Posts Tagged ‘cannibals’

New historical adventure novel highlights the age of cannibalism in New Zealand

Posted: March 7, 2025 in New Zealand: A Novel
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The following excerpt from the historical adventure New Zealand: A Novel describes a Maori raid on an East Coast pa (fortified village) and reveals the victors’ lust for the flesh of their enemies. It was the age of cannibalism…

Excerpt begins:

The Te Arawa flotilla’s appearance in the bay caused considerable panic on shore. Armed warriors took up defensive positions while others prepared to launch wakas [canoes] to intercept the enemy’s flotilla. They evidently had second thoughts when they saw the size of the fleet, retreating instead behind their fortifications to await the invaders’ arrival, which could now be measured in heartbeats.

As the leading waka caught a wave and surfed the last forty yards to the beach, Apera studied the pa’s defences. He was pleased to note the stockade was in a state of disrepair, and there was no sign of the trenches, lookout towers or other defences that were a hallmark of bigger, well-defended pas like the Te Arawa’s own one at Rotorua and their allies’ pa at Maketu.

The Te Arawa raiders were among the very first outsiders to have visited Tokomaru Bay in such numbers, so remote was it, and the villagers believed their isolation kept them safely removed from the conflicts that raged elsewhere – until today. The conflict that followed was as bloody as it was brief; resistance was weak and short-lived because the villagers had little experience of war.

Apera’s raiders killed almost every villager, sparing only the rangatira Rawiri, his two wives, thirty warriors and twenty-five nubile wahines. The warriors, all big men, were considered suitable candidates for slavery while the wahines would be used by the raiders for pleasure before being enslaved or killed.

As darkness fell, flames lit up the night sky after the raiders set fire to the whares [huts] and other structures. It wasn’t long before Rawiri’s whare was the only one left standing. Warriors wandered amongst the fallen, dispatching survivors with a savage thrust of a spear or blow from a club. The larger, meatier corpses – males and females – were stacked in a pile on the marae, a communal meeting place in the middle of the pa. These would be cooked, and the flesh and organs of many would be eaten before the night was over. Uneaten flesh would be cut into strips then smoked, packed and saved for eating in the days and weeks ahead.

The cries of the wounded faded. The only sounds were the crackling of flames and the triumphant shouts of the victorious Te Arawa warriors. Those same warriors then performed an impromptu haka to celebrate their triumph. Chanting, gyrating, leaping and stamping the ground in unison, the war dance was awesome, gut-wrenching and terrifying all at the same time. Between chants, the participants poked out their tongues, a chilling reminder that those vanquished would be eaten. Warriors needed no such reminding for all were aware, regardless of which iwi they belonged to, that that was the likely fate of those killed or enslaved. Maoris believed they inherited their enemies’ strength when they ate them.

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The print versions of New Zealand: A Novel are available via Waterstones UK & Europe bookstores, Mighty Ape NZ and Amazon. Global review rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars.

The novel’s Kindle ebook link is: 

https://www.amazon.com/New-Zealand-Novel-Lance-Morcan-ebook/dp/B0DPTJTDCQ

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Early chapters of ‘New Zealand: A Novel’ herald the beginning of a new and bloody era

Posted: February 24, 2025 in New Zealand: A Novel
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It’s Winter 1500 AD in the land that would one day be named New Zealand. The Era of the Moa-Hunter had ended. Now, two centuries after the arrival of Pacific Islanders from Hawaiki, a new and bloody era was about to begin.

So begins an early chapter in my new release historical adventure New Zealand: A Novel.

Excerpt continues: For the first time, the hills and shores of Aotearoa echoed to the sounds of war. As competition for land and food resources increased, inter-tribal fighting became the norm. The inevitable result was war on a scale never before seen in Kupe’s land. Fighting was hand-to-hand, vicious and bloody. One ugly side-effect of the conflict was cannibalism. Eating the flesh of enemies provided a new source of meat as well as having symbolic significance for the victors. Cannibalism quickly became part of Maori culture, just as it had throughout the islands of the South Pacific. The losers in warfare accepted they would end their days in slavery or on the cooking fire, or probably both. Slaves provided labour and were a source of food when their meat-starved captors were hungry.

Feuds erupted between iwis (tribes) which had previously lived side by side in peace. As rivalries intensified, bloodshed followed. Given the Maori preoccupation with mana (prestige) any slight was an invitation to violent retribution. The concept of mercy was unknown and the cycle of revenge that resulted was known as utu, or blood vengeance.

Utu would become the law by which Maori lived. It would survive, indeed flourish, until well into the nineteenth century.

Apera’s Te Arawa iwi had consolidated their tribal base at Rotorua, the inland whakatikatikatanga (settlement) located on the shores of the same thermal lake where they’d resided since relocating from coastal Maketu. But like most tribes of the day they needed more land for their ever-expanding population. It was because of this their rangatira decided to lead a sizeable war party down the east coast in search of slaves and new territory.

The decision to make war was not taken lightly. The Te Arawa had long been insulated from the feuding that was now common amongst coastal tribes. Increasing demand for new territory had recently seen their own tribal lands come under threat. Fortunately, their superior numbers had enabled them to repel any invaders. However, this was not enough to ensure their survival. More land, slaves and riches were needed.

Winter was always the worst time to travel or to make war. The land was cold and food was at its scarcest, but the Te Arawa warriors chose to make their move in the middle of winter when their enemies would likely be least prepared.

Almost one year to the day after he killed the last surviving moa, Apera led a war party of two hundred warriors to the coast. Among the headmen in their midst was the rangatira’s younger brother and right hand man, Kaihautu. He, too, was a natural leader, which was fitting because his name translated as a man with leadership qualities.

*

New Zealand: A Novel is available via Amazon, Waterstones UK & Europe bookstores, Mighty Ape NZ & via public libraries.

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‘New Zealand: A Novel’ a raw, no-holds-barred account of New Zealand’s early history

Posted: February 17, 2025 in New Zealand: A Novel
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WARNING: Readers are advised New Zealand: A Novel is a raw, no-holds-barred account of New Zealand’s early history, fictionalized in places and not suitable reading for children.

It’s fair to say this novel highlights aspects of New Zealand’s history some factions within NZ society (such as its educational institutions) would prefer to see removed from the history books and from school history curriculums… Shame on them.

New Zealand: A Novel is an historical adventure that spans almost 500 years and covers the respective discoveries of New Zealand by Pacific Islanders and Europeans. From the outset the two stories are interposed. It starts in the 1300’s with the departure of Islanders from Hawaiki in search of land far to the south.

As stated under ‘Historical Notes’ at this end of this tale, I advise readers that “In the interests of telling a good story I have deviated from Maori and European history in places …(and) while my novel may not convey exactly what happened during the discovery and settlement of New Zealand, I believe it accurately captures the spirit of those bygone days.”

It also highlights the savagery of the times – between Maori iwi (tribes) and between Maori and pakeha (Europeans).

New Zealand: A Novel is available via Amazon, Waterstones UK & Europe bookstores, Mighty Ape NZ & via public libraries.

Readers can view early reviews via the book’s Goodreads and Amazon links.

-Lance Morcan (author)

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Latest review of ‘New Zealand: A Novel’ highlights the cannibalism that became part of the culture of early Maori

Posted: February 13, 2025 in New Zealand: A Novel
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“The way that it (New Zealand: A Novel) explains how cannibalism was necessitated through overpopulation, and slowly grew to be a part of the culture is particularly fascinating.” That’s according to one prominent book critic in Amazon-owned Goodreads.com – the world’s largest social cataloguing site for book lovers.

As the author of this new release historical novel, it’s very clear to me this particular book critic totally gets it. Here’s his review in full:

Great book. Morcan expertly weaves historical facts with well-constructed narratives to create a picture of what the early history of New Zealand may have looked like. This novel is an example of how historical fiction can sometimes reveal more than something with perfect historical accuracy. Especially when there is little evidence beyond oral history of what actually happened. The way that it explains how cannibalism was necessitated through overpopulation, and slowly grew to be a part of the culture is particularly fascinating.

A significant symbol in the novel is the dog. At the beginning, the Hawaikans leave Hawaiiki to get away from the dogfaces. As the years pass in the new land of Aotearoa, they fall into the practices of the Dogfaces, raiding other tribes’ pa, taking their women and children as slaves, rape and cannibalism. This is shown as the Māori now wear dogskin for clothing. They have become the very thing that their ancestors sought to get away from.

A very fascinating read that delves into a time in our history as a nation that is very rarely talked about in detail. The novel shows the importance of our nation’s history, and provides a document for a time in our history that is very undocumented, ensuring that the details of it don’t become even more lost to the ages.

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Footnote: The “Dogfaces” this critic mentions refers to the name given to enemies of Maoris’ early ancestors – Islanders from the mythical South Pacific island nation of Hawaiki – in reference to their penchant for wearing the pelts and sometimes the heads of the fierce hunting dogs they bred. They feature in the novel’s Prologue, which is set in 1299 AD.

This and other Goodreads reviews of New Zealand: A Novel can be viewed at:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221413728-new-zealand

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Aotearoa echoes to the sounds of war and cannibalism quickly becomes part of Maori culture in this excerpt from ‘New Zealand: A Novel’

Posted: November 21, 2024 in New Zealand: A Novel
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For the first time, the hills and shores of Aotearoa echoed to the sounds of war. As competition for land and food resources increased, inter-tribal fighting became the norm. The inevitable result was war on a scale never before seen in Kupe’s land. Fighting was hand-to-hand, vicious and bloody.

One ugly side-effect of the conflict was cannibalism.

Eating the flesh of enemies provided a new source of meat as well as having symbolic significance for the victors. Cannibalism quickly became part of Maori culture, just as it had throughout the islands of the South Pacific. The losers in warfare accepted they would end their days in slavery or on the cooking fire, or probably both. Slaves provided labour for hard manual work and were a source of food when their meat-starved captors were hungry.

Feuds erupted between iwis which had previously lived side by side in peace. As rivalries intensified, bloodshed followed. Given the Maori preoccupation with mana [prestige] any slight was an invitation to violent retribution. The concept of mercy was unknown and the cycle of revenge that resulted was known as utu, or blood vengeance.

Utu would become the law by which Maori lived. It would survive, indeed flourish, until well into the nineteenth century.

Apera’s Te Arawa iwi had consolidated their tribal base at Rotorua, the inland whakatikatikatanga [settlement] located on the shores of the same thermal lake where they’d resided since relocating from coastal Maketu. But like most tribes of the day they needed more land for their ever-expanding population. It was because of this their rangatira decided to lead a sizeable war party down the east coast in search of slaves and new territory.

The decision to make war was not taken lightly. The Te Arawa had long been insulated from the feuding that was now common amongst coastal tribes. Increasing demand for new territory had recently seen their own tribal lands come under threat. Fortunately, their superior numbers had enabled them to repel any invaders. However, this was not enough to ensure their survival. More land, slaves and riches were needed.

Winter was always the worst time to travel or to make war. The land was cold, and food was at its scarcest, but the Te Arawa warriors chose to make their move in the middle of winter when their enemies would likely be least prepared.

*

The paperback and Kindle ebook versions of ‘New Zealand: A Novel’ will be published on Amazon before Christmas; the hardcover and audiobook versions will follow in the New Year.

Watch this space!

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WORLD ODYSSEY “a journey into the unknown,” according to historian

Posted: March 23, 2014 in The World Duology, World Odyssey
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American historian, author and humanitarian Remy Benoit challenges readers to “pull up a chair, put your feet up and get ready to sail the high seas” in her 5-Star review of our historical adventure novel World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1).

Here’s Ms. Benoit’s review in full:

Are action, adventure, lust, profits, sailing on the open seas in “olden times” attractive to you? Then you will LOVE this book which is a major look into human behavior, human avarice, human hubris, and characters you care about—wish well, differ with, cheer on, be horrified by their self-serving ethnocentric views.

The world of yesteryear is on some levels quite strange to us. We are accustomed to doing things quickly; to instant communication; to fast travel.

The idea of a three, or six, month sea voyage, in constant danger of the ship being attacked by pirates, sunk in a big storm, be split open by a whale perhaps seems inconceivable to us. Breathing in the stench of bilge water in your ship’s cabin for the journey is noxious to our way of life, to our standards of civilization.

World Odyssey

And yet, and yet, these voyages were the way of things once upon a time and thousands of people endured them, left them, died during them. The stakes were high—big money, religious proselytizing.

Why would passengers subject themselves to such modes of travel—to reach destinations, to spread the word of God as they interpreted it to “heathen savages”, to make huge profits, to take up the “white man’s burden” of bringing “civilization” to ancient cultures as their expense; to escape hard labor imprisonment at penal colonies.

Imagine a world where natives of lands foreign to Europeans see large, masted ships come into their harbors. Some were welcoming, some were belligerent at being so invaded. Some were peaceful peoples; some were warlike with a vast interest in muskets to use against their opponent tribes.

World Odyssey

All were considered “fair game” to wheel and deal with; all were considered by most visitors and new settlers inferior beings to the whites who felt they were being gracious to bring advanced civilization and exploitation to them at will.

Three characters from very different backgrounds are finding their way to Fiji.

One is a sailor, captured from a sinking vessel, and held as a slave of a Northwestern tribe along the now coast of Washington state.

One is a blacksmith, sent to a penal colony where ‘cruel and unusual’ treatment is the way of it simply because he stole from his boss who wouldn’t pay him something of lesser value than the actual wages owed. Some “criminals”, starving or unwilling to let their children starve, sent there for years for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread.

World Odyssey

One is the daughter of a pastor whose desire for the tall handsome rigger on the ship muddles her mind, vexes her maturing body, challenges her religious upbringing.

When we are young we have no idea where life and its events will lead us.

Certainly none of our three companions on this journey considered as youngsters a destination of Fiji. And that is one of the things that this book has to offer you—changes in people, growth, successes, failures, conviction, acceptance of challenges, slips into negative behavior—all three on distance paths, all three coming together on a land far, far away from all they had known before of the world, of themselves.

Get to know these characters, they are unforgettable and have a huge adventure before them. Set sail with them, be searing hot, or viciously cold with them. Feel the doubt, the desire, the seasickness, the passions, the terrors, their entire upbringing and ask “Are they up to this incredible journey?” Once you get to know Susannah, Jack, and Nathan in this prequel you will just have to know where their journey led them and if they were up to it!

World Odyssey

Pull up a chair, put your feet up and get ready to sail the high seas and feel intensely every moment of the voyage! The Morcan writing team of father and son never lets you down! They will make you ask, truly ask, aside from the expediency of travel and communication of today, just how much the world has changed; just how much we are still committed to huge profits, people and the earth be damned; just how much we still think in terms of “the white man’s burden”; and just how much do we still use women as if they were throwaway objects?

Oh yes, and while you are there, do order Fiji which continues this amazing journey!

Bon voyage. –Amazon reviewer Remy Benoit

 

World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1) is available via Amazon at:

http://www.amazon.com/World-Odyssey-Duology-1-ebook/dp/B00HHVOMO0/

  

Happy reading! –Lance & James

 

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Historical adventure novel resonates with readers

Posted: March 10, 2014 in The World Duology, World Odyssey
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Newly released World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1) resonates with readers and book critics alike, so far attracting all 5-star reviews from Amazon reviewers.

World Odyssey follows the fortunes of three young travelers as each embarks on an epic journey. Their dramatic adventures span sixteen years and see them engage with American Indians, Barbary Coast pirates, Aborigines, Maoris and Pacific Islanders as they travel around the world – from America to Africa, from England to the Canary Islands, to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa.

Here’s a snapshot of what Amazon reviewers are saying about this novel:

“A highly readable…novel…Download this now!!” -Alice M. Dinizo

“A rip-roaring historical adventure…a heroic journey.” -‘Cloud’

“I felt as if I were a passenger…in exotic locales.” -Sheri A. Wilkinson

“Great Historical Saga…a cast of intriguing characters who are motivated by their own dreams. -Karine Bregeon

Readers are reminded World Odyssey is book one and Fiji: A Novel is book two in the new-release The World Duology…

  

 

 

        Available as kindle ebooks on Amazon

If these books sound like you, here’s the appropriate kindle ebook links:

World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1): http://www.amazon.com/World-Odyssey-Duology-1-ebook/dp/B00HHVOMO0/

Fiji: A Novel (The World Duology, #2): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057YCZM0/

The World Duology (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel): http://www.amazon.com/World-Duology-Odyssey-Fiji-Novel-ebook/dp/B00HMQRMFG/

 

Happy reading! –Lance & James

 

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Calling all lovers…of historical fiction!

Posted: February 3, 2014 in Fiji: A Novel, The World Duology, World Odyssey
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Lovers of historical fiction will be pleased to know the Kindle ebook price of our new release series The World Duology (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel) has been slashed as part of our book launch.

Two books in one in The World Duology

Readers will receive two novels in one at a real sharp price until the new book launch promo ends February 9th PST.

Meanwhile, World Odyssey and Fiji: A Novel, books one and two in the duology, remain regular visitors to Amazon’s bestseller lists in their appropriate categories in historical fiction. And readers continue to resonate with both novels if reviewers’ ratings and comments are anything to go by.

Set in the nineteenth century, The World Duology follows the fortunes of three young travelers. Their dramatic adventures span sixteen years and see them engage with American Indians, Barbary Coast pirates, Aborigines, Maoris and Pacific Islanders as they travel around the world – from America to Africa, from England to the Canary Islands, to Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji.

If these books sound like you, here’s the appropriate kindle ebook links:

World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1): http://www.amazon.com/World-Odyssey-Duology-1-ebook/dp/B00HHVOMO0/

Fiji: A Novel (The World Duology, #2): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057YCZM0/

The World Duology (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel): http://www.amazon.com/World-Duology-Odyssey-Fiji-Novel-ebook/dp/B00HMQRMFG/

 

Happy reading! –Lance & James

 

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New release titles enter Amazon’s bestseller lists

Posted: January 12, 2014 in Fiji: A Novel, The World Duology, World Odyssey
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Readers are resonating with our new release historical adventure title, World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1), which has just joined book two in the duology, Fiji: A Novel, in Amazon’s bestseller lists. Added to that, The World Duology, which offers readers two books in one, has also entered the bestseller list in its appropriate category – Action & Adventure/Travel.

   

Bestsellers on Amazon

The early reviews are in for World Odyssey and The World Duology – all five stars!

Sample reviews (abridged) follow:

World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1)

The Morcans write another first-rate novel!

By Alice M. Dinizo

 Cockney Englishman Jack Halliday, American Nathan Johnson and well-bred English missionary Susannah Drake are all, for various reasons, on their way to Fiji in the South Pacific in the 1840’s. Their adventures are highly believable as each copes with others, including family members, the present situation in which they find themselves, and their own human frailty…”World Odyssey” is a highly readable and thoroughly enjoyable novel of historic fiction that no one will want to miss. Download this now!!

The World Duology (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel)

A fantastic two book story of adventure at sea and exotic locales

By Sheri A. Wilkinson

 Set in the 19th century, Nathan Johnson, Jack Halliday & missionary Susannah Drake each for their own reasons are sent to sea…Along the way they face danger, pirates, murder, death and interesting and (some) dangerous people, as they sail around the globe. Well written with great detail, I felt as if I were a passenger, watching and setting port in exotic locales. Susannah with her naive ways is likable, Nathan has character and Jack has likable traits as well…Both Books are fantastic…I highly recommend to adventure lovers.

  

If these books sound like you, here’s the appropriate kindle ebook links:

World Odyssey (The World Duology, #1): http://www.amazon.com/World-Odyssey-Duology-1-ebook/dp/B00HHVOMO0/

Fiji: A Novel (The World Duology, #2): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057YCZM0/

The World Duology (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel): http://www.amazon.com/World-Duology-Odyssey-Fiji-Novel-ebook/dp/B00HMQRMFG/

 

Happy reading! –Lance & James

  

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New release historical adventure series enters Amazon bestseller list

Posted: January 5, 2014 in Fiji: A Novel, The World Duology, World Odyssey
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Readers are resonating with our new epic historical adventure series, ‘The World Duology (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel)’, which has already entered Amazon’s bestseller list in the Kindle eBooks Action & Adventure/Travel category.

Duology already a bestseller

Set in the nineteenth century, The World Duology follows the fortunes of three young travelers. Their dramatic adventures span sixteen years and see them engage with American Indians, Barbary Coast pirates, Aborigines, Maoris and Pacific Islanders as they travel around the world – from America to Africa, from England to the Canary Islands, to Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji.

The early reviews for The World Duology are in. All five stars, they show the series has struck a chord with readers hungry for adventure and romance stories in a historical setting.

Sample reviews (abridged) follow:

The World Duology is not to be missed!! – January 4, 2014

The Morcans have combined their novels “Fiji” and “World Odyssey” into a novel that readers everywhere will enjoy. Its three believable main characters come to live in the southern Pacific island of Fiji in the 1840s. Cockney British convict Jack Halliday, American adventurer Nathan Johnson, and English gentle woman Susannah Drake, who insists on accompanying her missionary father to Fiji, live their lives believably, humanly, and will continue in readers minds long after the last page has been read. This is historic fiction at its best, for “The World Duology” is very, very readable. It is also historically accurate…Well-created characters, historic accuracy, a storyline that is pleasing to follow to the very last page, books don’t get better than this! -Amazon reviewer Alice M. Dinizo

A fantastic two book story of adventure at sea and exotic locales. – January 2, 2014

Set in the 19th century, Nathan Johnson, Jack Halliday & Missionary Susannah Drake each for their own reasons are sent to sea…Along the way they face danger, pirates, murder, death and interesting and (some) dangerous people, as they sail around the globe. Well written with great detail, I felt as if I were a passenger, watching and setting port in exotic locales. Susannah with her naive ways is likable, Nathan has character and Jack has likable traits as well…Both Books are fantastic. I recommend reading…one after the other to really get the entire story in on sitting. If not each book is great as a stand alone. I highly recommend to adventure lovers. –Amazon reviewer Sheri A. Wilkinson

 

The new release title is available at a discounted price to Kindle ebook readers via Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/World-Duology-Odyssey-Fiji-Novel-ebook/dp/B00HMQRMFG/

 

Happy reading! –Lance & James

 

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