"THE SICILIANS: " A Novel in the "Fate and Other Tyrants" Trilogy "The Sicilians" is the saga of a people, a novel of murder and revenge, passion and power. Populated by princes and peasants, tyrants and rebels, priests and sinners, heroes and cowards, this epic narrative encompasses the Fascist era, its rise and fall. On All Souls' Day, 1919, a man is murdered. Near his corpse, the word 'Judas" is written in blood. Haunted by the mystery of their father's death, Turi and Luciano seek the truth. Turi rebels against all authority, while Luciano believes in civilization and its traditions. Turi scorns the world ruled by the ruthless and powerful. Luciano admires the Society of Saint Francis, a religious organization advocating Christian democratic ideals. Even under a dictatorship, the villagers celebrate nature and its season, expressing their joys and sorrows. Italy enters the war. In the African desert, Luciano discovers that the Fascist quest for an empire is made of sand and illusion. In Russia, Turi confronts his father's murderer and his conscience. The war ends with its staggering heartbreak. In post-war Sicily, the forces of democracy, communism, and separatism clash. Democracy triumphs and a mystery are resolved, with ironic consequences.