A new planet is trying to build off the remains of a supposedly trapped society. Their captain takes over, as their leader and tyrant king. His rule transpires death, decay, and broken hopes. Meanwhile, chosen allies try to save others, but fail at every turn. They fend off his constant threats; he shows they are not just words. Sending his metallic army to do his bidding, as they fight.
The simple mistake was forcing to have children. They become two bright lights that move to shape a new world. Arthur, his best friend Philip, sister Maria, and the King's traitorous men, battle the works of a broken society and its leader. Hoping to make a world filled with hope, love, freedom, and a proper moral compass.
A new planet is trying to build off the remains of a supposedly trapped society. Their captain takes over, as their leader and tyrant king. His rule transpires death, decay, and broken hopes. Meanwhile, chosen allies try to save others, but fail at every turn. They fend off his constant threats; he shows they are not just words. Sending his metallic army to do his bidding, as they fight.
The simple mistake was forcing to have children. They become two bright lights that move to shape a new world. Arthur, his best friend Philip, sister Maria, and the King's traitorous men, battle the works of a broken society and its leader. Hoping to make a world filled with hope, love, freedom, and a proper moral compass.
***
February 3, 33
P,
I still cannot seek the approval and uprising of fellow people within this broken and fear-ridden country. This fear has amplified more than ever at the notice of your departure. Those of us who know the truth are trying, but the people believe you murdered on Jacob’s command. I am still unsure who the body of the man rotting on Main St. belongs to. His face scarred, and nearly every piece burned away.
The people fear, as they should, that I and the others have falsely hoped of protecting them. They are looking out for family and friends, and I will never blame them for it. Being who I am certainly does not help them believe in hope. For now, the false sense of security under the shadow of Jacob is more comforting.
I know I would feel the same in their place.
Once you feel it safe to respond, I beg you to do so. With Hope,
A. M.
***
February 6, 33
‘SMACK’
“How dare you!” yelled the man draped in a maroon dressing gown, as he hit the small woman now at his feet. “No woman speaks to me, without being spoken to in this house!”
“Father, please,” a young and timid man moved forward. He leaned down and helped the woman to her feet, holding her up with one arm, at a distance, to avoid another strike.
“You both disgust me,” he spat and screamed, “OUT!”
The two siblings vacated the room with due haste and closed the large door to Jacob Moriss’ stately sitting room quickly. The woman crumpled to the floor as her brother’s breath quickened, and his arm faltered.
“Sorry, sister. Wait, stay there, rest now,” he said as she tried to stand. His voice was so tender and soothing, and she had seen no reason to disobey. They both sat with their backs against the wall, with their legs spread out in front of them. As they rested in silence, they held one another.
Twenty minutes slipped by before they ascended the high stairs to the bedrooms above. As they reached a large door, Arthur knocked once, and a loud scuffle came from the other side. Hitting two more times caused the noise to cease. A loud click followed his actions, and the door swung open. Inside the room were seventeen men and women of mixed heights, sizes, and ages, standing before them holding brooms, rags, and a few buckets of water. Relief showed on all their faces, as they set down all their supplies, as the room was pristine in its cleanliness already.
“Arthur, my dear boy, we heard screaming downstairs,” a woman said from the back of the overwhelmingly large room.
“Oh, yes, he is in a rage again.” Arthur turned his face away from them and closed his eyes tight as he closed and replaced the lock on the door. He placed his head against it, and unseen tears ran down his face.
“Sir?” came a hoarse voice nearby. “Is everything all right?”
Sliding a sleeve across his face, Arthur turned to the man who had spoken. “Mart, I told you, call me Arthur, please.” A smile spread across both Mart’s and Arthur’s faces.
“Yes, S—, Arthur,” the man fumbled back quickly.
“Wonderful!” Arthur clapped his hands together and turned to examine the rest of the room’s residents. “Now, you are getting better with preparing for an unwanted visitor, I see.”
Picking up a broom and leaning on the handle, he threw his head slightly back and laughed loudly. All at once, the room filled with similar obnoxious laughter. The loudest of which was Arthur’s sister, who had returned to his side.
The shifting tides of history have led to momentous events, many of them being political. Joshua Isbell puts them together in a unique amalgamation with Power And Influence.
In an undisclosed time period, a band of travellers have been shipwrecked far from civilization, triggering the rise of a new country. Divided into three parts and with a heavy dose of dialogue, we witness the construction of this nation and all the tribulations of its people. At first, this lack of structure and order gives way to the tyrannical Jacob Moriss, but after his passing, the book is focused mainly on his son Arthur, who takes the nation in a just and fair direction. From here, the focus shifts to varying scenarios involving conflict and the swinging opinions of the people.
The way Power And Influence is structured definitely sets it apart. It’s an abridged recreation of historical events that touches on many topics and ideologies; this includes dictatorship, democracy, xenophobia and freedom of speech among others. The book's inclusion of official documents from this unnamed nation is an interesting choice; it shows the setting growing and changing over time. In turn, the characters stick close to their mannerisms; Arthur Morris is benevolent and considered, challenging with words rather than turning to violence. His sister Mary is equally virtuous, regularly volunteering her time and efforts to help those less fortunate. Both are very easy to get invested in and you believe in their bid to create an equal society.
The story serves an analogy for a wider set of opinions; notions of being virtuous, the nature of political conflict and the characters serving as mirrors to the author’s own personal views. In a way, this cast serves as idealised versions of what humans can be in real life; it’s very different from typical fiction, aiming to bridge the gap between plot and writer input. The book features some commentary from the author at the beginning and end which may come off as jarring to some. The greater issue for me was how predictable the plot became; we see Arthur and his close confidantes discussing the state of the people and then they have to respond to a confrontational moment.
Recommended?
MAYBE: Power and Influence is a straightforward tale of a nation under construction and the many challenges it faces. It’s a very wordy novel, filled with intriguing discussions from the lead characters as they’re put through difficult situations. The book is held back by a repetitive structure; the constant swap between dialogue and confrontation can wear thin over time. There needed to be more unexpected elements to switch up the scenarios. Regardless, if you engage with the author’s approach, you’ll get some enjoyment out of it.