A Cosmic Odyssey of Self-Discovery and Redemption

Author of this review: Maccabee Griffin, Host of Beyond the Pen

Narican: The Cloaked Deception, penned by Douglas Robbins, is a genre-defying journey that seamlessly

weaves elements of science-fiction, fantasy, philosophy, mysticism, and mental health into a tapestry of cosmic proportions. This novel takes readers on an exhilarating ride through the realms of human nature, the eternal struggle between good and evil, and the quest for self-discovery and enlightenment.

The story revolves around Reuben Mitchell, a seemingly ordinary young man who is blissfully unaware of his extraordinary destiny. Born on Earth through surrogates, Reuben is the last of the Sun Clan, the guardians of the soul’s highest order. As he ages, the nefarious Toxic Whisperers, an enigmatic and evil force, set their sights on him. These creatures threaten Reuben’s existence and the very fabric of human evolution.

One of the novel’s strengths is its multifaceted exploration of the human condition. Reuben’s struggles with a torn mind and the toxic influences of the world around him serve as a metaphor for the mental health battles many face in our reality. The author deftly portrays the frustration, confusion, and isolation that often accompany such struggles, making Reuben a relatable and empathetic character.

Amidst this turmoil, Reuben’s journey intertwines with Tanz, the Accountant, the Seer, and the Record Keeper of Narican. Stripped of their evolved powers by the Toxic Whisperers, these characters share Reuben’s quest to unravel the evil plans threatening humanity’s existence. Together, they grapple with questions of identity, the duality of human nature, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

At its core, Narican: The Cloaked Deception is a tale of self-discovery and redemption. The characters seek not only to protect Earth but also to evolve as human and spiritual beings. The novel’s profound exploration of the limitations of the human condition—how our bodies and minds often hinder our quest for enlightenment—resonates deeply with readers. It invites us to contemplate our inner struggles and the ever-present battle between our higher and lower selves.

Readers will immerse themselves in a richly developed world filled with intricate mythology, vividly described landscapes, and enigmatic beings as the narrative unfolds. The story’s philosophical underpinnings add depth and complexity, inviting readers to ponder the age-old questions of morality, existence, and the nature of good and evil.

In Narican: The Cloaked Deception, Douglas Robbins has crafted a captivating and thought-provoking odyssey that transcends traditional genre boundaries. This novel is a profound exploration of the human experience, a thrilling cosmic adventure, and a meditation on the eternal struggle for enlightenment. Readers who embark on this journey will be rewarded with a rich and immersive narrative that challenges their perceptions and leaves them pondering the intricate dance between light and darkness within us all.

Narican is available in (ebook, print, audio) formats.

Freedom of speech is something we have held dearly to our hearts since we were born. Something we are told is an inalienable right. Our Constitution reads, “Amendment One. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances.” That’s it. Nothing more.

Amendment One is very short. Amendment Two, regarding guns is even shorter, but that’s for another day. So, we live by this doctrine, this creed, that freedom of speech needs to be held in high esteem, yet this document was written over 200 years ago. There was no internet. No trolling, no pervasive memes, no streaming on social media. There were political cartoons, but this was a very, very different time when religious freedom was in question.

In general, today, religious freedom is not a concern. So, the amendment did what it set out to do. However, this freedom is being abused for different reasons, unforeseen technological ones.

The definition of Amendment is to make a minor change or to improve upon a piece of text or legislation.

We may be due for amending our amendments. For we have a sickness in this country that is destroying it with rot from within. That rot is misinformation. We have political pundits, “news” agencies, endless groups, and endless social media platforms, streaming “information” that is literally bombarding our psyches. Information is how we make decisions. If we don’t have the right information, we don’t make the right decisions. Now we are often making decisions based upon misinformation and deliberately erroneous “facts,” put out by “news” agencies.

I don’t think the First Amendment was designed to destroy the country it was meant to free. It was designed to uphold people’s choices and rights. And as it said, the press, but who is the press nowadays? Printing presses are all but obsolete with a handful holding out, many owned by big businesses controlling the narrative.

Now every cable news station has a talking head 24-hour news cycle, even though what they present is not 24 hours’ worth of news. It’s really the same news regurgitated over a 24-hour period: the most dramatic news, the most divisive news in what is about a half hour worth of the worst of what the world had seen that day. It’s news that sells, not news that illuminates, if it’s news at all. Kim Kardashian’s ass is not news. You may be fascinated by it and her family drama, but it still isn’t news. News affects a population, not a hair style or gossip of who’s sleeping with whom.

And so, when you have pundits, political hacks, talking heads on either side, speaking as if what they’re saying is gospel when it is often hearsay or some narrative they’re selling.

Well, now we have a problem with freedom of speech, because now it is being used against the people, not for the people. It is now designed to divide the people, often turning this narrative into physical violence as we saw on January 6^th with the capital insurrection that came close to toppling this nation and putting an illegitimate narcissist despot in place as president who cares nothing for the law.

The definition of Insurrection is a violent uprising against an authority or government.

The definition of Treason is betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government.

Now if many of these insurrectionists were not fed this misinformation about the election being stolen, would they have done it?

There’s a big difference between news and opinion, news and narrative, news and desire, news and belief. You know, it’s like my daughter can just say something crazy, right? But she’s a kid. When you take that into the realm of politics, information and climate change, there are dire, dire circumstances, with dire results if we do not get the right information out there.

We must hold these truths to be self-evident. And what’s happening is self-evident. If we want to hold freedom of speech in such high regard, we must hold the content of that speech in high regard as well. Not just the idea of it or blathering anything we choose to, because the unchecked narrative is destroying us. Our country, our beloved life raft of a nation for so many, is teetering right now. There is a hole in it draining the air. Our democracy people assume is going to last. If you look at history, it doesn’t last unless you tend to it and fortify it. Nothing does. We must keep strengthening it, not weakening it. Empires with huge debt, huge military spending and huge inflation crumble. Just look at ancient Rome.

Just like with censorship on music or television or movies, censorship that you cannot say whatever whenever it suits you, not in the public arena anyway. Bob at the bar on his third tequila shot can say whatever he likes. But there must be accountability and clarification if spoken by a “news” agency or politician. Your opinions, wants, and desires, Are Not News or Facts.

Facts are very different than someone whipping up the crowd into a frenzy, fear mongering. There must be something in place like there are with movie ratings. When whomever on whatever station you watch acts as an authority, as a news agency, they must site like a research paper would and prove that they are worthy of such a title. News was once revered. It shed a light on the world. In order for people to make informed decisions they must have the right ideas to shape their world and future. If not, we are playing with a fire we cannot extinguish.

Many people often vote against their own interests, and I understand that is the very point of manipulating information.

People can’t make decisions based upon misinformation other than making the wrong decisions. There was a study a few years ago when Obama was president, that people can’t tell the difference between fake news and real news. Well, if you can’t tell the difference between fake news and real news then we have a real problem, not a fake one.

And critical thinking, my goodness, I don’t know where that went, but not too many people seem to have it, acting without thinking and accepting blindly without considering.

The First Amendment was not designed to destroy us but lift us up as human beings. If we want to be free and informed, we must do better. We must require more. There are 1000s and 1000s of “media or news outlets” on social media, and on the internet. We don’t know who these people are. Some are fine. You don’t know. Just because they have some name and website and act legit doesn’t make them so. It is the wild west out there and it has our rapt attention. The algorithms of Facebook and all the other social media sites will keep giving you more of what you want. Oh, you like ice cream, your kids want more ice cream? Here you go. It is designed to feed whatever narrative you’re seeking and can fan the frenzy of the false narrative as we tumble further down the rabbit hole.

We must take these things very seriously and unbury our heads because freedom of speech is not free. It holds a heavy cost. And that cost is our integrity, our convictions, and our intellect to make informed decisions.

As a nation, if we do not uphold our convictions, we will spiral ever downwards, as we are seeing, and will eventually break apart as our threadbare fabric is already showing.

Most people want the truth. Do you?

The Red Scare

We cannot let them fall. We cannot let Victor Zelensky and the Ukrainians fall. If he and his family are murdered, shame on us.

During the Bucha Massacre, hands were bound, and Ukrainians were shot at pointblank range, bodies mutilated and burned. Girls as young as fourteen were raped then killed by Russian soldiers.

Enough.

The Ukrainians need fighter jets to rule the sky. They need long range weapons to inflict damage upon Russia itself. They need to take the fight to Putin. They need enough artillery, drone, and air superiority to overwhelm Russia and win.

As it stands, we have provided them with short distance defensive capabilities only. Not enough to win or attack Russia and Putin himself. We have only provided them with enough weapons to prolong this war and suffering. By only assisting with defensive capabilities, they can never win. And if they can’t win, we can’t either and neither can democracy.

What a black eye this would be upon the world, as dozens of countries supply weapons and aid, and still Ukraine could fall. Even with Russia’s antiquated military and arsenal, Ukraine could still fall.

If we supply them enough to win, the suffering would be limited. They must receive supplies enough to overwhelm the Russian military and stop playing catch up.

Just a few days ago France and Canada started supplying long range missiles. We must do the same. This fight is our fight. If we stand for what we claim to stand for, then this is our fight too. We must bring the fight to Putin. Russia is the invader. Russia and Putin have attacked a sovereign nation: murdering, butchering, leveling cities.

For God’s sake we must help this country stand for the ideals we claim to hold so dear. Ideals are not convenient but must be steadfast in the face of opposition.

Just because Ukraine is not NATO is irrelevant. Russia has no right to bomb, rape and murder. And because they have no rights, we have equal right to defend them, NATO or not. So does every leader and nation with a conscience.

We let Crimea fall. We let Chechnya fall. Georgia.

Hospitals have been bombed. Over 500 schools destroyed. And there’s potential leaking at Chernobyl.

Now Syrian killers and Chechnyan mercenaries have been brought in attempt to assassinate Zelensky. Why are we not allowed to offer military assistance? Why does Russia get to bring in XYZ while we tiptoe? Russia is the aggressor here. Russia is the mass murderer. I don’t think we need to explain ourselves to them. Just because Ukraine is not NATO does not preclude that we cannot help defend them.

The bully has nukes. Iraq invaded Kuwait. Saddam did not have nukes. We invaded and liberated Kuwait. Kuwait was not in NATO. So, we need to stop using that as an excuse.

What will the world look like in five or ten years if Putin keeps the world hostage with his nuclear threat? Many countries have nukes.

War should never be a first response. But there are times when war is the only response.

We see the best of ourselves in Zelensky and Ukraine going against greater forces, trying to keep their independence and freedom. It reminds me of who we once were a couple hundred years ago and what overwhelming odds we were up against.

It seems, the world has awakened from its fat consumer intoxication. Tough choices are being made in Germany, Sweden, Finland to choose a side…the right side of history.

He needs ammo, not a ride. I have studied tactical martial arts for over twenty years and if you fight a defensive battle, you will experience heavy casualties and eventually your opponent will land heavy blows. If you are fighting a strictly defensive battle, eventually you will lose. “The best defense is a good offense,” George Washington once said.

Who owns the sky will win this. Russia keeps demanding negotiations then bombs them. You only negotiate when you are accepting defeat or conceding something. If Ukraine were able to attack Russia with long range missiles and air support, it would be Russia who may be asking for negotiations and cease fire.

Nothing Putin says is truthful. He should be honest about his desire for power, abuse, control, money. The lies are so thin they have become comical if not for their atrocities. Why would they need to spread propaganda if they were on the side of justice, truth, and integrity?

As the saying goes, “Evil prevails when good men do nothing,” or not enough. Evil grows when light fades.

We are letting a bully win and land endless blows against the body of the Ukrainian men, women, and children. How much longer will we watch? Every death is a collective wound to freedom. Every death weakens us.

The Ukrainians are everything we claim to be: fierce defenders of freedom, democracy and the pursuit of happiness. Zelensky is a symbol and reminds us of our best selves, the great country we claim to have. Well, if we don’t do more, those words are hollow. Convictions are only proven with action.

In a defensive battle, the stronger aggressor will get his shots in. You cannot keep backing up to the wall so to speak. Eventually there is no where to back up to.

They need superior and overwhelming firepower to win. Sanctions are not enough.

There is a moral higher ground here, higher than NATO.

We cannot let Ukraine fall. If they do, shame on us if Zelensky and his family are murdered and tyranny spreads. We have a chance to stop that.

Just today, over forty countries met and decided that Ukraine needed offensive weaponry to win. As we know it, Russia will soon be no more: the poisoning of opposition leaders, the murdering and suppression. There is no outcome, winning or losing, that they will retain their power and influence in the world.

Let’s help them see that through.

I want to share the first cover draft of Love in a Dying Town.

The backdrop is the dying factory town where Jim Bowen is trying to raise his daughter Lily with decay all around them. What does she think about it all? He doesn’t know. But love can still grow anywhere like a flower up through the concrete.

Here’s the cover:

Love in a Dying Town will be released on 5/20, and I hope to count on your purchase, but not so I can take your money. Though, if you bought 10,000 copies, I’d be happy to. Seriously though, it’s for sales ranking and visibility.

The only way for a flower to grow is by watering it, enough sunshine, and the right environment to blossom. If not, it dies without ever being seen.

The same is true for all art, love, restaurants, and building a house; it really does take a village to get anything off the ground…

Pre-orders will be available soon. Stay Tuned.

Thanks for the support. Have a great day.

DR

Please share on social media, and spread the love.

Hello all,

I hope everyone is well. Today I am very excited to share with you a short reading from my soon to be released novel Love in a Dying Town.

Here’s the book blurb:

“What would you sacrifice for your child? Dreams? Ambitions? Everything?

Jim Bowen is a single father who struggles with his ex-wife. He still loves her and wants it to work but her toxic personality is devastating to their sweet seven-year-old daughter, Lily.

His grand ambitions of being an architect and building skyscrapers in a big city have eluded him. He’s on edge, working in a factory and living in a dying mid-west town while trying to raise his daughter and teach her right from wrong. The pressures are mounting.

Like the town, he fights on for a better life. That better life may come in the form of a single woman with a child of her own.

Pushed to the limits, they fight through each day, while most of the townspeople hold together like a family relying on each other.

The town that once thrived now hangs on to the past like a fraying thread.

Did they stay too long? Will love save them, or will bitterness destroy them all?

The answers delve deep into the eternal question of what it means to truly love.”

Listen Here:

Podcast

I hope you enjoy it and thanks for the support.

Doug