Quest For The Mace- A Novel - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 11, 2006

RE: Quest For The Mace- A Novel

Date: Jun 12, 2006

Theron Manly is a retired USM-Gulf Coast professor.

Go USM-GC!! Of course as you read it you understand that he retired several years back and that he indeed weaves fiction throughout this 'thinly' vieled story of USM's occupation for leagal resons I am sure. It is fun to try and figure out (based on going back a couple years) who the characters are. I read the whole thing in one sitting. Truly could not put it down! Spread the word!

Date: Jun 13, 2006

Manly told me today that he will stick with Lulu.com as the only distributor of the book for the present time. He is receiving reviews from those that have ordered and read the book and if he is pleased with the reviews will make arrangements for other sources of distribution. A book signing event is scheduled for June 24 in Florida.

Date: Jun 13, 2006

I just got my copy, I'm so delighted.

Date: Jun 13, 2006

Moi aussi, cherie! One is about to retire to the chaise with the evening champagne and the lovely aubergine-covered book. I am in much anticipation.

(Miss Angleterre and I are discussing a summer project for ourselves. I may write a petite "guide" to life and manners from my own experiences. If Professeur Manly has any suggestions, he could advise Miss Angleterre at his convenience.)

bonne nuit, mes amis!

M. de G.

C'est la guerre!

Date: Jun 15, 2006

Invictus wrote:

Well, if Alabama color commentator "Viper Sabler" ain't Ken "Snake" Stabler in sheep's clothing, this book has me totally fooled. BTW, Manly goofs when "Viper" calls Bama play-by-play man, Peyton Green, "Eli." A passing reference to Brett Kiln also didn't pass without making me gag. Manly wouldn't do bad writing sports novels, IMO.

My recent download of the novel, on page 232, has Peyton's name, not Eli's.

Invictus, are you sure you are seeing things or do you have so much influence over Manly that he has already corrected his error?

Can't wait to see how it ends..... the game and the novel.

Date: Jun 16, 2006

Kicked up over spam.

Date: Jun 16, 2006

"Mace" has the same feeling as "Exit 13", though I'm quite sure that absolutely none of this is even remotely based on fact (oops, that's so funny I made myself spit my own coffee all over my screen).

Date: Jun 16, 2006

sports fact checker wrote:

Invictus wrote:
Well, if Alabama color commentator "Viper Sabler" ain't Ken "Snake" Stabler in sheep's clothing, this book has me totally fooled. BTW, Manly goofs when "Viper" calls Bama play-by-play man, Peyton Green, "Eli." A passing reference to Brett Kiln also didn't pass without making me gag. Manly wouldn't do bad writing sports novels, IMO.

My recent download of the novel, on page 232, has Peyton's name, not Eli's.
Invictus, are you sure you are seeing things or do you have so much influence over Manly that he has already corrected his error?
Can't wait to see how it ends..... the game and the novel.

Dr. Manly must have already made the correction as he stated up-thread:

tman in TS wrote:

Invictus, you are so astute. Using Eli's name for Peyton...I bet Olivia and Archie got the GOLDen boys mixed up every once in a while. I will correct my error, along with another one that I know I made. I failed to give crecit to my cover designer...Brian Zoll. Just google that name for a look at an excellent artist.

Date: Jun 16, 2006

Invictus wrote:

sports fact checker wrote: Invictus wrote: Well, if Alabama color commentator "Viper Sabler" ain't Ken "Snake" Stabler in sheep's clothing, this book has me totally fooled. BTW, Manly goofs when "Viper" calls Bama play-by-play man, Peyton Green, "Eli." A passing reference to Brett Kiln also didn't pass without making me gag. Manly wouldn't do bad writing sports novels, IMO. My recent download of the novel, on page 232, has Peyton's name, not Eli's. Invictus, are you sure you are seeing things or do you have so much influence over Manly that he has already corrected his error? Can't wait to see how it ends..... the game and the novel. Dr. Manly must have already made the correction as he stated up-thread: tman in TS wrote: Invictus, you are so astute. Using Eli's name for Peyton...I bet Olivia and Archie got the GOLDen boys mixed up every once in a while. I will correct my error, along with another one that I know I made. I failed to give crecit to my cover designer...Brian Zoll. Just google that name for a look at an excellent artist.

I'm reading it now -- it is a lot of fun!

Date: Jun 17, 2006

Invictus wrote:

Going beyond the obvious & obviously second-guessing Dr. Manly, I propose an extension of this thread to match the names with the names. Recognizing that "This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the imagination of the author, or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental," let's list 'em as we thinks they is.

And I'll start with:

Dr Clyde Folker = Dr Claude Fike

Could be a very interesting exercise. Should we wait until more people read it?

Date: Jun 18, 2006

Who is John Chalk in real life?

Becca?

Date: Jun 18, 2006

I think several of the characters are composites.

Date: Jun 19, 2006

sports fact checker wrote:

Invictus wrote:
Well, if Alabama color commentator "Viper Sabler" ain't Ken "Snake" Stabler in sheep's clothing, this book has me totally fooled. BTW, Manly goofs when "Viper" calls Bama play-by-play man, Peyton Green, "Eli." A passing reference to Brett Kiln also didn't pass without making me gag. Manly wouldn't do bad writing sports novels, IMO.

My recent download of the novel, on page 232, has Peyton's name, not Eli's.
Invictus, are you sure you are seeing things or do you have so much influence over Manly that he has already corrected his error?
Can't wait to see how it ends..... the game and the novel.

In "Mace," Viper's broadcast partner is Peyton Green. Viper is based on Ken "Snake" Stabler, while Peyton Green is based on Alabama Play-By-Play man Eli Gold. I believe the Peyton/Eli slip was caused by this real-life issue and not the Manning brothers. JMO.

Date: Jun 19, 2006

My favorite character in the novel....Shawn Kelly.

Hope we really have young people like Shawn in our state. If we have enough of them, Mississippi will be a different place for future generations.

Date: Jun 19, 2006

Emma wrote:

I just got my copy, I'm so delighted.

Emma, what is your assessment? Should I spend $14 on this novel?
What do you think? You have your copy. Have you read it?

Date: Jun 19, 2006

Waiting In Suspense wrote:

Emma wrote: I just got my copy, I'm so delighted. Emma, what is your assessment? Should I spend $14 on this novel? What do you think? You have your copy. Have you read it?

I am currently reading it around some contract work I'm doing for the College Board. It's far better than what I'm reading (and writing) for the CB!

Here's a question that I'll toss out to the group. Say, a "different" type of book was written about USM with a major part being played by this Message Board. Legally, how does that work????

Date: Jun 19, 2006

Emma, I'm not quite understanding your question. Do you mean members of the board would write the book cooperatively, or would they be characters?

Date: Jun 19, 2006

Emma wrote:

Waiting In Suspense wrote:
Emma wrote: I just got my copy, I'm so delighted. Emma, what is your assessment? Should I spend $14 on this novel? What do you think? You have your copy. Have you read it?

I am currently reading it around some contract work I'm doing for the College Board. It's far better than what I'm reading (and writing) for the CB!
Here's a question that I'll toss out to the group. Say, a "different" type of book was written about USM with a major part being played by this Message Board. Legally, how does that work????

Emma. with the long l...gs, what is your real assesment of the novel? How can the message board's postings improve on this? If someone did something other than fiction, from a true historical perspective, with acutual names and events that have not been presented on this board...would it be more impactful than the Quest? This board has told us all. We already know the story. Some fiction at this point, can be helpful to us all.

Date: Jun 19, 2006

Emma wrote:

Here's a question that I'll toss out to the group. Say, a "different" type of book as written about USM with a major part being played by this Message Board. Legally, how does that work????

What kind of royalties, bribes, etc., do you plan to pay?

Date: Jun 20, 2006

Emma. with the long l...gs, what is your real assesment of the novel? How can the message board's postings improve on this? If someone did something other than fiction, from a true historical perspective, with acutual names and events that have not been presented on this board...would it be more impactful than the Quest? This board has told us all. We already know the story. Some fiction at this point, can be helpful to us all.

I imagine when that book (or 2 or 3) actually do happen - their impact will be quite different than this one. You know, it isn't slander when it's true and can be proven true.

Date: Jun 20, 2006

Invictus' Agent wrote:

Emma wrote: Here's a question that I'll toss out to the group. Say, a "different" type of book as written about USM with a major part being played by this Message Board. Legally, how does that work???? What kind of royalties, bribes, etc., do you plan to pay?

The royalties/bribes/ retribution would all be worth the story that this Board tells.

Date: Jun 20, 2006

Do Joe Hill and Jim Williams figure as characters in this novel? If so, how do they come across?

Date: Jun 21, 2006

Just wondering wrote:

Do Joe Hill and Jim Williams figure as characters in this novel? If so, how do they come across?

Dr. Williams and Dr. Hill were the last real leaders at USM on the coast in real life. Their leadership has been missed.

Date: Jun 21, 2006

So, we think our institution is the only one riddled with strife. Look at GSU and compare our plight.

I am about half-way through my downloaded novel. May finish it tonight...or watch World Cup replays on Dish TV. The rest of my "retreat group" says I should do the read rather than the watch. They want the computer and I left my Ipod back home.

Date: Jun 22, 2006

Who are all of these characters? Is there a Johnson County? Some of us newbies may need a clue or two. It is a good read even if I don't know anything much about the past.

Date: Jun 22, 2006

I think "Johnson County" may be Jones County. I don't know who all the characters are either, but I think at least a few of them are composites.

Date: Jun 23, 2006

LVN wrote:

I think "Johnson County" may be Jones County. I don't know who all the characters are either, but I think at least a few of them are composites.

Jones County, no way. Look at the logistics.

And, where in the world is Chilton? I have read it, and the composites are real. The way the story develops is a reminder of things we know. We need objective reviews of this work.

Date: Jun 26, 2006

Time For This wrote:

Googler's Third Cousin wrote:
Hotlink = go here.
Read the preview. I think we need to see that there is fiction all around us.

Is it time to rate or comment? How widely has it been read? How about the following rating scale?

______________________________________________

***** Excellent, a must purchase.

**** Very good. Highly recommended.

*** Good, but not essential.

** Inessential. Mediocre.

* Poor. Save your money.

Comments:

______________________________________________________

Just give it a * to ***** rating and make any comments that you wish.

Date: Jun 26, 2006

I cant give any stars. The story moves briskly, the situation is interesting to those with concerns about USM. In fact, the story is disturbing to those with concerns about USM. However, the writing is not good and the editing is not good. Dr. Manly has great imagination and story-telling skills; he just needs an editor or co-writer with some skill at dialogue and description.

It's sort of a movie-of-the-week with an irrestible subject.