Customer Reviews

Ascent from Darkness

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In 2003 and 2004, the years when Wilson's novel "Ascent From Darkness" takes place, I was doing construction work in Basra, Baghdad and Al Hilla, Iraq. I was fortunate to be able to talk to many Iraqi workers representing the many ethnic and religious groups - uneducated, simple, hard working people - from fourteen to well over sixty years of age. Each and every one of these men had tales of horror to tell. Some had their wives raped by Saddam's henchmen, their mothers and fathers tortured and killed, or children taken away and forever lost.

Wilson brings these horrific tales vividly home. Reading his wonderful novel, I feel as if once again I am looking into those incredibly sad and tortured eyes under the hot desert sun. But Wilson's writing also gives us a glimpse of the hope that motivates these people--people who, despite what the pundits say, are so grateful to us for what we had done to give them a life worth living. Wilson weaves his gripping tale through three parallel stories. One stands by itself, the protagonist CIA agent Stone Waverly with an incredible, sometimes checkered, background; Special Forces soldiers, Tommy Waters and Billy Bates, initially young and innocent, but who grow up before our eyes; and a young Kurd fighter, Jalal, immersed in stirring events in the northern city of Kirkuk before and after the American invasion.

This novel is extremely timely as the news media ruminates on the events occurring in Syria and Iraq and the pros and cons of our involvement in the war. As I am writing this review, in Kabul Afghanistan, I hear from the darkened city, the Muezzin's' evening call to prayer mixing with my neighbor's TV blasting CNN. In so many ways, this is symbolic of the entire struggle so vividly related in "Ascent from Darkness."

As the story unfolds it becomes impossible to put the novel down. Wilson builds the plot, one suspense-filled scene upon another, one tight spot after another - all interwoven with descriptions of a part of the world that few have seen except through shallow, one-minute sound bites.

If you want to read a vividly entertaining novel - and at the same time understand what is really going on behind the headlines in Iraq and Syria, catch a glimpse into a world that is a combination of an Arabian fairy tale and fierce firefight, and experience deep human emotions through the eyes of those who are living the headlines, then this great book belongs on your bookshelf, to be read again and again, and shared with family and friends.

The second international thriller by the author of Winter in Kandahar has finally arrived and I managed to get an advanced review copy prior to the official publication date. I was surprised to see Amazon already has it available...sneaky devils! Enthralling from the first chapter, it's hard to believe, but Wilson's new novel is even better than the first. Written in a similar genre, with CIA agent Stone Waverly from Winter in Kandahar becoming the protagonist (with many outstanding supporting characters). Fascinating from the first chapter, it is true to modern history, to the point it can be difficult to discern where fact ends and fiction begins.

Joan Phelps, reviewer for Clarion reviews said it better than I ever could. "If Merchant Ivory were to produce a movie about self-actualization and finding true love, while living through the horrors and confusion of a civil war . . . If Oliver Stone were to have free rein in capturing the nuances of espionage, duplicity, and combat among enemies as well as friends . . . And, if Steven E. Wilson's latest novel, Ascent from Darkness, were to win the attention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . . . the thought-provoking book would garner the attention of Hollywood and Washington, DC, alike. In his second published work of fiction, Wilson continues to entice adventure-thriller fans to step into the exciting world of CIA agent Stone Waverly. Waverly was a main character in Wilson's first novel, Winter in Kandahar. Stone is now seduced by the CIA director's confidence that Waverly is the only agent he can count on to unravel a scheme that resulted in the breach of a Ukrainian nuclear plant and theft of weapon-grade plutonium. As Ascent from Darkness encourages readers to dive into the culture of countries long at war, Stone's job description evolves, grows, and mutates while the story moves through Damascus and war-torn Kirkuk, Najaf and Baghdad. Fans of Wilson's creative endeavors know, however, that one subplot will not suffice. In Ascent from Darkness, the characters experience the joy of finding new love, the pain of losing loved ones, and the feelings of ambiguity that surface when humans question the worth of wars. It is these three scenarios that lure Wilson's fans to contemplate what choices they would make when confronted with choosing among country, religion, and family."

You will love it!

I am so thrilled that Stone Waverly is back!

I do not like to read books about war, but a friend convinced me to read Steve Wilson's first book, Winter in Kandahar, and I couldn't put the book down. There began my love of Stone Waverly.

So naturally, between Steve Wilson's compelling storytelling and style of writing, I was thrilled to learn of his second book, Ascent From Darkness. I was equally as thrilled to learn that Stone Waverly continues on his journey.

I have not changed my mind and decided to read books on war, but Ascent from Darkness is a book about mysterious happenings wrapped in the most mysterious of all happenings - love.

May Mr. Wilson keep me anxiously turning the pages of Stone Waverly's life adventures for years to come!

P.S. I expect some smart movie producer to purchase the movie rights to both Winter In Kandahar and Ascent From Darkness and turn them into the blockbusters they so deserve to be!

This is a truly great novel immersed in the current day Middle East that is highly entertaining but also informative. The book was honored this summer (2007) at both the New York Book Festival and the Hollywood Book Festival. Placed primarily in current day Iraq and Syria at the beginning of the Iraq War, it is a multi-layered novel with three primary stories--reluctant CIA operative Stone Waverly torn between his family and love for his country, Special Forces soldiers Tommy Waters and Billy Bates dropped deep behind enemy lines near Najaf at the onset of hostilities, and long-suffering Kurdish peasants Tenya and Jalal--that in many ways encapsulates the challenges and triumphs faced in the Iraqi conflict.

Beginning with the Anfel gassing campaign in 1988 to punish the Kurds for supposed collusion with Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, the story fast forwards to the period just before and after the US led invasion of Iraq. The chapters tend to be short and focused. There are many underlying themes here...what it's like to be a CIA operative or soldier and having to leave your family behind for years at a time to defend your country, the dangers lurking in nuclear- and bio-terrorism (I hope the terrorists don't get any ideas from the finale of the novel), the plight of the Kurdish people in Northern Iraq, and the ongoing struggle between the Arab Sunni and Shia populations in Iraq.

It is a wonderful story, even better than Winter in Kandahar (which I loved), in my opinion. You will love it!

I read this book after Steven E. Wilson's Winter in Kandahar with eager anticipation. Wilson's ability to write fiction that reads like non-fiction is uncanny. I deeply appreciate his plot and character development as well as his ability to capture the terrain of this cast and the pathos of the times. What a timely book that speaks of hope in the midst of despair, a struggle to "go on" when so much says "quit!" It is also a joy to read an author whose books reflect an excellent use of the English language. As a former college professor, I would strongly urge schools to have Wilson's books used as supplemental reading texts for reasons of content, style, and plot and character development!

After reading Winter in Kandahar, I couldn't wait to order Ascent from Darkness, though I don't typically order until they come out in paperback. This book brought home the enormous difficulties of the Iraqi war, coupled with several wonderfully intriquing romances throughout the book. I love the way Dr. Wilson weaves his tale with such rich descriptions of his characters; I finished the book in record time, feeling as though I had known each of "his" people myself. Both Ascent from Darkness and Winter in Kandahar are well worthy of screenwriting.

Steve Wilson's first work of fiction, Winter in Kandahar, is action-packed and, at times, quite difficult to put down. This timely thriller had it all - war, romance, science, international intrigue, betrayal, culture, family, greed, courage and perseverance under tremendous adversity, terrorism, and more. I very much enjoyed the short chapters, quick scene changes, and his writing style. This was a superb story, which I think really would make for a marvelous movie. I'm impressed with the skill with which Dr. Wilson tells the story, considering the cultural differences. Even more impressive is that this was his first work of fiction. Dr. Wilson's second book, Ascent from Darkness, has everything that his first book has and is even better. As in his previous book, this second adventure thriller was full of action and romance and extremely difficult to put down. Set at the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003, this novel makes it difficult to discern fact from fiction. At points, it even brought a tear to my eye. This story would be great for the big screen.

This fast-action novel is a compelling read. It also provides an interesting insight into the causes of the clashes between the ethnic Kurds and the Arabs of northern Iraq, the void left by military victory and the desire to right old wrongs. Special Forces soldiers and CIA operatives are depicted as professional and effective but with the feelings and emotions of real people. Like Wilson's last book, WINTER IN KANDAJHAR, the varied story lines, intrigue and mystery make it difficult to put the book aside at the end of a chapter.

It is a very entertaining book, with a lot of emotions, the descriptions are excellente, and the story is a breathtaking one. Congrats to the writer!!!!

This is a great book that is immersed in the present day events of Iraq and Syria. I think the writing is even better than Winter in Kandahar, although I enjoyed the latter plot more than any book I've read in years. I have no idea what the previous reviewer was talking about. In Ascent from Darkness, I loved learning about the Kurds in Iraq and the relationships between the Kurds and the Arabs in that part of the world. Also the Special Forces characters were very believable. I see that Mr. Wilson's new novel "The Ghosts of Anatolia: An Epic Journey to Forgiveness" is coming out soon. I can't wait!