flight to the moon. More examples appeared throughout the 19th century as the scientific age took on greater momentum and began to uproot and reform everyday life to a greater and greater extent.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN SCIENCE FICTION—-THE TWO FOUNDING TITANS: JULES VERNE & H.G. WELLS

Jules Verne–Father of Modern Science Fiction

Most of us grow up with the great classics of Science Fiction, either in books or rendered in movies, with place of honor held by the works of the two great authors of the first age of Science Fiction: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in Eighty-Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine and many others. They have now risen to become part of the canon of World Literature, creating a body of work that became popular across broad cross-sections of society, well beyond the smaller sub-culture of sci-fi enthusiasts. They arose out of the enthusiasms and anxieties of the Industrial Revolution and Scientific Revolution as technologies such as the telegraph, steam engine, railroads, steamships, the automobile, the tank, submarine and machine-gun, airplane and electric lighting and power were completely reshaping the human landscape of the modern world. They also confronted the dilemmas and challenges that such scientific developments as Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and Einstein’s Theory of Relativity posed for the understanding of the human condition and its traditional institutions such as religion, the nation-state and the family.

H.G. Wells

Wells’ The War of the Worlds for example (1898) describes an invasion of late Victorian England by Martians using tripod fighting machines equipped with advanced weaponry. It is a seminal depiction of an alien invasion of Earth, and in presenting a collision with a species more advanced than humanity is a profound shock to our geo-centric and ego-centric pretensions of human superiority and privileged uniqueness. Wells in that work also developed the narrative technique of telling the story by an average person as narrator unexpectedly caught up in a technological cataclysm, allowing a focus not simply on astounding technology, but on the human and psychological dimensions of technological upheaval. This focus would be echoed in the later development of the genre from “Hard Science Fiction” to the sub-genres of “Social Science Fiction” and “Soft Science Fiction” epitomized by such later writers as Phillip K. Dick and Ursula K. Le Guin.

Verne also created iconic characters of great psychological depth such as Captain Nemo and questioned such human institutions as the nation-state, as memorable as the technological speculations concerning undersea submarine travel, space ships on interplanetary journeys, time machines and laser weapons. With such great authors the advance of technology elicited not only admiration and awe, but also concern for the ambivalent meaning and potential of such innovations for morality, the exercise of power, society and the human condition.

Jules Verne’s Science Fiction Classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

1920’s-1930’s—-EARLY VISIONARIES OLAF STAPLEDON & KAREL CAPEK: LAST AND FIRST MAN, STAR MAKER, THE WAR OF THE NEWTS & ROBOTS

Olaf Stapledon—Cosmic Visionary

OLAF STAPLEDON

Olaf Stapledon, an accomplished Oxford scholar, was a writer of extraordinary depth and breadth of vision who deeply influenced later icons of Science Fiction such as Heinlein, Asimov and Clarke as well as such writers as Borges, H.P. Lovecraft, Priestly, Bertrand Russell and Virginia Woolf. Once again, I shall devote a bit more time and space to Stapledon as he is less familiar to our readers than the better known masters.

Stapledon was a scholar in history at Oxford prior to the First World War and was deeply influenced by Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. During WWI he was a conscientious objector and served in the ambulance service at the front in Belgium and France in lieu of military service. After the war he completed a Ph.D in Philosophy, but the success of his science fiction writing enabled him to give up academia to become a full-time writer instead. His first major success was with the publication of Last and First Men, a work of immense vision and unprecedented scale in the genre, describing the history of humanity from the present onwards across two billion years and eighteen distinct human species, of which our own is the first. Stapledon’s conception of history is based on both Darwin and the Hegelian Dialectic, following a repetitive cycle with many varied civilizations rise from and descending back into savagery over millions of years. In this he was also influenced by the historical theories of Oswald Spengler and Vico, following the rise and fall of civilizations as organic but historically determined entities destined to birth, a limited lifespan and inevitable decline and destruction, which is, however, followed by civilizational rebirth. But this process is also one of a general upward spiraling progress, as the later civilizations rise to far greater heights than the first and earlier ones. The book anticipates the science of genetic engineering, interplanetary colonization and migration, interplanetary and inter-species war, conflict between creator and created species, an altered sexuality with evolution of multiple sexes beyond the male and female, and among the later evolutionary reincarnations of humanity is an early example of the fictional supermind: a super-consciousness composed of many telepathically-linked individuals. Humanity ends with the occurrence of a supernova which destroys the solar system, but not before the final race devises seed-viruses which are capable of surviving journeys to other solar systems and the seeding of life there in the tradition of interstellar “panspermia” in the hope of a newer evolution of life on the planets of distant stars. The course of evolution from the present human species (the First Men) onwards to the final reported species, the Eighteenth Men:

First Men.      (Chapters 1–6) Our own species: the rivalry of America and China, leads to formation of the First World      State followed by its destruction as a result of using up all natural      resources, followed by the Patagonia Civilization      100,000 years hence, with its cult of Youth, and its destruction after the sabotage of a mine      which leads to a colossal subterranean atomic explosion and an ensuing intercontinental nuclear holocaust, rendering most of the Earth’s surface uninhabitable      for millions of years save for the poles and the northern coast of Siberia. The only survivors are thirty-five humans stationed      at the North Pole who eventually split up into two separate species,      the Second Men and some sub-humans.
Second Men.      (Chapters 7– 9) “Their heads, indeed, were large even for their      bodies, and their necks massive. Their hands were huge, but finely      moulded…their legs were stouter…their feet had lost their separate toes…blonde hirsuite appearance…Their eyes were large, and often jade green, their features firm as carved granite, yet      mobile and lucent. …not till they were fifty did they reach      maturity. At about 190 their powers began to fail…” Unlike our      species, egotism is virtually unknown to them. At the acme of their      highly advanced civilization, a      protracted war with the Martians finally ends with the Martians extinct      and the Second Men gone into eclipse.
Third Men. (Chapter      10) “Scarcely more than half the stature of their predecessors, these      beings were proportionally slight and lithe. Their skin was of a sunny      brown, covered with a luminous halo of      red-gold hairs… golden eyes… faces were compact as a cat’s muzzle,      their lips full, but subtle at the corners. Their ears, objects of      personal pride and of sexual admiration, were extremely variable both in      individuals and in races. … But the most distinctive feature of the      Third Men was their great lean hands, on which were six versatile fingers,      six antennae of living steel.” They are deeply interested in music and in the genetically engineered design of living organisms.
Fourth Men. (Chapter      11) Giant brains, built by the Third Men. For a long time they help govern      their creators, but eventually come into conflict. After reducing the      Third Men to the status of lab animals, they eventually reach the limits      of their scientific abilities.
Fifth Men.      (Chapters 11–12) An artificial human species designed by the preceding brains: “On      the average they were more than twice as tall as the First Men, and much      taller than the Second Men… the delicate sixth finger had been induced      to divide its tip into two Lilliputian      fingers and a      corresponding thumb. The contours of the limbs were sharply visible, for      the body bore no hair, save for a close, thick skull-cap which, in the original stock, was of ruddy brown.      The well-marked eyebrows, when drawn down, shaded the sensitive eyes from      the sun.” After clashing with and finally eliminating the Fourth Men,      they develop a technology greater than Earth had ever known before. When      Earth ceases to be habitable, they terraform      Venus, committing genocide on its marine native race which tries to resist      them – but do not cope well after the move.
Sixth Men. (Chapter      13) “Sadly reduced in stature and in brain, these abject beings…      gained a precarious livelihood by grubbing roots upon the forest-clad      islands, trapping the innumerable birds, and catching fish… Not      infrequently they devoured, or were devoured by, their seal-like relatives.” After tectonic changes      provide them with a promising land mass, they fluctuate like the First Men      and repeat all their mistakes.
Seventh      Men. Flying      humans, “scarcely heavier than the largest of terrestrial flying      birds”, are created by the Sixth Men. After 100 million years, a      flightless pedestrian subspecies appears which re-develops technology.
Eighth Men.      “These long-headed and substantial folk were designed to be strictly      pedestrian, physically and mentally.” When Venus becomes      uninhabitable, about to be destroyed along with the entire inner solar      system, they design the Ninth Men, who will live on Neptune.
Ninth Men. (Chapter      14) “Inevitably it was a dwarf type,      limited in size by the necessity of resisting an excessive gravitation… too delicately organized to withstand the      ferocity of natural forces on Neptune… civilization crumbled into      savagery.” From there, savagery sinks further into brutedom.
Tenth to      Seventeenth Men. “Nowhere did the typical human form      survive.” Sentience re-emerges from animals on multiple occasions.      The Fifteenth and Sixteenth achieve a great civilization and learn to      study past minds. (These species are essentially Neptunian versions of the      Second and Fifth Men, respectively.) It is not until the Sixteenth Men,      the first of the Neptunian artificial species, that the cycle of rise and      collapse of civilization is finally ended, and steady      progress takes its place. The Sixteenth Men, frustrated by their inability      to improve their civilization,      decide that their nature is insufficiently advanced to produce a truly      perfect community, and create an artificial species, the Seventeenth Men,      to succeed them; however, the Seventeenth Men are “flawed” in      some unspecified way, unimagined by the 16th due to their lesser      awareness, and last only a short period of time before being replaced by      the Eighteenth Men, essentially a more perfect version of their own      species.
Eighteenth      Men.      (Chapters 15–16) The most advanced humans of all. A race of philosophers      and artists with a very liberal sexual morality. “Superficially we      seem to be not one species but many.” (One interesting aspect of the      Eighteenth Men is that they have a number of different      “sub-genders,” variants on the basic male and female pattern,      with distinctive temperaments. The Eighteenth Men’s equivalent of the      family unit includes one of each of these sub-genders and is the basis of      their society. The units have the ability to act as a group mind, which      eventually leads to the establishment of a single group mind uniting the      entire species.). This species no longer died naturally, but only by      accident, suicide or being killed. Despite their hyper-advanced civilization,      they practice ritual cannibalism. They are      eventually extinguished on Neptune after      a supernova infects      the sun, causing it to grow so hot that it consumes the remains of the solar system, faster than any means of escape they can devise.      Unable to escape, this last species of man devises a virus to spread life      to other worlds and cause the evolution of new sentient species throughout      the galaxy.

But the process of evolution can also be downward as well as upward. Stapledon on numerous occasions posits the emergence of “subhuman” human successors who descend towards a lower animality:

Baboon-like      Submen. (Chapter      7) “Bent so that as often as not they used their arms as aids to      locomotion, flat-headed and curiously long-snouted, these creatures were      by now more baboon-like than human”.
Aquatic Seal-like Submen. (Chapter      13) “The whole body was moulded to stream-lines. The lung capacity      was greatly developed. The spine had elongated, and increased in      flexibility. The legs were shrunken, grown together, and flattened into a      horizontal rudder. The arms also were diminutive and fin-like, though they      still retained the manipulative forefinger and thumb. The head had shrunk      into the body and looked forward in the direction of swimming. Strong      carnivorous teeth, emphatic gregariousness, and a new, almost human,      cunning in the chase, combined to make these seal-men lords of the      ocean”. In this they parallel the actual strange but true      history of evolution of the seal, whale and porpoise from an air-breathing      land animal thought to resemble the dog into an aquatic species on Earth.
Period of      Eclipse. (Chapter      14) “Man’s consciousness was narrowed and coarsened into      brute-consciousness. By good luck the brute precariously survived.”      Nature succeeds in colonizing Neptune where sentient life fails.      Human-derived mammals of all shapes come to dominate Neptune’s ecosystem before adapting well enough for the vestiges of      opposable thumbs and intelligence to become assets again.

Olaf Stapldon’s Star Maker–The Ultimate Cosmological Vision

As if a two-billion year vision of the future of the human species were not enough, Stapledon follows his prophetic masterpiece with an even greater cosmological speculation in Star Maker, transcending the “Big Bang” with a vision of the creation of alternative universes by a Supreme Artist-Quasi-God-Universe Maker, termed the “Star Maker.”

The climax of the book is the “supreme moment of the cosmos”, when the cosmical mind (which includes the psychically-voyaging narrator) attains momentary contact with the “Star Maker” of the title. The Star Maker is the creator of the universe, but stands in the same relation to it as an artist to his work, and calmly assesses its quality without any feeling for the suffering of its inhabitants. This element makes the novel one of Stapledon’s efforts to write “an essay in myth making”.

After meeting the Star Maker, the traveler is given a “fantastic myth or dream,” in which he observes the Star Maker at work. He discovers that his own cosmos is only one of a vast number, and by no means the most significant. He sees the Star Maker’s early work, and learns that the Star Maker was surprised and intensely interested when some of his early “toy” universes — for example a universe composed entirely of music with no spatial dimensions — displayed “modes of behavior that were not in accord with the canon which he had ordained for them.” He sees the Star Maker experimenting with more elaborate universes, which include among others the traveler’s own universe, and a triune universe which closely resembles “Christian orthodoxy” (the three universes respectively being hell, heaven, and reality with presence of a savior). The Star Maker goes on to create “mature” universes of extraordinary complexity, culminating in an “ultimate cosmos,” through which the Star Maker fulfills his own eternal destiny as “the ground and crown of all things.” Finally, the traveler-narrator returns to Earth at the place and time he left, to resume his life there.

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KAREL ČAPEK—Czech Inventor of the word “Robot”

KAREL ČAPEK

Stapledon’s Czech contemporary Karel Čapek is perhaps best known for his coinage of the word “robot” in his early play “R.U.R.—Rostum’s Universal Robots,” which describes the creation of an “android” species of robots endowed with human-like intelligence and consciousness. Many of his works discuss ethical aspects of industrial inventions and processes already anticipated in the first half of the 20th century. These include mass production, nuclear weapons, and post-human intelligent beings such as robots or salamanders (newts). Čapek also expressed fear from social disasters, dictatorship, violence, human stupidity, the unlimited power of corporations, and greed. Capek tried to find hope, and the way out. Čapek’s literary heirs include Ray Bradbury, Salman Rushdie, Brian Aldiss, and Dan Simmons. From the 1930s onward, Čapek’s work became increasingly anti-fascist, anti-militarist, and critical of what he saw as “irrationalism.”

The War With the Newts

Čapek’s most mature work was War with the Newts (Válka s mloky) sometimes also translated as War with the Salamanders. The 1936 satirical science fiction novel concerns the discovery in the Pacific of a sea-dwelling race, an intelligent breed of newts, who are initially enslaved and exploited by their human masters and owned by profit-seeking corporations. They acquire human knowledge and intelligence, however, and rebel leading to a global war for supremacy between the two intelligent species on earth. Ultimately the Newts triumph due to human mendacity. There are obvious similarities to Čapek’s earlier R.U.R. which also included conflict between humans and their created “android” species of robots, but also some original themes and the fuller development as a full novel.

THE RISE OF GOLDEN AGE OF SCIENCE FICTION IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY—THE “BIG THREE” MODERN GIANTS: HEINLEIN, ARTHUR C. CLARKE & ISAAC ASIMOV

In the early 20th century, pulp magazines helped develop a new generation of mainly American science fiction writers, influenced by Hugo Gernsback, the founder of Amazing Stories magazine, after whom the “Hugo” science fiction award for excellence is named. In 1912 Edgar Rice Burroughs published A Princess of Mars, the first of his three-decade-long series of Barsoom novels, situated on Mars and featuring John Carter as the hero. The 1928 publication of Philip Nolan’s original Buck Rogers story, Armageddon 2419, in Amazing Stories was a landmark event. This story led to comic strips featuring Buck Rogers (1929), Brick Bradford (1933), and Flash Gordon (1934). The comic strips and derivative movie serials greatly popularized science fiction.

In the late 1930s, John W. Campbell became editor of Astounding Science Fiction magazine and a critical mass of new writers emerged in New York City in a group called the Futurians, including Isaac Asimov, Damon Knight, Donald Wollheim, Frederik Pohl, James Blish, Judith Marril, and others. Other important writers during this period included E.E. (Doc) Smith, Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and A.E. Vogt. Working outside the Campbell influence were Ray Bradbury and Stanislaw Lem. Campbell’s tenure at Astounding is considered to be the beginning of the Golden Age of Science Fiction, characterized by Hard Science Fiction stories celebrating scientific achievement and progress. This lasted until post-war technological advances, new magazines such as Galaxy, edited by H. L. Gold, and a new generation of writers began writing stories with less emphasis on the hard sciences and more on the social sciences.

All three of the giants of contemporary science fiction were members of the WWII Generation that had seen the genre evolve from its beginnings with the Victorian and Edwardian “scientific romances” of Verne and Wells and, supercharged by the acceleration of technological change, looked forward with prophetic vision and imaginative creativity.

All three of the giants of the Golden Age of Science Fiction were members of the WWII Generation that had seen the genre evolve from its beginnings with the Victorian and Edwardian “scientific romances” of Verne and Wells and, supercharged by the acceleration of technological change, looked forward with prophetic vision and imaginative creativity.

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Published on February 14, 2014 22:54

January 25, 2014

LET A HUNDRED FLOWERS BLOOM—TOWARDS THE FURTHER EVOLUTION OF THE FOREIGN EXPERT SYSTEM IN CHINA

David & Isabel Crook 1947—Amoung the First Foreign Experts in China

Robert Sheppard

Blog: http://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/robert-sheppard/1b/555/485/

This week the approach of the Chinese New Year marks a major celebration of the role of Foreign Experts in making a major contribution to the building of modern China, highlighted in the speech of Premier Li Keqiang before an assembly of many noted expatriate scholars, experts and educators. The Premier, together with State Foreign Expert Bureau Deputy Director Liu Yangguo, also announced a major initiative inviting all Foreign Experts to share their experience working in China and to make suggestions, both towards the development of China nationally, and also towards the strengthening and reform of Foreign Expert system itself.

Dr. Robert Sheppard—20-Year Veteran Foreign Expert in China at a State Banquet at the Great Hall of the People (Chamber of the Chinese National People’s Congress) on the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China

I had the pleasure of meeting with the Premier at the Great Hall of the People on a similar occasion sponsored by the State Foreign Expert Bureau in 2009 on the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of my work in China, beginning in 1993, most of which was in the status of a “Foreign Expert,” or foreign Professor teaching at most of the most celebrated universities in the nation: Peking University, Tsinghua University, People’s Renmin University, Bei Wai, or the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the China University of Political Science and Law, the Guanghua School of Management MBA Program, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Law Institute and Graduate School, among others, in the three primary areas of International Law, Literature—Western, American, British and World Literature, and Business and MBA Studies.

In these fields I have been honored and happy to make a small contribution to China’s development. At the Law Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences I participated in the drafting and revision process of the National People’s Congress in formulating the Chinese “Basic Legislation Law (Li Fa Ji Ben Fa)” together with other legal experts from the US, Germany and Canada under the auspices of the Ford Foundation and International Republican Institute. At Peking University I taught a course in Public International Law and in the International Relations Department helped to institute a program where the BeiDa students of International Relations for the first time visited the American, Canadian, Indonesian and European Union Embassies on bussed field trips and spoke face-to-face with the Ambassadors and frankly questioned their staffs on their bi-lateral and multi-lateral relationships with China, including meetings with American Ambassador James Sasser, EU Ambassador Endymion Wilkinson, and Canadian Ambassador Howard Balloch and others. I also taught a course training the Intellectual Property Judges of the Appeals Court of the State Intellectual Property Organization (SIPO) in copyright, trademark, patent and other forms of Intellectual Property worldwide, a key to China’s economic development. As a literary author, poet and novelist I also have been happy to introduce the great Classics and Masterpieces of Western Literature, American, British and World Literature to China’s best university students and future writers and scholars, and hope that their experience will help to shape China’s culture and literature into the future.

Robert Sheppard—20 Year Veteran Foreign Expert in China—-Giving a Public Lecture at China People’s University on the Concept of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly

Professor Robert Sheppard giving a Public Lecture and Seminar at Renmin People’s University on the Concept of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, a globalized version of the EU Parliament Model as a new organ of the UN.

Dr. Robert Sheppard Giving a Seminar at the Law School of China People’s Renmin University, Beijing on the Concept of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly

In the second decade of my work in China much of my public work focused on various aspects of the United Nations in China. I worked as a Senior Consultant to UNIDO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization during the time of China’s accession to the WTO and transition to the age of E-Commerce, giving lectures, training seminars and investment recruitment conferences for state-owned company managers and foreign investment officials at MOFTEC in second-tier industrially-challenged cities such as Harbin, Changchun, Xining, and Changsha on how to adapt to the WTO and E-Commerce. Additionally, as a Senior Associate of the Committee for a Democratic United Nations I gave public lectures at Tsinghua University and at People’s Renmin University, introducing the concept of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, a globalized version of the EU Parliament as a new organ of the United Nations system for a more democratic system of global governance.

In 2008 I worked at the Beijing Sports University (Ti Yu Da Xue) making preparations for China’s first successful hosting of the Olympic Games. In recent years a greater part of my activity in addition to teaching has focused on being a professional writer, publishing in 2013 my two-part best-selling novel Spiritus Mundi, in which about a third of the action takes place in China. In short, my experience as a “Foreign Expert” has been swept along in the tide of amazing historical development which is the saga of the rise of modern China in our times.

Spiritus Mundi Novel by Robert Sheppard–Bookcover

Book Cover of Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard 2013

http://www.amazon.com/Spiritus-Mundi-Book-The-Novel-ebook/dp/B00CIGJFGO

OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOREIGN EXPERT SYSTEM, THE CONDITION OF FOREIGN EXPERTS WORKING IN CHINA, AND THE NEED FOR FURTHER REFORM

The Foreign Expert system of China is a great institution which has allowed hundreds of thousands of foreign scholars and educators to experience life and culture in China while making a major contribution to China’s development. But it, like the related laws and regulations on visas, permanent residence and the status of all foreign persons in China suffers from serious flaws and still uncompleted reforms that leave serious shortcomings for both the foreign experts and for the benefit of the nation as a whole. In many cases well-intentioned reforms have been begun but are still half-incomplete.

INADEQUATE TENURE, RETIREMENT, PERMANENT RESIDENCE AND SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM FOR LONG-TERM FOREIGN EXPERTS IN CHINA

David & Isabel Crook 1947—Amoung the First Foreign Experts in China

Foreign Experts: Isabel and David Crook in 1947 near Yanan before National Liberation

Isabel Crook—Chinese Foreign Expert at 98 years

Isabel in her 90’s: A Lifetime of Service to China

This week’s coverage of Premier Li Keqiang’s celebration of the contribution of Foreign Experts in the China Daily, including an eye-witness account by Ravi Shankar Narasimhan, gave a rightful place of honor to Isabel Crook, doyenne of the foreign expert community from Bei Wai, the Beijing Foreign Studies University, a remarkable woman of 98 years, the last 75 years of which she has spent in China, who is the epitome of that sub-class of foreign experts who have given not one or two years to China, but their entire lives. Her late husband David Crook was a good friend of mine when we were both at Bei Wai, and we often had extended conversations together both at the Foreign Expert building and at the Friendship Hotel, where we would often go swimming at the only pool in the area in those early days, often meeting there other life-term expats such as Israel Epstein or Sydney Shapiro and recounting his remarkable experiences of the Spanish Civil War, his service as a KGB Anti-Trotskyist Spy, WWII, his marriage and family, Liberation and his imprisonment for five years during the Cultural Revolution.

For David Crook’s generation of Communist Party members the conundrum of Social Security, immigrant status and tenure was ironically more straightforwardly solved as they became Chinese citizens and were then eligible for normal permanent tenure and employment in their Chinese University. They received permanent housing from their work unit, or “Danwei” and a conventional pension on retirement. For later “Foreign Experts” such as myself this path to full citizenship and integration was either not open or desired.

One serious shortcoming of the Foreign Expert system today is the lack of a legal or contractual framework for foreign experts to attain either permanent employment, academic “tenure” or the concomitant job security, advancement, retirement and health benefits of such a status. The Foreign Expert contract is invariably a one-year contract which may be renewed for successive years with mutual agreement but is never permanent and never includes any prospective retirement benefits or security of tenure. It’s original concept, no longer necessarily true, was that it was a temporary job with no career path, “job equity” or job security attached. Thus while a US Permanent Resident or Green Card holder may be granted tenure, promoted to departmental chairmanships, and enjoy pension, health, disability and pension rights on an equal basis with US Citizens, such remains an impossibility to even a Foreign Expert with Chinese Permanent Residence. To be fair, this usually met the needs and desires of the majority of both the foreign experts and the employers, who usually only contemplated a few years of service at most before returning inevitably to their home countries to take up their lives they left behind. Most foreign experts were recent college graduates out to experience Chinese life and culture or have an adventure in the world, or perhaps were retired teachers seeking a stimulating one-year experience to prevent retired life degenerating into the life of the “couch potato” at home. Quite a few were sponsored by religious organizations from their home countries with a covert religious agenda.

However, life has its “Law of Unexpected Consequences” and persons such as myself after coming to China to savor Chinese culture found ourselves as I did, marrying a Chinese girl, having children and being transformed from the “transient” expectations of the normal foreign expert into a permanent member of the community with a career inside China. The trouble, however, is that the “Foreign Expert System” simply had no legal or contractual framework for such an existence or its unforeseen consequences. For the long-term or life-long foreign expert such as myself there is no permanent job beyond one-year contracts, no framework for job security or long-term career path, no workable retirement system, no system for our children’s education, no permanent health-care beyond the current employer or upon retirement, no system for assistance in acquiring permanent housing and no system for assistance in repatriating back to one’s country of origin after an extended stay in China, such as portability of unemployment benefits, retirement benefits or social security credits or other transitional assistance. Perhaps it was always sometimes tacitly assumed that “all foreigners are rich” and can take care of themselves without institutional support or that their home countries would provide such assistance. In the era of the “World Economic Crisis” of depression-like proportions for some countries and vulnerabilities for the poorly-paid class of teachers and both the young and the “too old,” this is far from the case.

Let’s look at how the present “Foreign Expert System” fails long-term foreign experts such as myself who have given “the best part of their lives” to China, despite some very substantial reforms China has recently made to accommodate them. I am twenty-years resident in China, having married a Chinese woman and fathered two children in Beijing and been granted the still relatively rare status of a “Chinese Permanent Resident” or “Chinese Green Card” holder. Despite the reforms of two years ago which theoretically extended applicability of the Chinese Social Security system to all foreigners, not only foreign experts, including liability for Social Security tax I still have no prospect of qualifying for Chinese retirement benefits. Why? Because although the law gives us a right to participate in the retirement system after fourteen years of employment in China and at 62 I am past the normal Chinese retirement age of 60, the benefits only derive from and are calculated from having had a Social Security account into which the employer has paid Social Security tax over the years of employment. Here the “Catch 22” is that until two years ago employers of foreign experts, mostly universities, while having deducted income taxes over the last twenty years did not make any contributions year-by-year for the foreign expert to any Social Security account. Thus by law I am fully eligible for Chinese Social Security, but because for those twenty years the universities have made no contribution to a Social Security account in the employee’s name, the reality is that I am entitled effectively to zero benefits. Under the US system I again qualify for US Social Security benefits, but since working in China for twenty years no credit has been made to my Social Security account in the US, so that the level of benefit based on contributions before coming to China is averaged down by the many years of no contribution while in China, with the result that benefits are skewed artificially down to the minimum level, inadequate to sustain life in retirement either in the US or in China. Similarly, there is no retirement health benefit available for the retired expat foreign expert living in China. Since there are only some 6000 expats who have qualified for Chinese Permanent Residence, all of this conundrum is further exacerbated by the fact that for all others one’s visa and residence status will automatically expire when your last job ends. Therefore, you will have to leave the country before you can qualify for unemployment or retirement benefits anyway, though most likely you will discover they don’t really exist in reality anyway despite the law granting them. Unlike the Crook generation, the contemporary retiring foreign expert will also not retain housing from the “danwei” or university or other employer, nor any employment-based private pension. Indeed, the contemporary retiring Foreign Expert will soon discover that “You’re on your own, buddy.”

David Crook in our swimming expeditions from Bei Wai to the Friendship Hotel used to laugh that one of his duties as a KGB spy in Spain during the Spanish Civil War was to maintain surveillance of George Orwell, author of 1984 and Animal Farm, a suspected “Trotskyist” and an author I much admired. One of the most poignant and heart-wrenching episodes of the Animal Farm allegory, you may recall, comes when the “inner party of pigs” discover that the work horses who have shouldered the main burden of the farm’s work have been thoroughly exhausted and worn out by old age and can no longer work. They are callously sold off and shipped to the meat factory to be butchered into dog food when they can no longer work. China has made immense progress in avoiding the condition or the Orwellian dystopian prophecy and should hasten and complete its reforms of the Foreign Expert System to prevent the foreign experts who have given the better part of their lives to China from suffering such an Orwellian end.

Thus, at a minimum to begin serious reform of the Foreign Expert System in respect of job security and Social Security, the Chinese government should study the implementation of the following possible reforms: 1) Extend retroactive credit within the Social Security system for qualifying for benefits to Foreign Experts reaching retirement age based on Income Tax paid by the foreign expert before the law changed requiring and enabling payment of Social Security Tax; 2) Negotiate immediately bi-lateral Social Security Portability treaties or with the nations from which most Foreign Experts come from—the US, Canada, Australia, UK and the EU, among others—providing for mutual recognition of contributions in bother systems and enjoyment of benefits across borders of both systems; 3) Negotiate bi-lateral Unemployment Insurance Portability treaties respecting the eligibility of persons returning from employment in one country for Unemployment Insurance benefits in the other country based on mutual recognition and credit of taxes paid in the other to support the repatriation process; 4) Provide for old-age medical and disability insurance and retirement housing assistance for Foreign Expert retirees at least on an equal basis of other Chinese nationals; 5) Implement regulations authorizing and promoting permanent employment and academic tenure on an equal basis with Chinese nationals for long-term Foreign Experts with Chinese Permanent Residence, rather than insecure one-year contracts, with legal protection against discrimination in hiring, retention, renewal of contracts , ordinary advancements and dismissals.

President Xi Jin Ping Outlines the Chinese Dream

EXTENDING PREMIER LI AND PRESIDENT XI’s CALL FOR INTENSIFICATION OF MARKET-BASED REFORMS TO THE FOREIGN EXPERT SYSTEM

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a teacher is in want of adequate compensation,” is a global truism in apt paraphrase a well-known authoress. This is also true of the Foreign Expert in China, whether of the garden variety such as English and basic academic instructors or even of the special categories of foreign experts created to attract specialized talent. While on “Teachers’ Day” cards and flowers may be offered as a token of the Confucian sentiment of honor towards scholars, in China as well as most countries of the world governments, universities, schools and employers are most reluctant to “put their money where their mouth is.” This remains true even where vast fortunes are being made in the “industry” of education where parents are being drained of excessive amounts out of a frenzied desire to secure their children’s futures by hook or by crook.

The pay for ordinary Foreign Experts is poor. On the whole it is adequate to the condition of the typical foreign expert—a young college graduate looking for a cultural overseas adventure, first international job or travel opportunity or an older Western retiree seeking a twilight challenge or covert religious mission with church sponsorships and subsidies. For a single person without family burdens the pay is adequate for a modestly comfortable life in China, though the amount it is possible to save and take home on return after a year is so small as to hardly pay for a week in a hotel in the US. Exchange scholars and professors seconded or on leave from their home universities who enjoy their home salaries on top of the low-level Chinese salary have no problems. For these classes it is quite possible to have a comfortable and enjoyable year or two, especially with the benefit of the free housing and air-ticket home usually provided in the ‘Foreign Expert Package.” For long-term foreign experts unsubsidized from their home country, especially those with children and families the compensation is grossly inadequate for ordinary needs, let alone the exorbitant cost of children’s overseas education, forcing universal moonlighting and forced repatriation to attempt to make ends meet.

This is in no way accidental. The market for Foreign Expert’s professional services is a completely rigged and fixed system based on government monopoly. All universities and schools are required by law to base their teachers’ compensation levels on “State Foreign Expert Bureau Guidelines” which generally forbid universities and schools from paying more than a base level for each category of qualification, generally in the area of 4000-7000 RMB per month. Nor will the band of compensation increase with any achievement or accomplishment. The inevitable result of this monopoly government price fixing is that the best people after their year of new experience are quick to look for other employment in the sectors of the economy not price-fixed. The typical foreign expert job is seen only as a temporary stepping-stone to something better with a future. One of the greatest absurdities of this system I have witnessed firsthand is the outrageous disparity of the Foreign Expert salaries for professors at Peking University and Tsinghua University—supposedly the Harvard and MIT of China—-in which I have seen English-speaking Kindergarten teachers being paid literally three times the monthly salary of PKU or Tsinghua professors with PhD’s teaching advanced university graduate courses! Why? Because the for-profit Kindergartens are not within the leaden price-fixing system of the State Foreign Expert Bureau and respond to market demand and the near manic compulsion of Chinese parents to give their children even the slightest head start or advantage in the perceived crawl to the top of the heap.

To be fair, this system that keeps Foreign Experts poor had important justifications in its origins. At the beginning of the PRC China was in fact extremely poor and could only afford to pay little to foreigners. After “Kai Fang” or the “Opening Up” policy after 1979 it remained important to both conserve scarce funds and foreign exchange and to give poorer areas some chance to compete with the major centers in attracting foreign talent by not becoming perpetual losers in a bidding war. Foreigners were “assumed to be rich” and their pay in any case was more than their comparable Chinese colleagues, who suffered at least triple the underpay and exploitation as their relatively privileged foreign counterparts. Most foreign experts, moreover, were not motivated by money but rather by cultural curiosity, a spirit of adventure, altruism or other motives and were planning only a short sojourn before moving on to bigger and better things elsewhere.

Now, however, as China is moving fast towards “Xiaokang” or moderate prosperity many of those valid early justifications for the system have begun to obsolesce. As Premier Li and President Xi emphasize, the deepening of the market-based reforms applied to other sectors may now be usefully extended in the area of education. The price-fixing system for keeping Foreign Expert salaries low and uniform should be abolished or modified to allow greater compensation to greater talents, achievements and qualifications. Better compensation to highly skilled Foreign Experts is not only now affordable, but is essential for retention, development and deployment of their talents to meet China’s aspiration to develop a quality of education equal to and competitive with developed countries in the second-half of its national development. Foreign Experts, teachers and professors should be allowed to freely unionize and engage in collective bargaining to improve their compensation and working conditions. And Chinese teachers and scholars should be similarly empowered to bargain collectively with their employers for improvement of their much more severe conditions of undercompensation and exploitation! Though in the short-term this will be costly and inconvenient for the schools and government, in the long-run it will be the only way to lift the quality of the Chinese educational system and transform it into a system capable of fostering the critical thinking, innovative and creative capacity capable of raising China to fulfill its still unmet aspiration of a fully developed and globally competitive nation and economy, based on quality and not just bulk quantity. With due sensitivity to questions of cultural and political control, the scope for private and Chinese-Foreign joint-venture education should be markedly opened in the educational sector as it has been in the industrial sector, including increased attraction and participation of foreign talent and foreign experts at increasing levels of management.

THE TRAGIC “CATCH-22” FOR FOREIGN EXPERTS’ CHILDREN BORN IN CHINA

One of the serious shortcomings of the present Foreign Expert system in China is its lack of provision for the children of foreign experts, both those born abroad and accompanying their parents and those born in China, often of marriages with Chinese national spouses. These children often suffer severe challenges and vulnerabilities in securing adequate educational opportunities in China, both for economic reasons and because they are often caught between two cultures, two educational systems, two immigration and regulatory systems and nationality systems, leading to entrapment in perilous “Catch 22” dilemmas.

All expatriates in China, not only Foreign Experts have serious problems securing adequate educations for their children. In simple money terms, the cost of expat children’s education is astronomical. It is literally true that it often costs more to send foreign children to international kindergarten, elementary and high schools in China than to send them to a university in the US or other Western nations. Initial enrollment, “capital contribution” or other fees may reach $10-20,000 even before annual tuition per child of similar amounts. Disraeli famously observed that Britain was in danger of becoming “Two Nations: Rich and Poor,” and the expatriate community in China and other countries is even more polarized into two classes: 1) the corporate and embassy employees whose employment contract “package” provides a full employer-paid subsidy for payment of the exorbitant costs of overseas education for their children, and 2) the vulnerable, insecure underpaid independents and Foreign Experts whose employers provide no subsidy for their children’s education and have no free public school system to help them as they would have in their home countries. Needless to say, a Foreign Expert on a standard contract salary of perhaps 5000 RMB per month cannot pay the 100,000’s of RMB to send each of his children to such international school as ISB, WAB and others utilized by employer-subsidized corporate and diplomatic staff through their “fat package” employment contract provisions. A number of Chinese public schools have lower-cost “International Departments” such as the Fang Cao Di elementary school and the No. 80 Middle and High School in Beijing which accept children of foreign experts, but even these have initial enrollment fees plus annual tuition fees both in excess of 50,000 RMB. How can a Foreign Expert on 5000 RMB per month pay such an amount per child? The standard Foreign Expert Contract has no provision for the employer paying accompanying children’s educational cost. The result is extreme hardship for any children of Foreign Experts relying on earned income to educate their children.

Other barriers are those of the children’s language ability and the need for them to re-enter their own country’s educational system on repatriation from China. A very common initial total lack of Chinese language by the Foreign Expert’s children may preclude them from functioning in a Chinese-language public school (though it may be great for acquiring the language eventually) and a lack of money may deny them access to a bi-lingual or English-language International School. Even if these factors are overcome, the school may ill prepare them for competing to enter university in their home countries, including necessary subjects for college entrance exams.

In my own children’s case, Claire and Joseph were born in Beijing to parents of mixed US and Chinese citizenship, each with Permanent Residence in the other’s country. They attended Fang Cao Di, a Chinese public elementary school with an “International Department” for foreign children and had a successful experience growing up bi-lingual. Middle school was more problematical. Claire, the eldest had a Beijing Hukou and was assigned by lottery to No.13 Middle School but had great difficulty adapting to the regimented environment of a 100% Chinese school. We moved her to Xin Dong Fang’s Foreign Language School after they offered to give her free tuition in exchange for me giving some classes at the school. For Joseph No. 80 Middle School’s International Department proved workable at a cost of some 50,000 Rmb per year per child. In all cases the children’s educational costs would be unpayable from a Foreign Expert’s standard salary, and were only managed by supplementary outside income sources.

High School, however, found Claire trapped in a “Catch 22” situation that may ensnare foreign children born in China. She was accepted by No. 80 High School’s International Department but a new regulation of the State Education Commission required each student enrolling in an International School at the high school or higher level to have an updated visa in their foreign passport. But when we went to the Public Security Bureau with her US Passport to update a current visa they refused to issue one on the ground that she was born in Beijing to a Chinese mother and thus could be claimed as a Chinese citizen with a Beijing Hukou. Chinese law and treaties do not provide for dual citizenship. Thus they refused to issue a current visa until she went through a procedure to formally renounce her entitlement to Chinese citizenship, an unfortunate decision to force on a child and her parents, and one which takes more than a year to complete. So she could not enter any International High School because she lacked a current Chinese visa in her US Passport. She however could not enter any Chinese high school because she had not taken the “Zhong Kao” or Chinese Middle-School Entrance Exam. The result of the new regulation was that she was locked out of both Chinese and International High Schools, a tragic “Catch 22” with a deadly bite for those vulnerable and innocent children who are born between two nationalities.

In conclusion, with respect to the children of Foreign Experts, China should consider the following possible reforms to the Foreign Expert System: 1) With regard to the “Catch 22” exclusion of foreign children born in China from International Schools, regulations should be adopted immediately requiring all International Schools to accept such children legally resident in the country without regard to visa status, and the PSB should be forbidden to require children born in China to foreign parents to renounce any claim to Chinese citizenship prior to issuing a current Chinese visa prior to the child’s 18th birthday; 2) Provision of education for Foreign Expert’s accompanying children should be a mandatory term of the standard Foreign Expert Contract; 3) To accomplish this state regulations should require all International Schools to accept and educate the children of foreign experts at fees no greater than 10% of their contracted Foreign Expert yearly salary; 4) Where no International Schools exist in the area, local Chinese schools or those attached to universities should be required to accept and make special provision for the education of the children of Foreign Experts at a cost not to exceed average fees charged to local Chinese children in the same area; 5) Foreign Expert contracts should require employers to provide full medical coverage for all children of foreign expert employees; 6) Discrimination in hiring, firing or non-renewal of Foreign Expert Contracts because of the presence of accompanying children should be illegal and subject to award of lost compensation and reinstatement by the Foreign Expert Bureau; 7) Employers of Foreign Experts should be required by regulation and the terms of the standard Foreign Expert employment contract to provide housing appropriate to the needs of families with children or the cash equivalent; 8) Employers of Foreign Experts should by regulation be required to file an annual Foreign Expert Dependent Children Educational Plan detailing their written agreement with local schools to provide for such children’s education in the coming year as a condition of renewing their authorization to employ Foreign Experts; 9) International treaties should be negotiated between the principal countries requiring each country to provide a voucher or payment to each child of its nationality to cover the costs of public education of each child in the foreign country—guaranteeing for instance that each US national child in China receives public funds from the US at least equivalent to the average expenditure of public funds in public schools per child in the US to insure their education in China, and each Chinese child in the US receives a voucher or payment equivalent to the average expenditure of public funds per child in China. This should insure that no child should be deprived of equal access to basic education regardless of their parents’ temporary country or place of residence, and redress the inequity that expatriate parents from the US must pay their US income taxes as well as Chinese income taxes but are deprived of the use of that tax money they have paid for the education of their children merely because of residence abroad.

MEDICAL CARE FOR FOREIGN EXPERTS IN CHINA: A PROMISE INCOMPLETELY FULFILLED

With regard to medical care for expatriate Foreign Experts in China my experience is that despite State Foreign Expert Bureau regulations and standard Foreign Expert Employment Contract provisions which mandate that all employers provide such care to the standard of the care enjoyed by comparable Chinese national employees, and despite recent laws extending comparable guarantees to all foreign workers in China, the actual care received, especially in medical emergencies such as required operations, births, and emergency hospitalization are far from adequate.

We all know how hospitals and health care providers are grossly overburdened and inadequately staffed to handle the incredible numbers of both Chinese national patients and the few foreign patients they are responsible for. A visit to a Chinese hospital or doctor will involve a wait in incredible lines and a very limited time with the doctor for communicating, diagnosing and treating the problem. This is a regrettable condition we hope will improve with time for both Chinese and foreign patients, and this is not the time or place to analyze the entire medical care and medical insurance program of the nation as a whole, which is slowly improving. I will make only a few comments and suggestions more specific to the experience of the average Foreign Expert with a serious medical condition.

For ordinary problems in a major city like Beijing foreign experts can generally receive adequate care if they are patient enough to go through the lines and waits and manage the communication and language problem by bring along a Chinese colleague or friend to translate. Many bigger hospitals like Xie He Hospital in the Embassy district have an international department which makes communication easier and lines shorter, though sometimes at a slightly increased but generally moderate cost. If a foreign expert wishes to pay a considerably higher fee out of his own pocket, which may not be reimbursed by the employer or its standard care plan he is free to use Western-oriented hospitals such as the Sino-Japanese Hospital or the Beijing Family United.

When a major medical emergency requiring hospitalization of a Foreign Expert occurs, however, the response of the employer is often far from adequate. The first major problem is that the Chinese hospital will require 100% prepayment before treatment or hospitalization. This means that for something big you have to first pay cash out of your own pocket, get receipts and then take them to the employer and beg for reimbursement, which may or not occur. For a major operation if you do not have 10-50,000 RMB in your pocket you would find great difficulty getting your employer to advance payment or a voucher for the funds. This system is detrimental because it forces people to often delay treatment until the condition worsens and costs more and more money.

Moreover, when major operations or hospitalization occurs for a foreign expert the university or employer is often obstructive and evasive in providing for reimbursement. The usual reason for this is that the employer has no system of funding, budgeting or insurance for its legal liability to the Foreign Expert under the employment contract and Foreign Expert Bureau Regulations. Costs of a hospitalization or major operation will come out of surplus funds already coveted by high administrators for their own perks and pet projects at best, and corrupt diversions of funds at worse. The employer will therefore often deny liability, insist you should have gotten your own insurance, delay, and often descend into dishonest practices in your greatest time of need. They may even take away your pay for the time you are disabled for the medical treatment and recovery. The foreign expert may be strongly urged to return his own country for treatment or deceptive reasons given for discontinuing the contract. In my own experience over twenty years most of the time I was very healthy and minor problems were managed reasonably. When I required an emergency hernia operation while employed as a professor at Peking University, however, I found that the supposedly top university was far from forthcoming and shamefully failed to meet its legal obligation of reimbursing health care to its Foreign Experts. To prevent such shortcomings every employer of Foreign Experts should be required to file an Annual Plan for meeting the unforeseen medical needs of foreign staff including either a third-party insurance or a pre-budgeted purpose-specific reserve fund account set aside for such emergencies. The State Foreign Expert Bureau should have a specific office available for Foreign Experts to appeal to with power to review and order delinquent payment by the employer, failure of which would cause cancellation of the school or employer’s authorization to employ Foreign Experts. Another shameful consequence of a Foreign Expert having a medical emergency is the very likely prospect that the contract will be cancelled or almost certainly the contract will not be renewed, simply because the employee is seen as a potential drain on funds. This is shameful behavior by employers of Foreign Experts. Having enjoyed the benefit and contribution of the worker for years the merest medical expense often results in showing the unfortunate worker the door at the time of greatest family need. The Foreign Expert Bureau should issue explicit regulations making it illegal to terminate or fail to renew a Foreign Expert’s employment because of past medical conditions or legitimate medical costs when the worker is capable of resuming their work. Appropriate temporary disability coverage by the employer should be required. Treatment of Foreign Experts as “disposable” upon encountering insurable medical costs and conditions is a gross breach of trust and waste of the talent contributing to China’s future.

Another area of abuse is the frequent failure of the employer to pay the return-air-ticket fee which is part of every Foreign Expert contract. In many instances if the Foreign Expert does not permanently return to his home country but instead changes to a new employer at the end of the year the Foreign Affairs Office of the school or employer often improperly refuses to pay and simply pockets the air-ticket money, often for official perks or worse. The Foreign Expert Bureau should have a Hotline to report and correct such abuses.

Let a Hundred Flowers Bloom—Let a Hundred Schools Contend

CONCLUSION

“Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools contend!”—President Xi and Premier Li have asked for a gathering of experiences and of recommendations from Foreign Expert community in China for the better development of China, the Foreign Expert System and for a better global world of our future. I shall always treasure the experience and opportunities which I have had to contribute to the rise of China during the past twenty years of my service here. I hope that service and the suggestions made here based on that experience may make some small further contribution to improving our common future together.

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Published on January 25, 2014 14:27

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ON SPIRITUS MUNDI

��Read Robert Sheppard��s sprawling, supple novel, Spiritus Mundi, an epic story of global intrigue and sexual and spiritual revelation. Compelling characters, wisdom, insight, and beautiful depictions of locations all over the world will power you through the book. You��ll exit wishing the story lines would go on and on.�� May 13, 2012

Robert McDowell, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Editorial Cra, The Nature of Words

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��Robert Sheppard��s novel, ��Spiritus Mundi,�� has everything. ��Spiritus Mundi�� is Latin, meaning ��spirit�� or ��soul of the world.�� According to the Norton Anthology of English Literature, the phrase refers to ��the spirit or soul of the universe�� with which all individual souls are connected through the ��Great Memory.�� This amazing novel is all inclusive and unceasingly riveting. If you are interested in politics, philosophy, human relationships, sex, intrigue, betrayal, poetry and even philosophy �� buy and read ��Spiritus Mundi��!��November 18, 2012

Raymond P. Keen, School Psychologist, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS)

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��Robert Sheppard��s new novel ��Spiritus Mundi�� is a new twist on a well-loved genre. Robert leaves no stone unturned in this compelling page turner you��ll experience mystery, suspense, thrills, and excitement. Robert touches on sexuality and spirituality in such a way that the reader is compelled to ask themselves ��what would you do if faced with these trials?�� Robert is a master at taking the reader out of their own lives and into the world he created. If you��re looking for a ��can��t put down�� read pick up Spiritus Mundi!�� May 20, 2012

Nicole Breanne, Content Coordinator, Ranker.com _____________________________________________________

��Longing for a thrilling experience of the sexual and spiritual world? Expecting a thorough summoning of your inner heart? Aspiring to find an extraordinary voice to enlighten your understanding heart? Then you can��t miss this extraordinary novel, Spiritus Mundi by Robert Sheppard. The author will spirit you into a exciting world filled with fantasy, myth, conflicts and wisdom from a fresh perspective. Don��t hesitate, just turn to the 1st page and start out enjoying this marvellous journey.��November 17, 2012

Alina Mu Liu, Official I nterpreter , Editor & Translator , HM Courts & Tribunal Service , London UK & the United Nations

�� Robert Sheppard��s Spiritus Mundi is a literary novel for those with an extensive vocabulary, and who believe how you tell a story is as important as what occurs in it. It is as current as today��s headlines.

Jaime Martinez-Tolentino, Writer�� November 19, 2012

��

��Robert Sheppard��s exciting new novel, Spiritus Mundi, is an unforgettable read and epic journey of high adventure and self-discovery across the scarred landscape of the modern world and into the mysteries beyond. Its compelling saga reveals the sexual and spiritual lives of struggling global protesters and idealists overcoming despair, nuclear terrorism, espionage and a threatened World War III to bring the world together from the brink of destruction with a revolutionary United Nations Parliamentary Assembly and spiritual rebirth. This modern epic is a must read and compelling vision of the future for all Citizens of the Modern World and a beacon of hope pointing us all towards a better world struggling against all odds to be born.�� May 19, 2012

Lara Biyuts, Reviewer and Blogger at Goodreads.com and Revue Blanche

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��Robert Sheppard��s ��Spiritus Mundi�� is a book of major importance and depth. A must read for any thinking, compassionate human being living in these perilous times. I highly recommend this powerful testament of the current course of our so-called life on his planet. April 25, 2012

Doug Draime Writer, Freelance

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��This new novel ��Spiritus Mundi�� brings together history, politics, future society, and blends with a plausible World War Three scenario. I have read it and find it over the top fascinating. I am very glad to see Robert share his creativity with the world through this work of fiction, and know it will be a huge hit.�� April 28, 2012

Jim Rogers, Owner and Director, AXL

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��Robert Sheppard is an exceptional thinker! His work should be read and made the subject of critical study.��May 26, 2012

Georgia Banks-Martin, Editor, New Mirage Journal

��

��This novel rocks the reader with its supple strength. You want to say ��No, No,�� and you end up saying, ��Maybe.�� Political science fiction at its highest, most memorable level.��November 17, 2012

Carl Macki, Owner, Carl Macki Social Media

��

��Robert Sheppard��s Novel Spiritus Mundi confronts politics and philosophies of the world. He��s examined multiple layers of personality in his characters; male, female, Chinese, Arab, English, and American melding them into a story of possible outcomes. How else can I convey the intelligent presentation of fiction woven with sensitivity to our world��s governments, religious influences and sectarian principles? We must not forget the influence of a largely secular world. Robert tirelessly checked, rechecked and triple checked his resources in order to bring a fiction of occurrence, and psychological impact as set forth in his novel Spiritus Mundi.��November 18, 2012

Glenda Fralin, Author, Organization NWG

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��Robert was one of my best guests. His novel is as wide ranging as are his interests and expertise. He can explain his various ideas with great clarity and he does this with compassion. Novel is worthwhile reading.��November 18, 2012

Dr. Robert Rose, Radio Show Host, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose

________________________________________________________________

Related Links and Websites:�� Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard

For Introduction and Overview of the Novel:�� https://spiritusmundinovel.wordpress.com/

For Updates on the Upcoming Movie Version of the Novel, Spiritus Mundi & Casting of Actors and Actresses for Leading Roles See: https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read Abut the Occupy Wall Street Movement in Spiritus Mundi: http://occupywallstreetnovel.wordpress.com/

For Author��s Blog:�� https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read a Sample Chapter from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundisamplechapters.wordpress.com/

To Read Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundifantasymythandmagicalrealism.wordpress.com/

To Read Sexual Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: The Varieties of Sexul Experience:�� https://spiritusmundivarietiesofsexualexperience.wordpress.com/

To Read Spy, Espionage and Counter-terrorism Thriller Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi:�� http://spiritusmundispyespionagecounterterrorism.wordpress.com/

To Read Geopolitical and World War Three Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundigeopoliticalworldwar3.wordpress.com/

To Read Spiritual and Religious Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundionspiritualityandreligion.wordpress.com/

To Read about the Global Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in Spiritus Mundi:�� https://spiritusmundiunitednationsparliamentaryassembly.wordpress.com/

To Read Poetry from Spiritus Mundi��https://spiritusmundipoetry.wordpress.com/

For Discussions on World Literature and Literary Criticism in Spiritus Mundi:�� http://worldliteratureandliterarycriticism.wordpress.com/

For Discussions of World History and World Civilization in Spiritus Mundi:�� https://worldhistoryandcivilizationspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Eva Strong from Spiritus�� Mundi: https://evasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Andreas Sarkozy from Spiritus Mundi: http://andreasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Yoriko Oe from Spiritus Mundi: http://yorikosblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Robert Sartorius from Spiritus Mundi: http://sartoriusblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

I write to introduce to your attention�� my double novel Spiritus Mundi, consisting of Spiritus Mundi, the Novel��Book I, and Spiritus Mundi, the Romance��Book II. Book I��s espionage-terror-political-religious thriller-action criss-crosses the globe from Beijing to New York London to Washington, Mexico City and Jerusalem presenting a vast panorama of the contemporary international world, including compelling action from the Occupy Wall Street Movement to espionage and a threatened World War Three, deep and realistic characters and surreal adventures, while Book II dialates the setting and scope into a fantasy (though still rooted in the real) adventure where the protagonists embark on a quest to the realms of Middle Earth and its Crystal Bead Game and through a wormhole to the Council of the Immortals in the Amphitheater in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy in search of the crucial Silmaril Crystal, and to plead for the continuance of the human race in the face of threatened extinction from a nuclear World War III, all followed by a triple-somersault thriller ending in which a common garden-variety terrorist attack is first uncovered by MI6 and the CIA�� as the opening gambit a Greatpower Game of States threatening World War III and then, incredibly, as the nexus of a Time Travel conspiracy involving an attempt by fascist forces of the 23rd Century to alter a benign World History by a time-travelling raid on their past and our present to provoke that World War III, foiled by the heroic efforts of the democratic 23rd Century world government, the Senate of the United States of Earth, to hunt down the fascist interlopers before their history is irrevocably altered for evil.

When activist Robert Sartorius, leading a global campaign�� to create a European Parliament-style world-wide United Nations Parliamentary Assembly presses�� the proposal in New York on his old friend the UN Secretary-General and is rebuffed due to the hostile pressure of the conservative American administration, his Committee�� resolves to fight back by launching a celebrity-driven Bono-Geldof-Band Aid/Live 8-style ��People Power�� media campaign and telethon, allied to the Occupy Wall Street movement and spearheaded by�� rock superstars Isis and Osiris and former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to mobilize global public support and pressure.�� The Blogs of Sartorius, activist Eva Strong and Committee Chairman Andreas Sarkozy reveal the campaign��s working struggle, their tangled love affairs, a loss of faith, attempted suicide, reconciliation of father and son after divorce,�� and recovery of personal love and faith.

Things fall apart as the idealists�� global crusade is infiltrated by a cell of jihadist terrorists using it as a cover, then counter-infiltrated by CIA agent Jack McKinsey and British MI6 agent Etienne Dearlove. A cat-and-mouse game of espionage and intrigue ensues pitting them against the Chinese MSS espionage network allied with the Iranian Quds Force crossing�� Beijing, London, Moscow, Washington and Jerusalem unleashing an uncontrollable series of events which sees the American Olympic Track and Field Team bombed on an airplane in London, uncovers a secret conspiracy of China, Russia and Iran to jointly seize the oil reserves of the Middle-East, and witnesses�� Presidents Clinton and Carter taken hostage with Sartorius, McKinsey, Eva and other activists at a Jerusalem telethon rally cut short by the explosion of a concealed atomic device in a loaned Chinese Terracotta Warrior, then flown by capturing terrorists to Qom, Iran as ��human shields�� to deter a retaliatory nuclear attack.

In Book II, Spiritus Mundi, the Romance they encounter Iran��s Supreme Leader in Qom as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear confrontation and World War III, while mysterious events unfold leading Sartorius and McKinsey from their captivity in the underground nuclear facilities of Qom into a hidden neo-mythic dimension that takes them to a vast ocean and land at the center of the world, Middle Earth, Inner Shambhala, and to involvement in a mysterious Castalian ��Crystal Bead Game�� linked to the destiny of the human race on earth. They then embark on a quest for the Silmaril, or Missing Seed Crystal to the central island of Omphalos in the Great Central Sea in the middle of the globe, aided by Goethe, the Chinese Monkey King, Captain Nemo, the African God-Hero Ogun, and a Sufi mystic they traverse a ��wormhole�� at the center of the earth guarded by ��The Mothers�� and the fallen angel tribe of the Grigori (Genesis 6:1-4) which leads the way to critical meeting of the ��Council of the Immortals�� at the Black Hole in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy to determine the final fate of the human species. The heroes battle and overcome the treacherous opposition of Mephisto and his satanic subaltern Mundus through their Underworld and Otherworld adventures and successfully plead the cause of the continuation of the human species before the Immortals, returning with the critical Silmaril Crystal. resolving the Crystal Bead Game and thereby inspiring through the Archangel Gabriel a dream in the mind of Iran��s Supreme Leader which brings a new Revelation causing him to release the hostages and an end the crisis. China and Russia stand down from aiding Iran in seizing the Mid-East oil reserves, but in a treacherous blow the Chinese instead utilize their forward-positioned armies to attack their former ally Russia and seize Siberia with its large oil and gas reserves instead. President Barret Osama, America��s newly-elected first black President then invites Russia, Japan and�� South Korea to join NATO and together they succeed in expelling the Chinese from Siberia and usher in a new Eurasian and global balance of power and a New World Order.

Rock Superstar Osiris meanwhile, after undertaking a narcissistic Messianic mission in the wake of the Jerusalem atomic blast is dramatically assassinated on live world-wide television on Jerusalem��s Via Dolorosa by a disillusioned follower. His wife and rock-star partner Isis then leads a spiritual movement to reconcile and unite the clashing religions and catalyze a common global spiritual Renaissance through a Global Progressive Spiritual Alliance which seeks to construct an Inter-faith Temple on the ruins of the atomic blast in Jerusalem. In counter-reaction to the cataclysmic events the world finally implements Sartorius�� crusade for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, but not before Sartorius has himself has died, Moses-like of a heart attack while helping to foil a metaconspiracy mediated by Time Travel in which a fascist agent from the 23rd Century who has time-transited back to our time to alter a benign history by causing WWIII and thus preventing the evolution of a democratic world government, the United States of Earth, which follows him through time and nabs him just in the ��nick of time�� to prevent Aramgeddon.�� The book ends with the opening ceremony of the UN Parliamentary Assembly which is attended in Sartorius�� name by his widow Eva Strong, whom Sartorius had fallen in love with and married in the course of the novel, and by their son Euphy, newborn after Sartorius�� death. They are joined in cinematic climax at the ceremony by newly chosen UN Secretary-General Clinton, President Osama and UN Parliamentary Assembly Committee Chairman Andreas Sarkozy who have just received the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in creation of the world��s first world parliamentary assembly within the United Nations, bringing together the representative voices of the peoples of the world in face-to-face assembly and dialogue for the first time in world history.

Highlights:

All the Highlights of the novel cannot be contained in such a short Introduction, but a few of them would include:

1.�� Spiritus Mundi is the first novel in world history to portray the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemblyon the working model, inter alia, of the European Parliament;

2.�� Spiritus Mundi is a prophetic geo-political WWIII novel of the near future forseeing a conflict and conspiratorial surprise attack by a resurgent ��Axis�� of China, Russia and Iran seeking by a decisive blow in jointly seizing the Middle-East oil fields to radically alter the global balance of power vis-a-vis the West in the world and Eurasia. Like Clancy��s The Bear and the Dragon, it forsees the inclusion of Russia in NATO, and goes far beyond in forseeing the inclusion of South Korea and Japan, following a joint Chinese-Russian occupation of a collapsing North Korea and the Axis strike at the Middle-Eastern oil fields;

3. Spiritus Mundi is an exciting espionage thriller involving the American CIA. British MI6, the Chinese MSS, or Ministry of State Security and the Russian SVR contending in a deul of intrigue and espionage;

4. Spiritus Mundi is a Spellbinding Terrorism/Counterterrorism novel involving a global plot to conceal an atomic bomb in a Chinese Teracotta Warrior to be detonated in Jerusalem;

5. Features the romantic and sexual searching and encounters of dozens of idealist activists, rock-stars, CIA and MI6 agents, public-relations spinmeisters and billionaires with a detour into the bi-sexual and gay scenes of Beijing, New York, California, London and Tokyo:

6.�� Establishes and grounds the new genre of the Global Novel written in Global English, the international language of the world,

7. Spiritus Mundi is a novel of Spiritual Searching featuring the religious searching of Sufi mystic Mohammad ala Rushdie, as well as the loss of faith, depression, attempted suicide and recovery of faith in life of protagonist Sartorius. Follows bogus religious cult leaders and the Messiah-Complex megalomanic-narcissistic mission of rock superstar Osiris that leads to his dramatic assassination on worldwide television in Jerusalem, followed by the religious conversion of his wife and rock-star parner Isis;

8.�� Features the search for love and sexual fulfillment of Eva Strong, a deeply and realistically portrayed divorced single mother involved in the United Nations campaign, who reveals her tortured heart and soul in her Blog throughout several disastrous sexual affairs and ultimately through her final attainment of love and marriage to Sartorius;

9.�� Features Sartorius�� experience of a bitter divorce, alienation and reconciliation with his son, his loss of faith and attempted suicide, his battle against drugs and alcoholism, his surreal and sexual adventures in Mexico City, and his subsequent redeeming love and marriage to Eva Strong;

10.�� Contains the in��depth literary conversations of Sartorius and his best friend, Literature Nobel Laureate G��nther Gross, as they conduct�� worldwide interviews and research for at book they are jointly writing on the emergence of the new institution of World Literature, building on Goethe��s original concept of ��Weltliteratur�� and its foundations and contributions from all the world��s traditions and cultures;

11.�� Predicts the emergence of the institution and quest of ��The Great Global Novel�� as a successor to the prior quest after ��The Great American Novel�� in the newer age of the globalization of literature in Global English and generally;

12.�� Features the cross-cultural experiences and search for roots, sexual and spiritual fulfillment and authenticity of Asian-American character Jennie Zheng, and�� Pari Kasiwar of India;

13.�� For the first time incorporates in the dramatic narrative flow of action the mythic traditions of all the cultures and literatures of the world, including such figures as Goethe, The Chinese Monkey King, the African God-Hero Ogun, surreal adventures in the ��Theatro Magico�� in Mexico City bringing to life figures from the Mayan-Aztec Popul Vuh, Hanuman from the Indian classic the Ramayana, and many more;

14. Book Two, Spiritus Mundi, the Romance is a fantastic Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Rollercoaster Ride:�� The more mythic Book Two utilizes a Wellsian motif of Time Travel to explore the making of history and its attempted unmaking (a la Terminator) by a hositile raid from the future on the past, our present, and the foiling of the fascist attempt by an alliance of men and women of goodwill and courage from past, present and future generations united in a Commonwealth of Human Destiny; Like Thomas Pynchon��s Against the Day and Welles�� Journey to the Center of the Earth it involves a journey to an interior realm of the ��Middle Earth;�� it also contains a futuristic travel through a wormhole to the center of our Milky Way Galaxy for a meeting with the ��Council of the Immortals�� where the fate of the human race will be decided;

15.�� Is a fantastic read on a roller-coaster ride of high adventure and self-exploration!

NEW BOOK RELEASE: SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD��S SPIRITUS MUNDI NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON! ��INVITATION TO LISTEN TO MAY 17 BLOGTALKRADIO INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR 10:00 AM PST _______________________________________________________________________

Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIGJFGO

Spiritus Mundi, Book II: The Romance http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGM8BZG

CHECK OUT SPIRITUS MUNDI��S 5.O-STAR GOODREADS RATING AVERAGE & REVIEWS ON GOODREADS:

Book I (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857619-spiritus-mundi-book-i

Book II (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857704-spiritus-mundi-book-ii-the-romance

CHECK OUT A FULL SUMMARY OF SPIRITUS MUNDI ON SHELFARI before purchasing at:

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123188/Spiritus-Mundi��Book-I-The-Novel http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123187/Spiritus-Mundi��Book-II-The-Romance

Spiritus Mundi is also available on SMASHWORDS in ALL FORMATS:

Book I (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 Book II (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798

Spiritus Mundi is also now available at the following sites:

Spiritus Mundi �� Book II: The Romance https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spiritus-mundi-robert-sheppard/1115113152?ean=2940044433182&itm=1&usri=2940044433182 http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Spiritus-Mundi-Book-II-The/book-PlMhvFBI5USTGkLFnO1TQA/page1.html https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/spiritus-mundi-book-ii-romance/id634586781?mt=11 http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000303798/Sheppard-Robert-Spiritus-Mundi-Book-II-The-Romance/1.html

CELEBRATING SPIRITUS MUNDI��S AMAZON RELEASE DAY WITH MAY 17 BLOGTALKRADIO AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH DR. ROBERT ROSE 10:00 AM PST __________________________________________________________________________

We also invite you to listen in to the�� BlogTalkRadio Interview with Dr. Robert Rose interviewing Robert Sheppard on the topic of ��World Consciousness and the Emergencer of World Literature�� pre-recorded May 17, 10:00 AM, PST:

How to Tune In: ============ You can tune in by clicking on the following BlogTalkRadio link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2013/05/17/robert-sheppard-global-consciousness

or you can listen in anytime to the recorded Podcasts of the May 17 Interview, or past Interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2012/08/01/robert-sheppard��spiritus-mundi-a-novel

Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard: Table of Contents

Spiritus Mundi

Contents

Book One Spiritus Mundi: The Novel Chapters 1-33

Departure (Beijing)
A Failing Quest (New York)
War Council & Counteroffensive (Geneva)
New Beginnings (London)
Republic of Letters (Berlin)
Fathers and Sons (Washington,D.C.)
Ulysses: Blogo Ergo Sum (Beijing)
Frequently Asked Questions (London)
In the Middle Kingdom (Beijing)

10. Past and Present (London-South Africa)

11. Telemachus (Washington, D.C.)

12. The Everlasting Nay (Beijing)

13. My Brother��s Keeper (London)

14. In the Global Village (Beijing-Tokyo)

15. Deceits and Revelations (London)

16. Be Ready for Anything (Beijing)

17. The Obscure Object of Desire (London-Pyongyang)

18. Sufferings (Beijing)

19. Of the Yearnings of the Caged Spirit (London)

20. Cyclops (Washington, D.C.)

21. The Engines of Illusion (Beijing)

22. On Her Majesty��s Secret Service (London)

23. The Temptation of the Sirens (Beijing)

24. Truth or Consequences (London)

25. Lazarus Laughed (Beijing)

26. Neptune��s Fury & The Perils of the Sea (The Maldive Islands)

Naval Diaries and Ship��s Logs of Admiral Sir George Rose Sartorius (1780-1875)

27. Penelope (London)

28. The Volcano��s Underworld (Mexico City)

Teatro Magico

29. The Everlasting Yea (London)

30. Paradise Regained (Little Gidding)

31. To the South of Eden (Kenya-to Midrand-Johannesburg South Africa)

32. In a Glass Darkly (London)

33. Spiritus Mundi

Book Two Spiritus Mundi: The Romance Chapters 1-21

Gerusalemme Liberata & Orlando Furioso (Jerusalem)
In a Glass Darkly (London)
Great Expectations (Jerusalem)
The Parable of the Cave (Qom, Iran)
The Xth Day of the Crisis (London)
The Supreme Leader & The Three Messiahs (Qom)
Going for the Jugular (London)
The Night Journey, Goethe & The Monkey King (Qom)
The Central Sea, The Crystal Bead Game & The Quest

10. The Island of Omphalos & The Mothers

11. The Council of the Immortals & The Trial By Ordeal

12. Nemesis

13. Armageddon (London)

14. The Fever Breaks

15. High Noon & Showdown at the OK Corral (Washington, D.C.)

16. Ecce Homo (Jerusalem)

17. Deliverance (London/Lhasa)

18. For Every Action��. (Moscow/Beijing)

19. The Burial of the Dead (London/Little Gidding)

20. Spiritus Mundi (London/Jerusalem)

21. In My End is My Beginning

��-The Convening of the First Meeting of the

United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (New York)

Appendix 1: A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix 2: Spiritus Mundi: Index of Principal Characters

View more on Robert Sheppard's website »

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Published on January 15, 2014 13:05

WILL WWIII RESULT FROM A RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE OR A JOINT RUSSIAN-IRANIAN-CHINA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE-EAST OIL RESERVES?——MI6’S NEW SUPERSPY ETIENNE DEARLOVE IS THE NEW JAMES BOND!——-FREE!——-GET THE SNOWDEN-CLANCY-ORWELLIAN CYBERSPY THRILLER

Follow the spellbinding Thriller Scenario of a threatened Russian-Iranian-Chinese Pearl Harbor-like sneak attack on the Middle-East Oil Reserves to permanently take away the dominance of the West with a New Eurasian Axis!———-Follow the exploits of MI6’s newest Superspy Etienne Dearlove—The New James Bond—-as he penetrates the closed world of the Chinese Politburo in Beijing to uncover the Secret Geopolitical Conspiracy to fatally change the world’s Balance of Power!——-How will it all end? —-Find out now in the Thriller Geopolitical WWIII Thriller Spiritus Mundi by Robert Sheppard!

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ACT NOW TO DISCOVER THE WORLD’S FATE!

GET YOUR FREE e-COPY OF PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINATED CYBERTHRILLER��SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD (BOOK I) ��NOW BY FOLLOWING THIS SMASHWORDS LINK TO DOWNLOAD:

Spiritus Mundi Book I, The Novel (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856

_______________________________________________________________

Among the writers who previously received early recognition in Pushcart Prize anthologies were: Kathy Acker, Steven Barthelme, Rick Bass, Charles Baxter, Bruce Boston, Raymond Carver, Joshua Clover, Junot Diaz, Andre Dubus, William H. Gass, Se��n Mac Falls, William Monahan, Paul Muldoon, Joyce Carol Oates, Tim O��Brien, Lance Olsen,Peter Orner, Kevin Prufer, Kay Ryan, Mona Simpson, Ana Men��ndez, and Wells Tower.

https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/poetry-pacific-3-poems-by-robert-sheppard/

INTRODUCING PUSHCART PRIZE�� NOMINEE ROBERT SHEPPARD��S EPIC NOVEL SPIRITUS MUNDI

Author��s E-mail:�� rsheppard99_2000@yahoo.com

ON SPIRITUS MUNDI

Robert McDowell, Editor, Writer, Marketer, Editorial Cra, The Nature of Words

______________________________________________________

Raymond P. Keen, School Psychologist, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS)

��-

Nicole Breanne, Content Coordinator, Ranker.com _____________________________________________________

Alina Mu Liu, Official I nterpreter , Editor & Translator , HM Courts & Tribunal Service , London UK & the United Nations

Jaime Martinez-Tolentino, Writer�� November 19, 2012

��

Lara Biyuts, Reviewer and Blogger at Goodreads.com and Revue Blanche

________________________________________________________

Doug Draime Writer, Freelance

___________________________________________________

Jim Rogers, Owner and Director, AXL

______________________________________________

��Robert Sheppard is an exceptional thinker! His work should be read and made the subject of critical study.��May 26, 2012

Georgia Banks-Martin, Editor, New Mirage Journal

��

Carl Macki, Owner, Carl Macki Social Media

��

Glenda Fralin, Author, Organization NWG

__________________________________________________________

Dr. Robert Rose, Radio Show Host, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose

________________________________________________________________

Related Links and Websites:�� Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard

For Introduction and Overview of the Novel:�� https://spiritusmundinovel.wordpress.com/

For Updates on the Upcoming Movie Version of the Novel, Spiritus Mundi & Casting of Actors and Actresses for Leading Roles See: https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read Abut the Occupy Wall Street Movement in Spiritus Mundi: http://occupywallstreetnovel.wordpress.com/

For Author��s Blog:�� https://robertalexandersheppard.wordpress.com/

To Read a Sample Chapter from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundisamplechapters.wordpress.com/

To Read Fantasy, Myth and Magical Realism Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundifantasymythandmagicalrealism.wordpress.com/

To Read Sexual Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: The Varieties of Sexul Experience:�� https://spiritusmundivarietiesofsexualexperience.wordpress.com/

To Read Spy, Espionage and Counter-terrorism Thriller Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi:�� http://spiritusmundispyespionagecounterterrorism.wordpress.com/

To Read Geopolitical and World War Three Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundigeopoliticalworldwar3.wordpress.com/

To Read Spiritual and Religious Excerpts from Spiritus Mundi: https://spiritusmundionspiritualityandreligion.wordpress.com/

To Read about the Global Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly in Spiritus Mundi:�� https://spiritusmundiunitednationsparliamentaryassembly.wordpress.com/

To Read Poetry from Spiritus Mundi��https://spiritusmundipoetry.wordpress.com/

For Discussions on World Literature and Literary Criticism in Spiritus Mundi:�� http://worldliteratureandliterarycriticism.wordpress.com/

For Discussions of World History and World Civilization in Spiritus Mundi:�� https://worldhistoryandcivilizationspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Eva Strong from Spiritus�� Mundi: https://evasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Andreas Sarkozy from Spiritus Mundi: http://andreasblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Yoriko Oe from Spiritus Mundi: http://yorikosblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

To Read the Blog of Robert Sartorius from Spiritus Mundi: http://sartoriusblogfromspiritusmundi.wordpress.com/

Rock Superstar Osiris meanwhile, after undertaking a narcissistic Messianic mission in the wake of the Jerusalem atomic blast is dramatically assassinated on live world-wide television on Jerusalem��s Via Dolorosa by a disillusioned follower. His wife and rock-star partner Isis then leads a spiritual movement to reconcile and unite the clashing religions and catalyze a common global spiritual Renaissance through a Global Progressive Spiritual Alliance which seeks to construct an Inter-faith Temple on the ruins of the atomic blast in Jerusalem. In counter-reaction to the cataclysmic events the world finally implements Sartorius�� crusade for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, but not before Sartorius has himself has died, Moses-like of a heart attack while helping to foil a metaconspiracy mediated by Time Travel in which a fascist agent from the 23rd Century who has time-transited back to our time to alter a benign history by causing WWIII and thus preventing the evolution of a democratic world government, the United States of Earth, which follows him through time and nabs him just in the ��nick of time�� to prevent Aramgeddon.�� The book ends with the opening ceremony of the UN Parliamentary Assembly which is attended in Sartorius�� name by his widow Eva Strong, whom Sartorius had fallen in love with and married in the course of the novel, and by their son Euphy, newborn after Sartorius�� death. They are joined in cinematic climax at the ceremony by newly chosen UN Secretary-General Clinton, President Osama and UN Parliamentary Assembly Committee Chairman Andreas Sarkozy who have just received the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in creation of the world��s first world parliamentary assembly within the United Nations, bringing together the representative voices of the peoples of the world in face-to-face assembly and dialogue for the first time in world history.

Highlights:

All the Highlights of the novel cannot be contained in such a short Introduction, but a few of them would include:

1.�� Spiritus Mundi is the first novel in world history to portray the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemblyon the working model, inter alia, of the European Parliament;

4. Spiritus Mundi is a Spellbinding Terrorism/Counterterrorism novel involving a global plot to conceal an atomic bomb in a Chinese Teracotta Warrior to be detonated in Jerusalem;

6.�� Establishes and grounds the new genre of the Global Novel written in Global English, the international language of the world,

12.�� Features the cross-cultural experiences and search for roots, sexual and spiritual fulfillment and authenticity of Asian-American character Jennie Zheng, and�� Pari Kasiwar of India;

15.�� Is a fantastic read on a roller-coaster ride of high adventure and self-exploration!

NEW BOOK RELEASE: SPIRITUS MUNDI BY ROBERT SHEPPARD NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

Spiritus Mundi, Book I: The Novel: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIGJFGO

Spiritus Mundi, Book II: The Romance http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGM8BZG

CHECK OUT SPIRITUS MUNDI��S 5.O-STAR GOODREADS RATING AVERAGE & REVIEWS ON GOODREADS:

Book I (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857619-spiritus-mundi-book-i

Book II (5.0-Stars on Goodreads) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17857704-spiritus-mundi-book-ii-the-romance

CHECK OUT A FULL SUMMARY OF SPIRITUS MUNDI ON SHELFARI before purchasing at:

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123188/Spiritus-Mundi��Book-I-The-Novel http://www.shelfari.com/books/36123187/Spiritus-Mundi��Book-II-The-Romance

Spiritus Mundi is also available on SMASHWORDS in ALL FORMATS:

Book I (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303856 Book II (5.0 Stars on Smashwords) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303798

Spiritus Mundi is also now available at the following sites:

How to Tune In: ============ You can tune in by clicking on the following BlogTalkRadio link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2013/05/17/robert-sheppard-global-consciousness

or you can listen in anytime to the recorded Podcasts of the May 17 Interview, or past Interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose http://www.blogtalkradio.com/icdrrose/2012/08/01/robert-sheppard��spiritus-mundi-a-novel

Spiritus Mundi, Novel by Robert Sheppard: Table of Contents

Spiritus Mundi

Contents

Book One Spiritus Mundi: The Novel Chapters 1-33

10. Past and Present (London-South Africa)

11. Telemachus (Washington, D.C.)

12. The Everlasting Nay (Beijing)

13. My Brother��s Keeper (London)

14. In the Global Village (Beijing-Tokyo)

15. Deceits and Revelations (London)

16. Be Ready for Anything (Beijing)

17. The Obscure Object of Desire (London-Pyongyang)

18. Sufferings (Beijing)

19. Of the Yearnings of the Caged Spirit (London)

20. Cyclops (Washington, D.C.)

21. The Engines of Illusion (Beijing)

22. On Her Majesty��s Secret Service (London)

23. The Temptation of the Sirens (Beijing)

24. Truth or Consequences (London)

25. Lazarus Laughed (Beijing)

26. Neptune��s Fury & The Perils of the Sea (The Maldive Islands)

Naval Diaries and Ship��s Logs of Admiral Sir George Rose Sartorius (1780-1875)

27. Penelope (London)

28. The Volcano��s Underworld (Mexico City)

Teatro Magico

29. The Everlasting Yea (London)

30. Paradise Regained (Little Gidding)

31. To the South of Eden (Kenya-to Midrand-Johannesburg South Africa)

32. In a Glass Darkly (London)

33. Spiritus Mundi

Book Two Spiritus Mundi: The Romance Chapters 1-21

10. The Island of Omphalos & The Mothers

11. The Council of the Immortals & The Trial By Ordeal

12. Nemesis

13. Armageddon (London)

14. The Fever Breaks

15. High Noon & Showdown at the OK Corral (Washington, D.C.)

16. Ecce Homo (Jerusalem)

17. Deliverance (London/Lhasa)

18. For Every Action��. (Moscow/Beijing)

19. The Burial of the Dead (London/Little Gidding)

20. Spiritus Mundi (London/Jerusalem)

21. In My End is My Beginning

��-The Convening of the First Meeting of the

United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (New York)

Appendix 1: A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly: Frequently Asked Questions

Appendix 2: Spiritus Mundi: Index of Principal Characters

View more on Robert Sheppard's website »

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Published on January 15, 2014 13:05

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