Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist [Paperback]

Aram Schefrin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2007

How did an Egyptian city planner, a Yemeni religious fanatic, a boy from the United Arab Emirates who worshipped sex, not Allah, and a young studentof aircraft design who went to a Christian school in Lebanon - fourvery different men with very different ideas - get involved in flying the 9/11 planes? How did the plot develop, and who developed it? "Marwan," a novel by Aram Schefrin, puts the reported facts togetherand fills in the details with fiction - from the group's first comingtogether in Hamburg, Germany, to the moments before the jets they wereto hijack took off. You'll come to know the participants, and how theywere motivated, what their personal lives were like and the roles theyplayed in the plan. You will learn to know them as people - not simplyas "terrorists"- because, as the author sees it, you have to understandyour enemies if you want to defend yourself.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Aram Schefrin is the author of four novels. He is a pioneer in the new art of podcasting fiction, and this novel can be downloaded from iTunes and heard in its entirety. Mr. Schefrin practices law in Rhode Island and Florida. He was a founding member and the lyricist of the rock group Ten Wheel Drive, which had its moment of fame in the early 1970's. He lives in Wellington, Florida with his wife, two dogs, four cats and three polo ponies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (September 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434332888
• ISBN-13: 978-1434332882
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,753,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the Naples Sun Times:, November 13, 2007

By 

Aram Schefrin (Wellington, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist (Paperback)

Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist, is a taut, well-paced exploration of a key episode in contemporary history. Suspenseful and illuminating, Marwan is brilliantly balanced between the compelling narration of known facts and an imaginative response to unanswered questions. Who are these people who found themselves attracted to the suicide mission of flying American airliners into the towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and, if all had gone according to plan, the Capitol building? What shaped them? What made their destinies inevitable? How did they relate to one another? How did they form their opinions about the United States and its purposes? How convinced were they of the holiness of their martyrdom? How pure was their Islamic faith?

Schefrin gives us an intimate portrait of his title character's thoughts and feelings - and his frequent stretches of ambivalence and confusion. Sure-handedly, Schefrin mixes action, densely-textured setting and atmosphere, and characterization. He fashions a convincing world filled with sensory detail, that lends credence to the more speculative and abstract dimensions of the novel. Clearly, he is one of those self-published writers who deserves the status of a traditional publisher and a prestige imprint.

The author does a remarkable job of keeping the reader engaged, especially considering the fact that the story's outcome is known from the beginning. Along the way, we come to appreciate (or more likely be stunned by) the brilliant simplicity of the terrorist plan and the ease with which a series of interim goals were accomplished, leading to the ultimate objective.

4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing, well-researched novel about September 11th, July 28, 2008

By 

Cheryl C. Malandrinos "johnnycat15" (Western Mass) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist (Paperback)

An engrossing novel that leads up to the worst attack on United States citizens on American soil, "Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist" is difficult to read, but also difficult to put down.

Marwan doesn't worship Allah and he certainly isn't ready to die for him, so how did he get involved in a plot that would hijack planes with the intent of crashing them into strategically chosen buildings on American soil? From that first meeting in Hamburg, Germany until the moment the planes take off, Marwan has doubts about the plan that is meant to cripple America, tear at its belief system, and return people to the one true God. But in the end, those doubts aren't enough to keep him from doing what must be done.

I approached "Marwan" with a fair amount of trepidation. I wasn't sure I was ready for it, having not been able to watch a single documentary or read one book about September 11th since it happened.

Schefrin does an excellent job of approaching this controversial topic. He mixes known facts with fiction and comes out with a balanced look at how the events of September 11th could have unfolded.

There were moments when this reader was disturbed by the thoughts and dialogue, but those moments are countered by the moments of doubt that Marwan and Jarrah experience. You're dealing with complex and conflicted men whose internal battle is a struggle for what they want versus what is good for Islam.

"Marwan" begins in New York City in June 2000 and then travels back and forth in time to provide the reader with the necessary backstory to bring them to the final days leading up to the attacks on September 11th. Another book that used this format is Carole Whang Schutter's September Dawn--an equally controverisal title with strong religious ties. In both instances, I found this time traveling format challening to follow, and in "Marwan" it is further complicated by the changing point of view--which fluctuates between first person and third. This challenge was removed when the time line began to constantly move forward from July 2001 up to the moment when the planes took off.

Schefrin's attention to detail and knowledge of the facts lends much to this novel. And I do believe that the author achieved his objective: "you have to understand your enemies if you want to defend yourself."

In "Marwan" readers will find a fair and well-researched novel that sheds light on one of the worst moments in American history.