The Kingdom of Ohio

A mysterious stranger appears at New York's Public Library in 1900, claiming to be Peter Force, a subway construction worker from that same year. He presents documents and photographs suggesting an impossible tale involving the city's first subway tunnels, a woman named Cheri-Anne Toledo from the lost Kingdom of Ohio, and a set of world-changing inventions. The narrative moves between Peter's account of events in 1900 and a present-day researcher trying to verify his story. At the center is the relationship between Peter and Cheri-Anne, set against the backdrop of Manhattan's underground construction and the rivalry between Thomas Edison and J.P. Morgan. Time, memory, and history intersect as Peter's tale encompasses both technological innovation and metaphysical questions. His account challenges established facts about America's past while documenting the birth of the modern age through New York's transformation. The novel examines how progress and innovation can erase certain versions of the past, leaving only fragments behind. Through its blend of historical fiction and speculative elements, it raises questions about what we choose to remember and what we allow to fade away.

Readers report The Kingdom of Ohio is a slow-paced novel that requires patience. Many found the historical details about early 1900s New York City subway construction and Tesla's work compelling. The parallel love story and time travel elements divided readers. Liked: - Rich period atmosphere and technical details - Integration of real historical figures - Unique structure with footnotes and photographs Disliked: - Confusing timeline jumps - Slow beginning that loses some readers - Ending left many questions unanswered - Some found the footnotes distracting "The historical elements were fascinating but the story moved too slowly" - Goodreads reviewer "Great concept but the execution fell flat" - Amazon reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (50+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.2/5 (200+ ratings) The book has a dedicated following among readers who enjoy literary historical fiction, but didn't gain widespread appeal.

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🔹 The novel blends historical fiction with science fiction elements, weaving together the lives of real historical figures like Thomas Edison and J.P. Morgan with fictional characters in turn-of-the-century New York City. 🔹 Author Matthew Flaming wrote this debut novel while working as a web developer in Portland, Oregon, drawing inspiration from his fascination with American industrial history. 🔹 The book's parallel narrative structure alternates between 1901 and modern-day Seattle, exploring themes of time travel and the impact of technological progress on society. 🔹 The Kingdom of Ohio mentioned in the title refers to a little-known historical claim that part of modern-day Ohio was once a sovereign kingdom founded by French settlers. 🔹 In crafting the novel's authentic historical atmosphere, Flaming extensively researched the construction of New York City's first subway system, which plays a central role in the story's setting.