The novel of the year has arrived. Forget about Patterson, King, Grisham and company. If you want at long last to read a work that is intelligent, gripping, and truly terrifying, pick up a copy of Lee Boyland's BEHOLD AN ASHEN HORSE. Mr. Boyland, who has an extensive background in nuclear engineering and national defense, is the rightful heir in American fiction to Tom Clancy." - Paul Williams, author of: The Day of Islam, Osama's Revenge, The Al Qaeda Connection, Dunces of Doomsday, and The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to the Crusades --
E-mail from Paul L. William [can provide copy]
Key characters Mohammed, Ralph Eid,
Gruppa, the
Shura, and George Alexander continue the story in the chilling sequel to
The Rings of Allah. Mohammed and Eid have set the timers on five nuclear devices they skillfully hid in five U.S. cities. The story begins as the timers reach zero while the president of the United States is leaving the Capitol building after her address to a Joint Session of Congress.
Secretary of Homeland Security, George Alexander, watches the president on television in a conference room on Kirkland AFB, NM. Mohammed and the Shura watch in a large room in Qom, Iran. If the bombs detonate, Mohammed will become caliph of the new Islamic Empire. The timers reach zero and WWIII begins.
Alexander assumes the presidency and sets about saving the nation. An intelligent, determined, pragmatic man with natural leadership traits, Alexander will do what ever is necessary to save the nation. The rulebook is out the window. Alexander selects the best military and civilian men and women available and molds them into a team.
Mohammed warned of the attack in a video broadcast by Al-Jazeera two hours before the detonations. After the attack, a second video is delivered to Al-Jazeera, who immediately provides a copy to the U.S. military attaché. The video, to be broadcast before morning prayers worldwide, calls for the Great Jihad. The next morning the world tumbles into chaos.
Teresa Lopez, a special agent in the Buffalo FBI office follows members of a terrorist cell to a remote barn. With the help of the National Guard, the terrorists are prevented from detonating a dirty bomb in Buffalo. Her actions are noticed and she is given the assignment of finding out where the terrorists got the bombs and how they planted them. Her adventures take her to Russia and Argentina. USAF Captain Taylor and Russian FSB Major Vanin enter the story.
Banks are closed and credit cards do not work. Oil supplies are interrupted as the Middle East slides into chaos. The U.S. economy is on the verge of collapse. Some, like a Chinese admiral, Kim Jung-il and Chavez decide the U.S. is to weak to prevent them from carrying out their plans. The admiral has his eye on Twain, Kim on South Korea, and Chavez on starting a Socialist revolution.
The Islamic Empire rises out of the chaos. Syria and Egypt attack Israel and Jordan sides with Israel. Syria uses chemical weapons and Israel replies with nuclear missiles. Alexander intervenes in Egypt.
Mohammed's second video ignites worldwide jihads. Reverend Smyth preaches a fire and brimstone sermon that ignites the Muslim Backlash. In the U.S. local police are outgunned by jihadists, and the National Guard is required to restore order. Some governors are reluctance to use force and militias and citizens engage the jihadists in the streets. Alexander takes action to restore order and interns all Muslims.
Alexander and his acting Cabinet realize they do not understand the Islamic mind and form a religious advisory committee. The committee's report provides a penetrating analysis of Islam.
Acting Secretary of War Harry Simpson and military commanders plan Operation Flare, the invasion of North Africa to seize oil. Spain, Portugal, and Italy join Operation Flare, the first step in the invasion of the Middle East.
Grand Ayatollah Khomeini and Alexander engage in a chess match using weapons and deception. Radical liberals attempt to disrupt Alexander's plans for recovery. Some call for the UN to assume control of the U.S.
Admiral Cheung begins to implement his plans to invade Twain, the first step in taking over China. He uses Kim as a distraction, encouraging Kim to invade South Korea. Kim, however, has even bigger plans--plans that have unintended consequences. Chavez also makes the mistake of pulling the eagle's tail feathers.
Multiple sub-plots are skillfully woven together to produce a complex, chilling picture of what can occur after a nuclear 9/11. The author employs his considerable knowledge of weapons and Islam to create a believable story that the reader cannot put down. A story that leaves the reader shaken. A story, as the author says in the foreword, that we cannot allow to happen.
The cover poses the question: Does America still have the right stuff? The answer is found in the pages of Behold, an Ashen Horse.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
