Rod Buntzen's Books

The Armageddon Experience

—A Nuclear Weapons Test Memoir—

By: Rod Buntzen

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The Armageddon Experience

—A Nuclear Weapons Test Memoir—

By: Rod Buntzen

A chilling echo of the nuclear fear permeating America’s public during the Cold War with the Soviet Union is growing louder today, with new reports about North Korea’s progress on atomic weapons and long-range missiles, Iran’s desire for similar technologies, and Russia’s and China’s increasing pushback against the role of the US in the world. In addition, uncontrollable Middle East violence and hatred of the US is contributing to the possibility that nuclear weapons may someday detonate on American soil. Unfortunately, few of our leaders remember the horror of what nuclear weapons can cause, and the public today has little understanding of what was at stake during the Cold War and what to expect from a nuclear explosion in one of our cities.

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Page Count

244

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

1796011576

ISBN 13

9781796011579

1501

Leonardo and Michelangelo in a Tale of Art, Love, and Betrayal

By: Rod Buntzen

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1501

Leonardo and Michelangelo in a Tale of Art, Love, and Betrayal

By: Rod Buntzen

Michelangelo, explain this passage from Dante for us, Leonardo Da Vinci cries out across the piazza, They say hes your favorite poet. Words such as these might have begun a brief interaction between the two creative giants that prompted the historian, Giorgio Vasari, to write that the two felt an intense dislike for each other. History shows Michelangelo and Leonardo were fierce competitors in the late Renaissance, but fails to explain just when this animosity began, or its origin. Leonardo and Michelangelos dislike of each other began somehow. It is difficult to believe the intensity of dislike that Vasari and others relate derives from simple differences in style and personality; it started before Michelangelo began to paint seriously and Leonardo had never competed with him in marble. In reading Vasari, it seemed as though there must have been a physical incident involved. What really happened between them? I began the tale about their personalities and relationships as a novella to emphasize the technical aspects of their creative techniques. I wanted to tell how they might have reacted to each others techniques and methods, as well as how their personalities might have evolved in the process. Soon, I realized that these gigantic personalities needed to be acted out on stage, not confined to a short story. As a play, I have tried to create a blend of technical details and personal interactions suitable to light theater. 1501 takes place in the late Renaissance in Florence, after Leonardo had completed The Last Supper in Milan, but before painting the Mona Lisa. Michelangelo, unknown for painting, has recently received the commission for David, and young Raphael is becoming recognized locally for his potential to become a master. The intense competitive spirit among the artists is not fully developed when they happen to meet and decide to form a cooperative project under the guise of testing the publics preferences between reality and beauty when viewing current art. Together, they struggle toward their goal, while unknown forces determine their success. Raphael suggests the three artists together create a single work that would be both real and beautiful and use it to test the publics response. Amused by the suggestion, Leonardo readily accepts. Although Michelangelo hesitates, he is urged to accept the challenge during a visit from Savonarolas ghost who threatens his work with David. The artists agree to follow Raphaels suggestion to work together while still satisfying their individual goals. As they work together in Leonardos hidden workshop, the artists discuss philosophy and artistic technique. As they become familiar with one anothers personality and style, Michelangelo feels a growing sexual attraction to Leonardo, prompting Savonarolas ghost to appear and remind him of their plot against Leonardo. But Leonardos charm is too great, and Michelangelo breaks his vow to David. Meanwhile, Machiavelli, periodically snooping about, has discovered Leonardos workshop and becomes suspicious about the two artists behavior. Unbeknownst to Michelangelo and Raphael, Machiavelli leverages his discovery to achieve his own political goal. While the artists wait in the workshop for the finished work to be discovered and evaluated by the public, their mutual animosities and historic ill feelings flare.

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Page Count

116

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

1524568937

ISBN 13

9781524568931

The Armageddon Experience

—A Nuclear Weapons Test Memoir—

By: Rod Buntzen

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Armageddon Experience

—A Nuclear Weapons Test Memoir—

By: Rod Buntzen

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

244

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

1796011576

ISBN 13

9781796011579

1501

Leonardo and Michelangelo in a Tale of Art, Love, and Betrayal

By: Rod Buntzen

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

1501

Leonardo and Michelangelo in a Tale of Art, Love, and Betrayal

By: Rod Buntzen

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

116

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

1524568937

ISBN 13

9781524568931

Book's by Rod Buntzen

The Armageddon Experience

The Armageddon Experience

1501

1501

The Armageddon Experience

The Armageddon Experience

1501

1501

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