(Based upon the original 68AD rock opera "Bread and Circuses")
"The Heathen" takes place in the fictitious American town of Smokeville; a place that is almost a country unto itself with bountiful resources, booming industries and a peculiar autonomy from State and Federal control. Under a centuries old cloud of seclusion and secrecy, the town exerts a strange influence over national and global events throughout history. Not even its puritanical and hard working citizens are aware of what is so special about Smokeville…well, almost none of them. On its surface, “The Heathen” can be considered a parody of pop-religion, current events, and popular apocalyptic story genres while, at its heart, it maintains a seriousness of purpose and a message for the betterment of mankind.
The title character is the black sheep of a wealthy and powerful family at the heart of many of the town’s conspiracies. He is persecuted and executed for trying to expose Smokeville’s darkest secret. In response, a band of citizens, led by the novel’s witty narrator and his pregnant love Maggie, race to solve an encrypted conundrum which exposes all the pieces to the town's scheme. Meanwhile a mysterious Circus, undeterred by the global war that the scheme has provoked, is heading towards Smokeville with an even more mysterious mission. As the war decimates the country, the narrator, his friends, and a few others manage to escape the fallout. They return to Smokeville years later in an attempt to rebuild and begin a perfect society. Once established, they soon realize that history does in fact repeat itself and no civilization is perfect. This time around, they know how to spot the corruption and, with a little help from the Circus, they learn to deal with it.
Though this endeavor may initially seem to represent the already well-worn exploitation of doomsday for entertainment, I am confident you will find much more at its heart than what you are used to. My only wish is that each reader will awaken to find some breathing room from the unrelenting reality that is quickly closing in on us.
I am currently marketing my idea to publishers and looking for a strong literary agent for representation.
A series of prequels to "The Heathen" are already underway and examine similiar themes throughout critical periods in world history.
Anyone interested in offering their services, or simply having a go at the manuscript, please contact me at anytime at mwright68@aol.com
All My Best!,
Michael J Wright
