Pretenders to the Throne

The Presidency of the United States has often been held by a handful of families – the Adamses, Roosevelts among others. In fact, they are often called “political dynasties.” By this, it might seem that Americans have subconsciously long wished for a king. This historic and futuristic tale develops the fiction that America has always had a legitimate royal-in-waiting but has not known him (or her) . . . yet.

In 2018, wrenching events threaten the survival of the American republic. Gridlocked Congress. Severe drought. Homegrown terrorism. In response to these ominous threats, a clandestine society, originally formed by Federalists in 1797, recognizes that desperate remedies are needed. This group, known as PATRI, allies itself with descendants of European houses of royalty to elect a mysteriously qualified person as the first American president of a third political party. On the night of his inauguration, the subsequent tumult proves more than Americans had bargained for.