Ron Fritsch

Many know that I love historical fiction and I have a particular interest in prehistoric times. Ever since first reading The Clan of the Cave Bear, Book one in Jean Auel's Earth's Children series, prehistoric stories have fascinated me. When I was offered a chance to read this book, I jumped at the chance. What Ron has done with this book is truly amazing. He gives us a glimpse of what a civilized prehistoric society might have looked like and brings interesting characters and themes into the stories. I see the main character as Blue Sky and he is a great character because he questions everything. Many of the themes in the book actually come about from Blue Sky's challenging the norm.

The first thing I found very interesting was the presence of a gay/lesbian lifestyle within this society. I thought this was an excellent way to present the case that homosexuals have been present throughout history and not always kept under wraps. The lifestyle is a normal part of life in their community and no one is ostracized because of it. I found this idea refreshing.

The book takes an interesting twist from being so accepting of homosexual lifestyles and yet cannot accept the possibility that the people who live in the hills, the hunters/gatherers, could very well be a similar people. Not the evil and hideous invaders that legend has portrayed. This is one of the issues that Blue Sky questions and seeks to bring truth to the fore.

One of the main plot points surrounds Blue Sky's sister, Rose Leaf and Morning Sun, the prince of their land. Morning Sun's father, king Tall Oak, has forbade them to marry, but no reason is given. It is made known that if they marry or procreate, their child will be killed. This is an outrage to Blue Sky. He believes that the king should not have absolute power to make and carry out decisions like this. So another theme in the book is the issue of absolute power. Should a ruler have this kind of power with nothing holding him in check? An age old question that many societies, including our great nation. have asked and fought to change. Where the people have the right to choose. A favorite quote is when Blue Sky confronts his father, Green Field, an old friend and loyal supporter of the king:

"When you were a youth," Blue Sky said, "rebelling against a misguided and fearful king was called bravery. Those who did it are still, to this day, considered heroes. And rightly so, in my opinion. When they were young, they were fearless. But sadly, as they grew older, they let fear rule their lives and the kingdom. I'll have nothing further to do with you. I'll say goodbye to my mother now and be gone. You, though, can forget you ever had me for a son."

What a tell off! Blue Sky has decided to take a stand and champion the cause of Morning Sun and Rose Leaf. He is determined that the people of the kingdom will be equally outraged and a demand for change will come about. You will have to read the book if you want to know what happens!

I really liked Promised Valley Rebellion because of what I mentioned above, but also because of how Ron explored the differences between the hunting/gathering society and the societies of the farming towns and animal herders, showing that these societies coexisted for a time and that there was animosity between them. It is an interesting exploration of prehistoric life wrapped up with elements of conflict, love and lust.
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Rebellion, War and Conspiracy, and it all begins with disaffected youth who rise up against the king and his officials when a prince is not allowed to marry the daughter of a mere farmer. Into the boiling pot, you have the classes: farmers, city dwellers, royalty, bureaucracy and you might be mistaken for believing you are reading a dissertation on life today and the risks to society that simmer below the surface until a seemingly innocuous event brings about conflict that has no way to end ie until Peace.

We are introduced to the prehistoric people of the fertile river valley and their enemies, the hill people in the first book in the Promised Valley series, Promised Valley Rebellion. While this story is filled with an incredible array of complex, interesting characters like Blue Sky, Early Harvest, Spring Rain, Fair Judge (all aptly named), the author has thoughtfully provided a character list to keep it all in check.

As we progress through to Promised Valley War, the second book, we start to see society from an objective viewpoint and although thousands of years may have passed, not a lot has changed – the same structures, division, hierarchy, discrimination, angst yet in spite of it all, there is still some hope. The onslaught of war and the overwhelming threat to life and the beauty of the valley have an effect on the characters that Fritsch delivers with a deep knowing of our humanness. It’s all too real.

If you were not already feeling that the story, setting, and characters are epic in every proportion, you certainly know this is true by the end of book three in the series, Promised Valley Conspiracy. Comparisons with Homer’s Iliad are fitting. Other than war mongers, no one believes war is anything other than devastating for everyone involved and its reach extends far beyond those at the forefront. We certainly get that in a heart-felt way from Conspiracy.

I for one have always hoped, especially through Promised Valley Conspiracy, that the war would end and peace would once again return to the valley. It was difficult to see how this might happen, but still we hoped, we hoped for a promise of peace. Then Fritsch honored his readers with this satisfying conclusion, which was no easy feat – we were heavily invested in the people and their conflict, and we wanted to see the youths who started it all in Promised Valley Rebellion come into age, and be the ones to achieve what did seem impossible.

Congratulations, Ron Fritsch on an epic, multi-award winning series and deservedly so. I’m only sorry that it had to end, but thank you for the incredible journey.… (plus d'informations)

I'm fascinated by prehistoric fiction, but haven't found much I'm happy with... so glad to come across this set of novels. What I liked: the characters are fully human, intelligent, with attitudes we recognise, either to go along with or argue with. Stories set in the distant past can assume people were dumber than us, which is unscientific I believe. The characters are engaging, I like and admire our hero, who's a bit of a fighter for free speech and rights; and the crisis situation turns out to be a sort of conflict of nobility on both sides. I hope that isn't a spoiler. The end is heart-warming. I like the portrait of war, people's attitudes to war (again, we can assume people of the distant past were savage bloodthirsty idiots). I like the shamans - they're called tellers here - and their way of life, distinct from the community. And I like the pitting of hunter-gatherers against early farmers: the issues, the prejudices each has against the other. There are questions also of kingship and what tyranny is and isn't; and questions on religion and the gods. It's an examination of these matters, through a story that's strong and easy to get involved in. Best, we don't have to leave the world: there's a sequel and more to come.… (plus d'informations)

When you read the writings of Ron Fritsch, you get a sense immediately that you are sitting around a campfire listening to a great storyteller passing on the truth about legends of a time long ago when Blue Sky, Early Harvest, Spring Rain, Fair Judge, Thunder Hunter and their people - the hill people and the valley people – fought wars in prehistoric times, but which resonate with us today if you’re paying attention to the words Fritsch carefully places on the page. It is artistry; artistry quite uniquely coupled with intensive action – there’s no time for the reader to take a breath – you hold it from start to finish anticipating yet always surprised.

Promised Valley Conspiracy is the third book in a four book series by award-winning author, Ron Fritsch. You do not however need to have read books one and two to understand Promised Valley Conspiracy although you’ll soon want to. Each book alone and the series in particular is a moving saga about people, relationships and love. Sometimes to move forward, we can learn best from the past. Look firstly to the dawn of humanity when life was simple and it seems causes worth fighting for made more sense; a time when ironically tolerance and acceptance, honor and respect, were truths not ideals. “Heroes aren’t merely people who do what they’re expected to do.” We should all be heroes, and push ourselves to do the unexpected.

A work of epic proportions, Ron Fritsch and his Promised Valley series will not disappoint. It combines the awfulness and tedium of endless conflict with illustrious descriptions and a myriad of wonderful literary images. Do yourself a favor.… (plus d'informations)