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Liberty Bell and the Last American
Americans love their Constitution. In seventeen-year-old Liberty Bell’s era it has become a myth.
Centuries after the Great Blackout obliterates the world's digitized information, America's history is forgotten. Only confused legends remain, written in The Americana, a book depicting a golden age where famous Americans from different eras lived and interacted with one another during the same time.
Raised on the stories and ideals from The Americana, Liberty Bell joins secret agent Antonio Ice on a quest for her country. But in the Old Forest, forgotten technologies are reawakening. Historic figures such as Albert Einstein, Harriet Tubman, and Thomas Jefferson are coming to life.
The source of their return, a mystery hidden since before the apocalypse, lies waiting for Liberty. Her knowledge of The Americana holds the key to unraveling the riddles of the past.
Will the American continent return to the freedom of Liberty’s forefathers? Or will it descend into a dark age of tyranny? The choices she makes will determine its fate. For, as The Americana says, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it—and forfeit all coupons, discounts, and travel miles.”
Filled with quotations from exceptional Americans, here is a humorous and poignant celebration of America and its Constitution.
Centuries after the Great Blackout obliterates the world's digitized information, America's history is forgotten. Only confused legends remain, written in The Americana, a book depicting a golden age where famous Americans from different eras lived and interacted with one another during the same time.
Raised on the stories and ideals from The Americana, Liberty Bell joins secret agent Antonio Ice on a quest for her country. But in the Old Forest, forgotten technologies are reawakening. Historic figures such as Albert Einstein, Harriet Tubman, and Thomas Jefferson are coming to life.
The source of their return, a mystery hidden since before the apocalypse, lies waiting for Liberty. Her knowledge of The Americana holds the key to unraveling the riddles of the past.
Will the American continent return to the freedom of Liberty’s forefathers? Or will it descend into a dark age of tyranny? The choices she makes will determine its fate. For, as The Americana says, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it—and forfeit all coupons, discounts, and travel miles.”
Filled with quotations from exceptional Americans, here is a humorous and poignant celebration of America and its Constitution.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2021
7 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
James Stoddard
21 books253 followersJames Stoddard grew up in the Oklahoma Panhandle. His short stories have been published in professional SF publications such as Lightspeed and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. His first published novel, The High House, won the Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel, and was nominated for several other awards. When he isn't writing or composing music, he teaches Sound Engineering to Really Swell college students.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 29, 2022
How well do you know American history? I can tell you that after reading this book, I discovered I didn't know very much!
James Stoddard takes history and twists it, interjects humor, and reminds us of our past, both good and bad. He does this through a seventeen-year-old young lady named Liberty Bell. Liberty is off to visit her family and ends up smack dab in a robbery on the train. When I first started reading this book, I was a little confused. We know it is 800 years after The Great Blackout, so around the year 2800 or so, but it seems like an old west setting. Apparently, when something takes out all of the computers and electronics, it takes away knowledge since it was all stored in the cloud and couldn't be accessed. It was a downhill slide from there because there were no books to rely on, and civilization started passing down stories orally like they did centuries ago. It was like playing a game of telephone, and the stories were mixed with commercial jingles, music, and other sayings of the time. Civilization's intelligence also started to wane, and they relied on one book, The Americana, as their source of historical knowledge. Liberty is one of the few that can read the book, and she can quote it as situations arise. In a small way, this book also reminded me of the movie Idiocracy.
Once into the story, I had difficulty putting the book down. I giggled often at their sayings, held my breath during some tense moments, and cheered when the good guys won battles and skirmishes. It does take a little effort to translate some of their words into what they should be since many words are spelled phonetically, but only the first time.
Liberty is quite skilled for her age but naive at the same time. She takes everything in the book at face value. However, this experience for her is quite an eye-opener. She still sees the good in everyone and believes in democracy, even when those around her think otherwise. Further into the book, she starts learning some truths and is saddened by what she discovers. I can't blame her for feeling discouraged, but at the same time, being armed with the truth causes her to rethink her position on many things.
I enjoyed all of the characters and the parts of history that they represented. I appreciated the nod to slavery and civil rights and Native Americans and how the white man and our government impacted them. There are many nuggets of truth within these pages amidst the puns and idioms. It also reflects the patriotism the various characters felt and their regard for the constitution.
This was one of those books that surprised me, and it was more than I expected. We give this book 5 paws up and highly recommend you pick up a copy and enjoy it for yourself.
James Stoddard takes history and twists it, interjects humor, and reminds us of our past, both good and bad. He does this through a seventeen-year-old young lady named Liberty Bell. Liberty is off to visit her family and ends up smack dab in a robbery on the train. When I first started reading this book, I was a little confused. We know it is 800 years after The Great Blackout, so around the year 2800 or so, but it seems like an old west setting. Apparently, when something takes out all of the computers and electronics, it takes away knowledge since it was all stored in the cloud and couldn't be accessed. It was a downhill slide from there because there were no books to rely on, and civilization started passing down stories orally like they did centuries ago. It was like playing a game of telephone, and the stories were mixed with commercial jingles, music, and other sayings of the time. Civilization's intelligence also started to wane, and they relied on one book, The Americana, as their source of historical knowledge. Liberty is one of the few that can read the book, and she can quote it as situations arise. In a small way, this book also reminded me of the movie Idiocracy.
Once into the story, I had difficulty putting the book down. I giggled often at their sayings, held my breath during some tense moments, and cheered when the good guys won battles and skirmishes. It does take a little effort to translate some of their words into what they should be since many words are spelled phonetically, but only the first time.
Liberty is quite skilled for her age but naive at the same time. She takes everything in the book at face value. However, this experience for her is quite an eye-opener. She still sees the good in everyone and believes in democracy, even when those around her think otherwise. Further into the book, she starts learning some truths and is saddened by what she discovers. I can't blame her for feeling discouraged, but at the same time, being armed with the truth causes her to rethink her position on many things.
I enjoyed all of the characters and the parts of history that they represented. I appreciated the nod to slavery and civil rights and Native Americans and how the white man and our government impacted them. There are many nuggets of truth within these pages amidst the puns and idioms. It also reflects the patriotism the various characters felt and their regard for the constitution.
This was one of those books that surprised me, and it was more than I expected. We give this book 5 paws up and highly recommend you pick up a copy and enjoy it for yourself.
October 28, 2022
"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."
Liberty Bell and the Last American by James Stoddard is a contorted history and pop culture mashup that will leave you rolling in laughter one minute and contemplating every single thing you have ever learned, read, or seen the next. Nothing and no one are safe from James Stoddard’s madcap imagination.
Liberty Bell knows her American history back to front and front to back because she has memorized The Americana, which includes everything anyone ever wanted to know about government and life before the Great Blackout centuries before. Electricity was knocked out, land shifted, many populations were decimated, and all books were apparently destroyed. Thankfully, everything has been recorded in The Americana, even though interpretation and memories and stories run a bit loose and wide when it comes to accuracy: a noticeable nod to the Telephone game, which is both hysterical and a bit disconcerting, right? Well, so is James Stoddard’s latest masterpiece: Liberty Bell and the Last American.
One thing that is crystal clear is that Liberty Bell is a true blue American patriot, walking the perceived “Yooessay” constitutional tightrope with confidence. But when she falls (literally) into a dangerous adventure with Secret Service Agent Antonio Ice, all the stories, beliefs, and facts in The Americana are put to the test. To add a little spice to an already hot tamale of a tale, not everyone is who they claim to be or represent, and the despicable Masked Rider wants domination and is after the other half of the treasure map that Liberty and Antonio are using to find the lost gold at “Fort Knocks.”
Let the Bold Moves begin!
Buried under the superficial layer of mix-and-match narratives and blended names, historical figures, and places, seriousness prevails. The accurate information paired with the twisted truth and misguided misinformation offer the chilling revelation that we believe what we choose to believe, and historical points of view vary based on who is doing the telling. Nothing new there, but this tilted story presents this in such a way as to cause discerning readers to ponder what individuals and entire societies choose to know or remember across the ages. Take away the books, and what do you have? Chaotic and distorted memories passed down until nothing is left except jumbled history, some axioms and actual quotations, and a Grand Canyon full of truths and half-truths, all stitched together into an elaborate archival tapestry. The Americana!
Liberty Bell and the Last American is quite lengthy, but becoming immersed in the extravagant jaunt across the pages is a certainty, with plenty of fantasticoes and surprising turns and pitfalls to keep the plot moving right along at a good clip. As the story takes shape amidst all the mutated reality, the overall themes of freedom, honor, and patriotism take hold and cast everything in shades of red, white, and blue. Greed and corruption never really go away, and history/memories can be fickle and mercurial, but truth will always remain, whether we know it and accept it or not.
Throw in some science fiction, a bit of romance, and a treasure trove that is even more valuable than gold, and Liberty Bell and the Last American moves faster than a “loco Moteev” and looms larger than “teevee.” Keep an open mind and a sense of wonder, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride. It’s yankee dandy!
"Buffalo Bill and Barney Fife had only millisecs to act, or the Ghost Dance would be forever stilled. Bill raised his rifle, Barney loaded his bullet."
― The Americana
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Liberty Bell and the Last American by James Stoddard is a contorted history and pop culture mashup that will leave you rolling in laughter one minute and contemplating every single thing you have ever learned, read, or seen the next. Nothing and no one are safe from James Stoddard’s madcap imagination.
Liberty Bell knows her American history back to front and front to back because she has memorized The Americana, which includes everything anyone ever wanted to know about government and life before the Great Blackout centuries before. Electricity was knocked out, land shifted, many populations were decimated, and all books were apparently destroyed. Thankfully, everything has been recorded in The Americana, even though interpretation and memories and stories run a bit loose and wide when it comes to accuracy: a noticeable nod to the Telephone game, which is both hysterical and a bit disconcerting, right? Well, so is James Stoddard’s latest masterpiece: Liberty Bell and the Last American.
One thing that is crystal clear is that Liberty Bell is a true blue American patriot, walking the perceived “Yooessay” constitutional tightrope with confidence. But when she falls (literally) into a dangerous adventure with Secret Service Agent Antonio Ice, all the stories, beliefs, and facts in The Americana are put to the test. To add a little spice to an already hot tamale of a tale, not everyone is who they claim to be or represent, and the despicable Masked Rider wants domination and is after the other half of the treasure map that Liberty and Antonio are using to find the lost gold at “Fort Knocks.”
Let the Bold Moves begin!
Buried under the superficial layer of mix-and-match narratives and blended names, historical figures, and places, seriousness prevails. The accurate information paired with the twisted truth and misguided misinformation offer the chilling revelation that we believe what we choose to believe, and historical points of view vary based on who is doing the telling. Nothing new there, but this tilted story presents this in such a way as to cause discerning readers to ponder what individuals and entire societies choose to know or remember across the ages. Take away the books, and what do you have? Chaotic and distorted memories passed down until nothing is left except jumbled history, some axioms and actual quotations, and a Grand Canyon full of truths and half-truths, all stitched together into an elaborate archival tapestry. The Americana!
Liberty Bell and the Last American is quite lengthy, but becoming immersed in the extravagant jaunt across the pages is a certainty, with plenty of fantasticoes and surprising turns and pitfalls to keep the plot moving right along at a good clip. As the story takes shape amidst all the mutated reality, the overall themes of freedom, honor, and patriotism take hold and cast everything in shades of red, white, and blue. Greed and corruption never really go away, and history/memories can be fickle and mercurial, but truth will always remain, whether we know it and accept it or not.
Throw in some science fiction, a bit of romance, and a treasure trove that is even more valuable than gold, and Liberty Bell and the Last American moves faster than a “loco Moteev” and looms larger than “teevee.” Keep an open mind and a sense of wonder, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride. It’s yankee dandy!
"Buffalo Bill and Barney Fife had only millisecs to act, or the Ghost Dance would be forever stilled. Bill raised his rifle, Barney loaded his bullet."
― The Americana
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
October 26, 2022
The blurb for Liberty Bell and the Last American calls it "a humorous and poignant celebration of America and its Constitution," and there is no more accurate description. Part speculative fiction, part romance, part action-adventure, part coming-of-age novel, and all heart, this book is a pun-filled romp through a version of American History that might be seen through a fun-house mirror from a thousand years in the future, and I loved it. Sure, the puns (Liberty Bell, the young protagonist, is from the Southern Bells, and her siblings include her sister Tink, short for Tinker) and pop-culture references (going to hell in a walmart cart) fly freely, but consider: if someone from that far in the future peered at us, then added a global Black Out and took away all context, they'd probably come up with similar references and turns of phrase. It's important to note: this novel is much closer to Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy than it is to Piers Anthony's Xanth books, but could be considered a descendant of both.
In Liberty Bell, author James Stoddard has given us a vibrant young woman, traveling away from home for the first time and getting thrown into a series of adventures that include plummeting from a moving train, showing off the kind of survival skills that would impress any Girl or Boy Scout, and holding her own in both political and philosophical dialogue with characters who are all her elders, though some are older than others. (There's really no way to give any level of detail without risking spoilers.)
Stoddard, like Adams, has also made this novel, in part, a book about another book. In this case that's The Americana, which seems to be a combination of commonplace (though many of the quotations are mis-attributed, out of context, or just altered) and historical commentary about the (fictional) world these people inhabit. (Note to the author: Publishing that as a companion to this story would be awesome.) Some of the quotes and comments are hilarious, others are provocative: where did the author of The Americana get that story or piece of data?
What I really loved about this book is that beneath all the puns and preposterous situations, there's a close look at the true meaning of patriotism and what it means to be an American, and what the constitution really says. The author notes that this was written before the 2016 election and is not meant to endorse or criticize any party, which is true, but it's also true that the real love story isn't Liberty Bell and her accidental partner in crimes and misdemeanors with a cause, but the author, the reader, and their love of country.
This book is written in an easily accessible style, the story is well-paced and the plot makes sense, but I feel the best audience for this novel will be those who have a better-than-average knowledge of American history, because the references are much more enjoyable if you are familiar with the source material.
Goes well with: grilled freshly-caught fish and clear spring water.
In Liberty Bell, author James Stoddard has given us a vibrant young woman, traveling away from home for the first time and getting thrown into a series of adventures that include plummeting from a moving train, showing off the kind of survival skills that would impress any Girl or Boy Scout, and holding her own in both political and philosophical dialogue with characters who are all her elders, though some are older than others. (There's really no way to give any level of detail without risking spoilers.)
Stoddard, like Adams, has also made this novel, in part, a book about another book. In this case that's The Americana, which seems to be a combination of commonplace (though many of the quotations are mis-attributed, out of context, or just altered) and historical commentary about the (fictional) world these people inhabit. (Note to the author: Publishing that as a companion to this story would be awesome.) Some of the quotes and comments are hilarious, others are provocative: where did the author of The Americana get that story or piece of data?
What I really loved about this book is that beneath all the puns and preposterous situations, there's a close look at the true meaning of patriotism and what it means to be an American, and what the constitution really says. The author notes that this was written before the 2016 election and is not meant to endorse or criticize any party, which is true, but it's also true that the real love story isn't Liberty Bell and her accidental partner in crimes and misdemeanors with a cause, but the author, the reader, and their love of country.
This book is written in an easily accessible style, the story is well-paced and the plot makes sense, but I feel the best audience for this novel will be those who have a better-than-average knowledge of American history, because the references are much more enjoyable if you are familiar with the source material.
Goes well with: grilled freshly-caught fish and clear spring water.
October 27, 2022
I am mostly a logical and literal person, so being totally honest here, it took some work for me to get into the book. I kept thinking about the adjusted history and trying to remember it in case it related to something I would need later in my reading. About Chapter 3, I gave up. Put the book to the side and almost decided I could not finish it. Then I went back and read the author’s blurb that stated this was humorous.
So two days later, taking a deep breath and deciding not to get stressed about the adjusted history – I started again. With a lighter mindset and the attitude of just wanting to be entertained, it was a very good read. I even started reading some of the quotes of adjusted history out loud to whoever happened to be nearby, and their laughter helped me enjoy the book even more.
The author jumps the reader forward in time and, at the same instance, takes us back to a simpler life before Lextricity and other modern conveniences. Horse and buggies, trains and petticoats have all made a comeback (not sure I’m thrilled with the whole petticoat thing!). The main character Liberty is a 17 year old naïve and slightly immature (by today’s standards) girl who finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime. After jumping from a train to escape villains, she finds herself aligned with A.I. (yup gotta love it) or Agent Ice. While the two of them are trying to establish their places in the relationship, the world is quickly working on keeping them busy, figuring out the ½ map they have and throwing all kinds of interesting people their way. From Jesse James to Abraham Lincoln to Einstein!
This story has a little bit of a lot of genres, Historical Fiction, Western,Sci Fi, adventure, mystery and even a smidgen of a steampunk feeling. I highly suggest that you allow the whimsical side of you to just relax and enjoy the read. You might just find that there’s a lot more here than first meets the eye.
So two days later, taking a deep breath and deciding not to get stressed about the adjusted history – I started again. With a lighter mindset and the attitude of just wanting to be entertained, it was a very good read. I even started reading some of the quotes of adjusted history out loud to whoever happened to be nearby, and their laughter helped me enjoy the book even more.
The author jumps the reader forward in time and, at the same instance, takes us back to a simpler life before Lextricity and other modern conveniences. Horse and buggies, trains and petticoats have all made a comeback (not sure I’m thrilled with the whole petticoat thing!). The main character Liberty is a 17 year old naïve and slightly immature (by today’s standards) girl who finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime. After jumping from a train to escape villains, she finds herself aligned with A.I. (yup gotta love it) or Agent Ice. While the two of them are trying to establish their places in the relationship, the world is quickly working on keeping them busy, figuring out the ½ map they have and throwing all kinds of interesting people their way. From Jesse James to Abraham Lincoln to Einstein!
This story has a little bit of a lot of genres, Historical Fiction, Western,Sci Fi, adventure, mystery and even a smidgen of a steampunk feeling. I highly suggest that you allow the whimsical side of you to just relax and enjoy the read. You might just find that there’s a lot more here than first meets the eye.
November 4, 2022
I'm splitting my review of LIBERTY BELL AND THE LAST AMERICAN into two parts: aspects of the novel I really enjoyed and those which were a challenge for me personally as a reader.
Joys to read:
The concept of LIBERTY BELL is clever and original. Books and historical knowledge in this future world are lost in a great cataclysm/EMP pulse. Little remains of the former United States, its government, rules, and documents. After a few hundred years, a scholar takes it upon himself to collect the stories of the surviving people. These stories, named The Americana, are an assortment of oral histories, which easily reminded me of the Telephone Game. (Do people still play that? No idea!) The Americana is a mash up of historical and pop culture accuracies and inaccuracies. Characters like Waynejon, the immortal Pilgrim, interact with presidents Lincoln and Washington.
In addition to The Americana, the novel showcases several unexpected plot points. A good vs evil chess set comes to life at Dizzy Land! Jessie James is a good guy who idolizes the Rough Riders. I found myself wondering how I would reimagine American history if given the chance. Let's just say there would be a lot more founding mothers rather than founding fathers in my world.
There are also some other surprise twists which I won't spoil for you! How about a fun quote instead:
"You, sir, are a villain and a cab, so just taxi yourself out of here!"
Mr. Stoddard states in the author's notes "the characters speak the language of a people a thousand years in our future." There are clever malapropisms, alternative spellings, and other grammatical choices throughout the novel. Luckily, I'm generally a phonetic reader and find it easy to interpret alternative spellings like Yooessay used for U.S.A. I chuckled more than once while reading these words.
(TRIGGER WARNING for those who struggle with misspellings and non-capitalized words in books!)
Liberty Bell herself is a clever, delightful, and patriotic character. She's one of the few characters who can read 'ancient' English signs and books. I appreciate her courageous attitude! Sure, she's scared and nervous, but she rises to every occasion. Her joy for the constitution and American history are put to the test during the novel in ways I don't know that I'd be able to endure.
Challenges:
Liberty and Antonio spend a significant amount of time on their quest for the treasures of Fort Knocks. There is map consulting, horse riding, enemy evading, plant and animal identification, and path crossing with many characters along the way. For me, all the journeying slowed down the main plot point, that of getting the treasure at Fort Knocks. The many character interactions were important for the plot, but the roaming seemed to go on and on for me as a reader. I don't have a recommendation on how the journey could have been made shorter, unfortunately. I find myself needing less journey in books in general.
Although I enjoyed the malapropisms at the beginning of the novel, I found them taxing after awhile. There were several words that I had to guess the meanings of, taking me out of the reading experience.
While Liberty Bell and her companions are on their journey, there is a general lack of other female characters within the novel. I would have appreciated more historical and/or contemporary female characters for Liberty to bond with. I also found it frustrating that nearly every male character Liberty encounters immediately develops feelings for her. I do believe that romantic feelings are not necessary for every situation in a novel.
LIBERTY BELL AND THE LAST AMERICAN presents a unique look at a possible American future, including a skilled look at patriotism and the importance of understanding our own history.
And an appreciation of printed books once that EMP hits!
"Not only were there three periodicals and a newspaper on display, but she counted twelve books, surely worth a Bezos' ransom."
Joys to read:
The concept of LIBERTY BELL is clever and original. Books and historical knowledge in this future world are lost in a great cataclysm/EMP pulse. Little remains of the former United States, its government, rules, and documents. After a few hundred years, a scholar takes it upon himself to collect the stories of the surviving people. These stories, named The Americana, are an assortment of oral histories, which easily reminded me of the Telephone Game. (Do people still play that? No idea!) The Americana is a mash up of historical and pop culture accuracies and inaccuracies. Characters like Waynejon, the immortal Pilgrim, interact with presidents Lincoln and Washington.
In addition to The Americana, the novel showcases several unexpected plot points. A good vs evil chess set comes to life at Dizzy Land! Jessie James is a good guy who idolizes the Rough Riders. I found myself wondering how I would reimagine American history if given the chance. Let's just say there would be a lot more founding mothers rather than founding fathers in my world.
There are also some other surprise twists which I won't spoil for you! How about a fun quote instead:
"You, sir, are a villain and a cab, so just taxi yourself out of here!"
Mr. Stoddard states in the author's notes "the characters speak the language of a people a thousand years in our future." There are clever malapropisms, alternative spellings, and other grammatical choices throughout the novel. Luckily, I'm generally a phonetic reader and find it easy to interpret alternative spellings like Yooessay used for U.S.A. I chuckled more than once while reading these words.
(TRIGGER WARNING for those who struggle with misspellings and non-capitalized words in books!)
Liberty Bell herself is a clever, delightful, and patriotic character. She's one of the few characters who can read 'ancient' English signs and books. I appreciate her courageous attitude! Sure, she's scared and nervous, but she rises to every occasion. Her joy for the constitution and American history are put to the test during the novel in ways I don't know that I'd be able to endure.
Challenges:
Liberty and Antonio spend a significant amount of time on their quest for the treasures of Fort Knocks. There is map consulting, horse riding, enemy evading, plant and animal identification, and path crossing with many characters along the way. For me, all the journeying slowed down the main plot point, that of getting the treasure at Fort Knocks. The many character interactions were important for the plot, but the roaming seemed to go on and on for me as a reader. I don't have a recommendation on how the journey could have been made shorter, unfortunately. I find myself needing less journey in books in general.
Although I enjoyed the malapropisms at the beginning of the novel, I found them taxing after awhile. There were several words that I had to guess the meanings of, taking me out of the reading experience.
While Liberty Bell and her companions are on their journey, there is a general lack of other female characters within the novel. I would have appreciated more historical and/or contemporary female characters for Liberty to bond with. I also found it frustrating that nearly every male character Liberty encounters immediately develops feelings for her. I do believe that romantic feelings are not necessary for every situation in a novel.
LIBERTY BELL AND THE LAST AMERICAN presents a unique look at a possible American future, including a skilled look at patriotism and the importance of understanding our own history.
And an appreciation of printed books once that EMP hits!
"Not only were there three periodicals and a newspaper on display, but she counted twelve books, surely worth a Bezos' ransom."
October 31, 2022
Imagine that, due to a great catastrophe, all the digital information in the world was lost, and most of the hard copies, too. Imagine that electricity no longer flowed. Imagine that many people were killed. Cities and continents divided. Imagine, then, that the survivors regrouped as best as they could, played a huge game of telephone with the information they recalled, and then somewhere down the line, someone found snippets of information about history and tried to compile it into a book as best as they could. This is what you have in Liberty Bell and the Last American.
Liberty Bell is a plucky young lady setting out from home for the first time. Her trip goes awry when she’s forced to jump from the train she’s on to avoid men up to no good. She finds herself in the middle of nowhere with Secret Service agent Antonio Ice (who occasionally refers to himself as A.I.), and they fall in together to use the half of a map that they possess to find the gold in “Fort Knocks.”
Liberty is quite the student of The Americana, the trove of “knowledge” compiled about all the heroic Old Americans of the past, filled with what is thought to be their wisdom. When she and Antonio encounter various historical figures along their way, and finally discover a secret thought to be lost forever, it is Liberty’s extensive knowledge of The Americana that may be able to unravel the riddles they’re confronted with. Will Liberty be able to choose wisely? Or will a tyrannical madman take over all that remains sacred and plunge the world deeper into darkness?
This is a rip-snortin’ good book! It’s mixed-up history and reimagined future, with action, adventure, and a little romance all rolled up into one. James Stoddard must be a remarkable student of history to mix it up like he does. Liberty refers to The Americana often, and it is truly a mishmash of great Americans from throughout history, described as if they lived at the same time.
It’s also a topsy-turvy treasure trove of pop culture references. We learn from The Americana that Yoosemitee is the Old Forest, “home of Bigfoot and King Kong.” We read about “the White Sands of the Nuklars” and “the ruins of the Golden Arches.” It’s genius.
Yet underneath the humor, there is thought-provoking truth. Liberty Bell and Antonio don’t find the gold of Fort Knocks. Instead, they find a far greater treasure. What they find wrecks everything Liberty thought about the Old Americans and the history of the “Yooessay,” as it’s now known. She is crushed. But she is reminded by a figure from that past that the Old Americans were just flawed, imperfect people, but they fought for what was right, for an ideal that cannot die. She is reminded of what the true spirit of the Republic is.
Can tyranny be defeated again? Will the Old American ideals prevail and help to recreate a new, more perfect union? Grab a copy of Liberty Bell and the Last American and find out.
I give it five of the stars made famous by “Betsee Ross, the Star Weaver.”
Liberty Bell is a plucky young lady setting out from home for the first time. Her trip goes awry when she’s forced to jump from the train she’s on to avoid men up to no good. She finds herself in the middle of nowhere with Secret Service agent Antonio Ice (who occasionally refers to himself as A.I.), and they fall in together to use the half of a map that they possess to find the gold in “Fort Knocks.”
Liberty is quite the student of The Americana, the trove of “knowledge” compiled about all the heroic Old Americans of the past, filled with what is thought to be their wisdom. When she and Antonio encounter various historical figures along their way, and finally discover a secret thought to be lost forever, it is Liberty’s extensive knowledge of The Americana that may be able to unravel the riddles they’re confronted with. Will Liberty be able to choose wisely? Or will a tyrannical madman take over all that remains sacred and plunge the world deeper into darkness?
This is a rip-snortin’ good book! It’s mixed-up history and reimagined future, with action, adventure, and a little romance all rolled up into one. James Stoddard must be a remarkable student of history to mix it up like he does. Liberty refers to The Americana often, and it is truly a mishmash of great Americans from throughout history, described as if they lived at the same time.
It’s also a topsy-turvy treasure trove of pop culture references. We learn from The Americana that Yoosemitee is the Old Forest, “home of Bigfoot and King Kong.” We read about “the White Sands of the Nuklars” and “the ruins of the Golden Arches.” It’s genius.
Yet underneath the humor, there is thought-provoking truth. Liberty Bell and Antonio don’t find the gold of Fort Knocks. Instead, they find a far greater treasure. What they find wrecks everything Liberty thought about the Old Americans and the history of the “Yooessay,” as it’s now known. She is crushed. But she is reminded by a figure from that past that the Old Americans were just flawed, imperfect people, but they fought for what was right, for an ideal that cannot die. She is reminded of what the true spirit of the Republic is.
Can tyranny be defeated again? Will the Old American ideals prevail and help to recreate a new, more perfect union? Grab a copy of Liberty Bell and the Last American and find out.
I give it five of the stars made famous by “Betsee Ross, the Star Weaver.”
October 31, 2022
A clever and imaginative tale of a quest through a future America.
Liberty Bell and the Last American is a highly-imaginative, amazingly clever, fast-paced romp through a futuristic American landscape after the country has been laid waste in the "Great Blackout." Hundreds of years have passed since the devastation of the planet and its peoples, in which few physical books and nothing that depended on electricity survived. However, during the ensuing centuries, the remnants of the population left on the American continent had cobbled together a version of their history, verbally handed down through the generations and combined with a single found copy of quotations by famous people to create a foundational work called “The Americana.” Unfortunately, the result somewhat resembled what you got at the end of the child’s game known as “Telephone.” Written in “Old American,” not everyone could read the original version, relying solely on modern interpretations. Liberty Bell was one of the few who learned the old language.
Liberty Bell is a lively and lovely young woman. This is her first trip away from her home on her own, so she’s understandably a bit timid at first. However, as her journey is interrupted (and takes a wild left turn), she rarely wavers in her confidence and determination to do the right thing for her country (of which she has a naïve understanding) and for her companions.The author is supremely clever in reimagining the language of the day, recombining idioms, maxims, proverbs, or aphorisms into new common phrases. Old ideas jumbled together with current cultural references entertained me to the very end and are probably my favorite element in the book.
But while the malapropisms shine, the author ingeniously uses actual quotations from historical figures to develop their dialogue throughout the story. The literal battle of quotes between chess pieces representing Jefferson and Churchill left me in awe. Winnowing through what was surely hundreds of documented utterances by these two and coming out with such a coherent whole is an amazing feat to me.The landscape through which the characters wander is also the result of taking reality and revising it to account for the alterations of time, climate, and supposedly lost source documents. At times, I was reminded of Dorothy’s journey through Oz on her way to the Emerald City; not only did the scenery have some of the same ‘look and feel,‘ but there was also the quest-like nature of the journey itself.
Stoddard has created a unique, fresh, and very entertaining work. I recommend LIBERTY BELL AND THE LAST AMERICAN for readers who like tales of quests with elements of magic and SciFi, coming-of-age stories, and especially for those who enjoy and are familiar with American history. (A copy of the Constitution and Amendments are included at the end of the book as an extra.)I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.
October 30, 2022
4.5 Stars
Those Who Don’t Study History Accurately Are Doomed To Repeat It.
Already plunged into a world years after a planet-wide blackout, Liberty Bell and her family live by the words of The Americana - a book created from slices and slivers of American history in an attempt to recover all that was lost. When she comes of age, she starts her journey exploring the world with a simple trip to visit her aunt in Bedford Falls. It sounds innocent enough. However, once things are set into motion by characters named Brett Revere and Antonio Ice, things go side-ways fast. These strong characters change her world in more ways than she can imagine, as they chase after a treasure more valuable than they can even fathom!
I would give Liberty Bell And The Last American 4.5 stars. The history buff/OCD side of me often wrestled with the creative side of me through most of this book. The quote, “those who don’t study history accurately are doomed to repeat it” continuously ran through my brain. When things finally shook out, I had a better understanding of that quote. The historical confusion in the beginning frustrated me at first, until I read some of The Americana quotes to my husband. Eventually, he showed me the reasoning behind the frustration by pointing out the possible motivation of the author writing the book. I understood it once I read the inspirational ending. I am as passionate about accurate history as Liberty Bell is regarding The Americana. Accurate history is one of the most valuable treasures of this world.
James Stoddard creates a world where history is lost. The research required to pull off this masterful piece of work had to have been immense. The way Stoddard uses historical details, quotes, and prominent historical figures to illustrate the importance of history is brilliant on so many levels. I read this book on ebook, and once finished, I ordered the paperback copy for my personal library! Totally recommend!
Those Who Don’t Study History Accurately Are Doomed To Repeat It.
Already plunged into a world years after a planet-wide blackout, Liberty Bell and her family live by the words of The Americana - a book created from slices and slivers of American history in an attempt to recover all that was lost. When she comes of age, she starts her journey exploring the world with a simple trip to visit her aunt in Bedford Falls. It sounds innocent enough. However, once things are set into motion by characters named Brett Revere and Antonio Ice, things go side-ways fast. These strong characters change her world in more ways than she can imagine, as they chase after a treasure more valuable than they can even fathom!
I would give Liberty Bell And The Last American 4.5 stars. The history buff/OCD side of me often wrestled with the creative side of me through most of this book. The quote, “those who don’t study history accurately are doomed to repeat it” continuously ran through my brain. When things finally shook out, I had a better understanding of that quote. The historical confusion in the beginning frustrated me at first, until I read some of The Americana quotes to my husband. Eventually, he showed me the reasoning behind the frustration by pointing out the possible motivation of the author writing the book. I understood it once I read the inspirational ending. I am as passionate about accurate history as Liberty Bell is regarding The Americana. Accurate history is one of the most valuable treasures of this world.
James Stoddard creates a world where history is lost. The research required to pull off this masterful piece of work had to have been immense. The way Stoddard uses historical details, quotes, and prominent historical figures to illustrate the importance of history is brilliant on so many levels. I read this book on ebook, and once finished, I ordered the paperback copy for my personal library! Totally recommend!
November 4, 2022
I can honestly say that I have never read a book like James Stoddard's Liberty Bell and the Last American. The story had something of everything. There was definitely some humor, action, coming of age, and some history of course.
We follow the course of the book via Liberty Bell as she attempts to go along her journey to visit family, but then finds herself in a predicament when a robbery occurs on the train she is on. After that, she joins Secret Service Agent Antonio Ice (that's A.I. to you) in what truly is a unique adventure.
It was incredibly interesting to hear portions and snippets of our American history told in such a way. How would we continue our history if there was a complete black out of information? Would they read like pieces of a puzzle? Would we too become like Liberty Bell who studied The Americana only to learn that there was much more to what we read? I found myself asking questions like this - it is truly fascinating to think about.
I found Liberty Bell and the Last American to be a fascinating read that sincerely captivated my attention and held it page after page. I believe all readers would enjoy this unique tale, but it will especially hit for fans of history and the "what if".
We follow the course of the book via Liberty Bell as she attempts to go along her journey to visit family, but then finds herself in a predicament when a robbery occurs on the train she is on. After that, she joins Secret Service Agent Antonio Ice (that's A.I. to you) in what truly is a unique adventure.
It was incredibly interesting to hear portions and snippets of our American history told in such a way. How would we continue our history if there was a complete black out of information? Would they read like pieces of a puzzle? Would we too become like Liberty Bell who studied The Americana only to learn that there was much more to what we read? I found myself asking questions like this - it is truly fascinating to think about.
I found Liberty Bell and the Last American to be a fascinating read that sincerely captivated my attention and held it page after page. I believe all readers would enjoy this unique tale, but it will especially hit for fans of history and the "what if".
April 22, 2021
Inspiring Story
Very entertaining & humorous with the language and muddled history legends. Enjoyed getting involved with the characters. Well developed characters. Even the parts of a book that I usually skim (the violent battles) I read closely to know who was injured or killed. Certainly inspired my love of Democracy and honestly faced the perils in our government plus weaknesses. Overall uplifting, inspiring and a cautious tale for the future.
Very entertaining & humorous with the language and muddled history legends. Enjoyed getting involved with the characters. Well developed characters. Even the parts of a book that I usually skim (the violent battles) I read closely to know who was injured or killed. Certainly inspired my love of Democracy and honestly faced the perils in our government plus weaknesses. Overall uplifting, inspiring and a cautious tale for the future.
November 9, 2022
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.6.
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