Omar : A Novel [Hardcover]

Craig O. Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001

A FRIGHTENINGLY CREDIBLE, RIVETING, ACTION-FILLED NOVEL! WINNER: 2002 Benjamin Franklin Awards™ SILVER AWARD for BEST NEW VOICE--FICTION

Craig O. Thompson’s debut novel is an historical suspense-thriller set in 1995--and 1910. Based on fact, "OMAR" is a literary novel of suspense and intrigue where truth and myth come together to chronicle a triadic underwater race of epic proportions.

Excessive greed, pride, world politics--and the sacrificing of values to accomplish greater ends--compete with the very real possibility of nuclear, biological and chemical terrorism's arrival on democratic shores. FACT: London, England, 1910 to 1912. Two men--an antiquarian book dealer and the acclaimed official bookbinder and illuminator to His Majesty the King--commissioned and created "the most magnificent book binding in the world." While en route to its new owner, the ship--carrying the binding and its courier--sank in the North Atlantic. And the gold-and-jewel-bound book was lost at sea.

FACT OR FICTION? YOU DECIDE:

Eighty-three years later, in 1995, the priceless book lay buried hundreds of miles out from the Grand Banks of New Foundland, at 2077 fathoms from the surface of the North Atlantic Ice Barrier. Terrorists, mercenary divers, and government agents rush to the site of the "illuminated" binding...now worth over $30 million, if found. And the book becomes the object of an underwater race that could change the face of world politics...and strike fear in the heart of any democratic nation.

The circumstances set off a web of international intrigue, so frightening, that CIA's Colonel Bramson and FBI's decorated agent Jennifer Nakamura were jointly assigned to the project.

Dr. Cary Parker, Woods Hole oceanographer, was unwillingly employed to beat both teams to the ship's location. Parker, the scientist, had to choose between his belief that such "gravesite" treasures should be left untouched-- versus the mercenary beliefs of divers who would sell their souls to recover them.

Having already faced death straight-on, at two and a half miles below sea-level, Parker was forced to decide whether the cause was just another CIA and FBI misadventure--or a truly dangerous time for democratic nations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...'OMAR' forecasts tomorrow's headlines....This well-researched fiction is a timely window into potential disasters for unprepared nations." -- U.S. Senator, Richard G. Lugar, Select Committee on Intelligence

"...a story of this magnitude is mind boggling...I can't wait to see it on the big screen" -- Captain Jim L. Willsey, Deepsea Treasure Hunter--La Nuestra Senora de Atocha Treasure

"Deep ocean adventure in the tradition of Clive Cussler." -- Charles Pellegrino, "New York Times" Bestselling Author of the thriller, "Dust"

From the Publisher

StrataGem Press™, an imprint of Brightwater Publishing Company, is proud to present one of the most timely and topical books ever issued--Craig O. Thompson's insightful "OMAR: A Novel"--a story about terrorism's arrival on democratic shores.

Released one month before the September 11th, 2001 tragedies, "OMAR: A Novel" comes at a time when America--and many other nations--must face the very real possibility of continued horrific terrorist acts and the specter of "NBCRW" (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, Radiological Warfare) on their homelands.

With his keen sense of history, a wry sense of humor (Thompson insists we must keep our sense of humor during these trying times), and with his ability to bring stories to life, this author writes of a time when desperate people trade land-mines for loaves of bread; where rockets are bought by terrorists, world-wide, for the cost of surplus metal; when rogue-states obtain nuclear warheads, from the former Soviet Union, for ten cents on the dollar; where the world's deadliest bio-toxins, Enriched Uranium, and Plutonium 239 can be smuggled, undetected, across borders in aerosol cans and lipstick cases...and where jetliners can be turned into despicable weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Virtually every noted think-tank in America agrees--conservative, liberal, and non-partisan....The question is no longer if terrorist NBCRW attacks will continue to happen in America....The question is only when.

Following the Attack on America, Craig--a terrorism expert--provided live and taped interviews to over 220 radio/TV, newspaper and magazine organizations throughout the world (from Venezuela to New Zealand, London to Vancouver...and most of America).

A regular expert correspondent with WMAL-ABC Talk-Radio, Washington, DC, Mr. Thompson offered suggestions for national preparedness on many national and syndicated broadcasts--with over 75 hours of interviews in the first ten days following Attack on America.

On Monday, September 10, 2001, Thompson was interviewed for 3 hours by Los Angeles' 50,000 watt KFI veteran talk-show host, Lee Klein, on his late-night show that reaches 16 states. As he had done many times before, Craig gave warnings of probabilities for attacks on our homeland...led by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda suicide bombers. He talked of the high probability for bioterrorism, and the need for massive programs of preparedness with our public health systems. He spoke of a major lack of security in our airports, and within our borders, and with our INS.

During the radio interview a caller said, "We have more of a chance of being attacked by Oakland Raider fans than by terrorists." Thompson remarked that the listener was "...living in the same ether that member of Congress had been living in since the fall of the Soviet Union, thinking we no longer had any enemies."

Author, Craig O. Thompson has created a suspense-filled, fictional premise--based on fact--that lays the reality and issues of terrorism directly in the reader's lap. And it will at once alarm and startle the reader page by page-turning page.

Welcome to the realm of "OMAR: A Novel by Craig O. Thompson.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: StrataGem Press™ (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967520703
• ISBN-13: 978-0967520704
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,815,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling novel of escalating global terrorism, October 17, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Omar : A Novel (Hardcover)

Craig Thompson's Omar is a suspenseful and thrilling novel of escalating global terrorism. When a priceless book is found 2077 fathoms under the North Atlantic Ice Barrier, the CIA/FBI, a private billionaire oilman, and a fanatic terrorist group compete to recover and claim it. The competition has potentially cataclysmic effects for the known world. Omar is a shocking, action-packed, highly recommended page-turner filled with suspense and plot twists to the end. Omar is also available in paperback (0967520722, [price])

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, suspensful high-tech adventure, July 1, 1999

By 

Janet Parker ([e-mail]) (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Omar (Hardcover)

"Omar" is a well-written, well-researched captivating novel. Craig Thompson has mixed politics, advanced technology and diabolically realistic characters into the greatest treasure-hunt of all time. Intriguing... ingeniously crafted... excellent plotting all add up to a first-rate story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "OMAR" is one exciting thriller!, April 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Omar (Hardcover)

I picked up the new novel about terrorism called "OMAR" by Craig O. Thompson, at the Arizona Book Festival. It is one of the most intelligent reads I've purchased in years. More than just the blood and guts that most bottom-line, leveraged buyout publishers seem to throw at us, these days, "Omar" gave me thoughtful passages and carefully threaded stories to unite the plot (which deals with terrorism under the Atlantic and a very famous sunken ship). I would compare to the best of Cussler and Clancy.