Mysterium I: Rome
Mitchel Fidel, 2016
Portals Publishing
159 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780997051230
Summary
Jesus of Nazareth has been dead for some 65 years. The eyewitnesses to this extraordinary life have died, often as martyrs, and only a scattered handful remain.
Might anyone have resolved to interview those last few before it was too late, it being a matter of mind-boggling importance? What if someone had?
Mysterium I: Rome presents the story of a young Roman scholar who determines to do precisely that. This sleuth who has the will and the means to comb the Roman Empire for answers is Theophilus, "Lover of God." Opening his very first scroll of Christian scripture, and finding his own name there, catalyzes a series of events that seemingly promises a life mission full of heroic discovery.
But soon Theophilus has cause to wonder about the advisability of his investigation. Danger looms, while he is on the scent of the unfathomable in ominous cavities of a city where so very much is hidden. Catacombs. Forbidden archives. "Witches Hill," a.k.a. the Vatican.
In Rome, life is stupendously raw. Theophilus' adventures put him in congress with gladiators, prostitutes, torturers, crucifiers, conquerors, sorcerers, swindlers, schemers, and an aristocratic matron who insists that she is a daughter of the Beast. Pulled relentlessly toward ever more mystifying mysteries, Theophilus comes to realize that he has undertaken a quest after the secret of secrets. (From the publisher.)
Mysterium: I Rome is internationally available as Kindle and trade paperback through Amazon and as an Audible book in 2016, narrated by Phillip J Mather.
For discounted bulk purchases of 10 copies or more, or for a free pdf for Literary Review, please contact
Author Bio
• Birth—August 21, 1953
• Where—Newark, New Jersey, USA
• Education—M.A., US Army Russian Institute, Garmisch, Germany
• Currently—Tampa, Florida
Mitchel Fidel has traveled to nearly all parts of the world, experiencing a full immersion in foreign languages and cultures. He was employed at the Multiversity for Personal Development in India, and his teaching experience has ranged from the Defense Department’s National Cryptologic School to the Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness in Santa Fe.
With writing experience behind him that included Top Secret intelligence analysis for the National Security Agency and developmental work for two Hollywood internet firms, he undertook the Great Puzzle of first century A.D. spirituality, because so much information in that regard had come to light that it was practically begging to be put into the entertaining configuration of a novel. He lives in Tampa, where he surveys an Egyptic scene of palm trees, lotuses, ibises, and alligators, all from a balcony that is visited by falcons.
Fidel has been to all of the locales that form the backdrop to the Mysterium series, and has studied the relevant historical materials not for years but for decades, making him uniquely qualified to carry out such a project. His colorful lifetime travelogue is available on Facebook (Mitchel Fidel 1), and he welcomes discussion of the innately controversial material presented in his books, on Facebook, on the Goodreads author site "Mitchel Fidel", on Twitter @gnostalogue, and on the website mitchelfidel.com. The Mysterium series will continue with Mysterium II Greece, Mysterium III Asia, Mysterium IV Judea, and Mysterium V Egypt and Beyond.
Narrator bio – Phillip J. Mather
Phillip J Mather, long-time USA resident yet steadfastly retaining his olde worlde Britishness and accent resides on Dysfunctional Farm in South Texas with his delightful American wife and a motley herd of largely adopted / rescued animals, including donkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl etc. Currently the semi-resident alligator [Algernon] is decimating the catfish population. Agnes [Algernon’s predecessor] was successfully wrangled and now lives in a proper wild life rescue facility, where Algernon will be sent as soon as he is large enough to warrant capture.
Phillip has been providing his voice to commercials, animations, video games, eLearning projects from his purpose-built studio for 10+ years, and has enjoyed producing audiobooks for the past two years. He is an "Audible Approved" narrator and specializes in historical non-fiction, biography, and business & personal development titles.
"It's not just that Mr. Mather is British; he is ultra-British—by turns dramatic, jovial, sinister, soothing, and matter-of-fact. He is a bit Olivier, a bit Rathbone, a bit Attenborough, with touches of Sebastian Cabot, Patrick Stewart, and Darth Vader in the mix."
(Author bios from the publisher.)
Book Reviews
Well-researched historical mystery set in the 1st century. [This book] grabbed my interest, and I almost couldn’t put it down. It’s a historical mystery novel, told from the viewpoint of a 1st century Roman scholar sleuthing after the facts about Jesus of Nazareth. And this is exactly what the reader gets—facts.
In the 1st century AD, Jesus had been heard of in Rome, but Christianity was still a minority religion considered to be a weird cult by most Romans. It’s plausible that a Roman amateur historian at that time would have been curious enough about Jesus to delve into the facts of his life while there were still people alive who had met the gospel writers or Jesus’s apostles, and it’s a fascinating premise for a mystery. In fact, it’s a most important mystery for our time. This book aims to separate the facts from the fiction.
Scrupulously researched, the book is simply crammed with information about daily life and historical events in ancient Rome. Although the conversations and relationships are interesting, and the scholar’s quest for information keeps you turning the pages to find out the truth, the bonus of this book is how much it teaches about Roman culture and history. Nearly every page is sprinkled with tidbits such as the layout and furnishings of a typical Roman house, the recent memory of the destruction of Pompeii, how scrolls were stored, the roles of women, prostitutes and slaves, and even how the Romans handled sanitation (an amusing segment). It’s an entertaining learning experience that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a mystery and especially to anyone with an interest in history. There will be more titles in this series, and I look forward to reading them as soon as they’re released.
Roberta in Tampa, Amazon Customer Review
Discussion Questions
1. Nearly all ancient books have disappeared. If you were given a week to peruse an ancient library, plus the services of a translator, what information, what "mysterium," would you investigate?
2. What is the meaning of the name "Theophilus"? Was this name an intriguing hook for the opening of a novel? Who do you suppose the actual Theophilus was?
3. What visual images of first century Rome stand out for you in Mysterium: I Rome? Were there any that did not match your expectations?
4. Were you able to spot any anachronisms, or any items or attitudes that did not seem correct for the time and place?
5. Can you describe the important character who never appears, Paul? His appearance, attitudes, writings, entourage, experiences, and demise?
6. Another important character who never appears is Emperor Augustus. Can you remember the important points at which he is mentioned? Was your opinion of him favorable or otherwise?
7. What did you learn about the nature of the Vatican in ancient times?
8. Can you name some good deeds and some evil deeds that were performed by various Roman emperors? What do you think of Roman imperial government?
9. What was the importance of the fact that the Colosseum was constructed using funds looted from the Temple of Jerusalem. What is your own feeling about each of these buildings?
10. Floralia claimed that Nero’s time was a time of novels, and mentioned one novel that was written at this time for Jews, and one novel that was written at this time for Romans. What do you know about, and think about, the literature of this period?
11. What clues existed that Luke and Paul were in league with Roman "insiders," and that they were endeavoring to make Christianity more palatable to the Roman establishment?
12. Who, in the novel, though not identified as such, was the fourth pope? What was the nature of his character and his teachings?
13. What is a codex and what are its advantages over a scroll? How was the world different when a major published work would be available in fifty copies? How has printing changed the world?
14. What shortcomings did many people see in the Book of Mark? What was his unflattering nickname? What evidence is there that he was unfamiliar with Judea?
15. What made Theophilus dislike Hadrian at first, and what made him change his mind? Did he seem to you to be a positive figure? Do you know what ultimately happened to him?
16. Pater Patrum, alias Papa, and his "peter stone," formed the beginnings of what institution? Does this scenario that is claimed by the novel seem convincing?
17. What are the major differences between the four New Testament gospels described in Mysterium:I Rome?
18. Compare and contrast the people of first century Rome with your contemporaries and peers.
19. Rank in order of importance three facts presented in this book. Rank and discuss the validity of three of the theories presented in the book.
20. What things which were commonly done during the first century in Rome are now considered offensive, barbaric, cruel, or immoral?
21. If you lived in the first century in Rome, what would a normal day be like? Expand on this: Discuss where you would fit in, in society. What might your life expectancy be? What politics would you espouse? What religion would you follow?
22. What are your spiritual beliefs? How do they compare to the spiritual beliefs of early Christians as portrayed in this book?
23. Describe the three main characters in this book. What else you you like to know about them?
24. What do you believe Theophilus will discover during his later journeying, to Greece, Asia, and Judea?
(Questions issued by the publisher.)