Praise
for The Mask of Ollock...
"It is difficult to not think of
Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy while reading Mask.
Both share a similar premise where an empowered object made of gold (a
mask, a ring) is sought for destruction, yet those given the
opportunity
to do so pass up the chance for a taste of glory brought on by evil. Mask,
like Rings, employs vivid detail in its narrative, and fans of
the fantasy genre will find it a unique interpretation of a timeless
theme."
—Kathryn Lively, author
of Little Flowers
"I just couldn't put
down the book. This book reminded me of the tales of Julius Caesar and
Mark Antony....The story does not drag at all and each character adds
dynamic plot twists on every page. There is plenty of alliteration and
foreshadowing to leave the reader intrigued to the end. The inclusion
of maps, a glossary of people and place names and illustrations from
the author himself,
help readers keep abreast of this fictional historical epic....If you
like action, war, adventure, revenge and conquest...then The
Mask
of Ollock is a must read."
—YBFREE.com: An Alternative
Entertainment
E-zine
"Possibly the most
daring book I've read lately....Ollock is a fantasy
adventure written entirely in the form of the epic poem. I was a little
intimidated at first, remembering how long it took to plow through the Odyssey,
but Kauffmann has managed to achieve a very inviting form of verse. The
language is not overly complex and flows freely from the page in a
richly alliterative style....A quick, fun read...."
—Nth Degree: The Fiction & Fandom 'Zine
"Robert F. Kauffmann's The
Mask of Ollock is a wonderful and distinctive fantasy, uniquely
written in the style of the epic poem. The lengthy saga of a world torn
in conflict among politicians, wizards, and demonic spirits is
recounted in rhythmic verse and powerfully illustrated with stark
black-and-white artwork. A superb book for
fantasy enthusiasts who tire of the same old prose and long to
enjoy a thrilling new experience."
—The Midwest Book Review
"'A
tale is told of days long gone / Of foul deeds unfolding 'fore
horrified eyes,' begins Robert F. Kauffmann's fantasy in octet form, The
Mask of Ollock. The titular Crown Prince, who has declared
war on neighboring lands, is aided by a golden mask enchanted by his
father, Olgo; Ollock seems invincible, but the wizard Kaja and his
faithful servant, Limrod, vow to defy him to the end. Illus. by the
author."
—Pre-Publication description in Publishers Weekly
lgo, the wizard-king of Umbra, in the hopes of extending his dynasty in
perpetuity, fashions a magical golden mask for his beloved son Ollock.
Unfortunately, Olgo’s fatherly eyes are blind to the arrogance and
ambition that fester in his son’s heart. Such overwhelming pride wedded
to the absolute power granted by the mask dooms Umbra to a nightmarish
reign of terror and an unwanted war of conquest under the seemingly
invulnerable tyrant Ollock. Only the brave but undermanned forces of
Olgo's estranged brother, Kaja, stand between Ollock and total
domination.
The Mask of Ollock is a
foreboding fantasy epic written in the style
of the classical epic poem, rich in alliteration and ornate
language. This edition features maps, a glossary
of people and place names, and 14 imaginative illustrations done by the
author himself, including some taken from his award-winning animated
short film based on the Ollock story.
Click
here to read an excerpt from The Mask of Ollock.
Click here to view
selected illustrations from The Mask of Ollock.
2002 ~ 208 pp.
~ 14 illus. ~ paperback ~ 1-889758-33-7 ~ $12.95
with 10% discount: $11.65
About the author: Robert F. Kauffmann is an author and
artist living in Cinnaminson NJ. His animated films have been screened
at film festivals nationwide and have won several awards. His graphic
artwork has been featured in galleries in New York, Philadelphia,
Chicago, Miami, and other cities across the country.
Click here for more information
about the author.
Click here to view samples of Mr.
Kauffmann's mathematically inspired artwork.
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