By the Rivers of Babylon [Mass Market Paperback]

Nelson DeMille (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1990

Lod Airport, Israel: Two Concorde jets take off for a U.N. conference that will finally bring peace to the Middle East. Covered by F-14 fighters, accompanied by security men, the planes carry warriors, pacifists, lovers, enemies, dignitaries -- and a bomb planted by a terrorist mastermind.

Suddenly they're forced to crash-land at an ancient desert site. Here, with only a handful of weapons, the men and women of the peace mission must make a desperate stand against an army of crack Palestinian commandos -- while the Israeli authorities desperately attempt a rescue mission. In a land of blood and tears, in a windswept place called Babylon, it will be a battle of bullets and courage, and a war to the last death.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"THERE'S LEADERSHIP, COURAGE, ROMANCE.... WHAT A GREAT MOVIE IT WOULD MAKE!" -- Columbus Dispatch

From the Inside Flap

A searing and sizzling thriller centered around the unending Arab-Israeli conflict--a raw, powerful story rich in personal drama and political tension. Simultaneous paperback release from Warner. 2 cassettes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 422 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books, Inc. (June 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446358592
• ISBN-13: 978-0446358590
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.3 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #269,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Political

More About the Author

I was born in New York City in 1943. My father was a Canadian, serving at that time with the American Navy, and my mother was a Brooklyn native, trying to figure out how to grow a Victory Garden for the war effort.

My family moved to Elmont, Long Island, New York in 1947 where my father was a house builder, and my mother was a homemaker raising four boys.
I attended Elmont public schools, played football, ran track, and was on the wrestling team. I graduated Elmont Memorial High School in 1962 and spent the summer at the beach.

I attended Hofstra University, but left before graduation to join the Army in 1966. I served three years in the United States Army as an infantry lieutenant and spent one year in Vietnam as a platoon leader with the First Cavalry Division. You'll see that I used this experience in my novels "Word of Honor" and "Up Country."

After the end of my military service, I returned to Hofstra where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History. I married and had two children, Lauren and Alex, and eventually divorced.

I held a series of good and bad jobs between 1970 and 1974, and in that year, for some reason I can't remember, I decided to be a writer. My first books were paperback originals, New York City police detective novels, thankfully all out of print and hard to find.

In 1978, I published my first major novel, "By the Rivers of Babylon," which was a commercial and critical success. Since then, I've written fourteen other novels and had a good time creating my characters John Corey, Ben Tyson (played by Don Johnson in the TNT movie of "Word of Honor"), foxy Emma Whitestone, Paul Brenner (played by John Travolta in the Paramount movie of "The General's Daughter"), sexy Susan Sutter, the never-say-die CIA officer Ted Nash, and my favorite villain, Asad Khalil, a misunderstood Libyan terrorist with unresolved childhood issues.

I am a member of The Authors Guild, the Mystery Writers of America (past President), American Mensa (thank God I don't have to retake that test), and I hold three honorary doctorate degrees (thank God I didn't have to study for them) from Hofstra University, Long Island University, and Dowling College.
I'm married to the love of my life, Sandy Dillingham, whom I met while I was on a publicity tour in Denver. We have a son, James, two years old, and he's keeping me young.

There's more about me on my website. Thanks for reading about me here, and I hope you enjoy my novels.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love, War, History--Another Demille Thriller, August 22, 2000

By 

"goldcoastreviews" - See all my reviews

This review is from: By the Rivers of Babylon (Mass Market Paperback)

Nelson Demille consistently surprises me with his research, knowledge and laser paced action in his books. He just has a way of drawing me in to his characters with their transitional dialouge. I want to know them, care about them, and of course despise horrific villains. And as for action adventures, well, let's just say he moves a plot around like a Chinese acrobat with an inner ear problem!

In "By The Rivers of Babylon", we meet an extensive group of characters who begin a journey of peace for the Middleast. Two Concordes take off from Lod airport. A mysterious Lear jet invades their flying space. Not known to the pilots and passengers is the fact that a rebel Palestinian guerilla, Rish , has had bombs planted in the tails of each bird as they were being built a year before. Leading to an exciting kidnapping and forced landing.

What I enjoyed the most in this compelling book were the strategies of war. How different eras as well as nations handled nightime invasions for example. And how one must do anything to survive--anything. This seemed to be a pre-cursor to "The Lions Game" by DeMille. Similar themes, however, I was intrigued with the setting of Babylon. The history involved, the colorful descriptions of the Euphrates river, how Mesopatamia had been a glorious city and it's ironic downfall.

Highly recommended reading for the adventure lover.

Your interest & comment votes are appreciated--CDS

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerhouse. Emotionally trying and finely crafted, November 29, 1999

By 

Owen Ryan - See all my reviews

This review is from: By the Rivers of Babylon (Mass Market Paperback)

Nelson Demille is a master. By the Rivers of Babylon is the most amazing thriller I have ever read. Once you are gripped by the plight of the passengers to the UN Conference you will never let them go. Their lives and deaths are visualized in full. Demille has given America a treat that should be enjoyed by all. It is Tom Clancy with the elitist confusing technology. It is James Patterson if he ever took a writing class. It is a gem.

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Won't Put this Book Down!, January 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: By the Rivers of Babylon (Mass Market Paperback)

Demille is the Best and in my opinion this book along with Cathedral, Word of Honor and Gold Coast are his best works. I could not put this book down. On an interesting note, I met Mr. Demille at a book signing and he told me that he himself is not a fan of this book. Interesting! A great read