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| View Larger Image | The Rings of Allah (Clash-of-Civilizations trilogy)
by Lee Boyland
| | List Price: | $8.99 | | Price: | $7.19 | | You Save: | $1.80 (20%) |  | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours | | | | | Sales Rank: | 50423 |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
At Stalin's orders two teams of scientists and engineers competed to demonstrate the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb. Failure was not an option, and the loosing team was purged with no warning. Its records destroyed, and all of the key personnel eliminated, well, almost all. What happened to the team's work in progress? Forty years later The Group discovers the answer. The Rings of Allah is a grand saga in the genre of James Clavell's Shogun and Tia-Pan, with a little Clancy thrown in. Spanning over sixty years the story sweeps across Russia, central Asia, and into the United States. The cast of characters include Soviet scientists, radical Islamist, KGB officers, al-Qaeda terrorists, Usama bin Laden, and American businessmen, doctors, and government officials. Islam, Wahhabism, and the Soviet-Afghan war, provide the backdrop for the birth of al-Qaeda. The story proceeds into the future where a sleeper cell of al-Qaeda attempts to complete Usama bin Laden's master plan for the final strike against the Great Satan. This epic novel presents a realistic and frightening picture of how simple atomic weapons could be smuggled into and hidden in the U.S. The author has the background and knowledge to write a realistic, technically sound story that will leave no doubt as to the vulnerability of western civilization to terrorism and the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Yes, it can be done, and the Rings of Allah provides a thrilling and realistic story of one such plan. The main characters include an old but sharp Soviet nuclear weapons engineer; an idealistic young American Arab drawn into the Afghanistan Jihad who later becomes a conflicted soul; the American educated al-Qaeda cell leader who slowly slips into insanity; a beautiful blond venture capitalists, who is unwittingly ensnarled into the terrorist plot; an enterprising KGB officer and member of The Group; and |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 11 reviews)
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Fantastic Story, Plausible Nightmare Scenario 
HIghly recommended! Lee Boyland has crafted a thriller with a chilling plot line. Coupled with his technical expertise in nuclear weaponry this book will keep you awake at night! I couldn't put it down and as soon as I finished it I immediately ordered his sequel, "Behold, An Ashen Horse."
August 02, 2008 | |
Frightening in its realism
After hearing weapons expert and author Lee Boyland on talk-radio, I was so impressed by his knowledge of current events, Islam, and nuclear weapons, that I ordered a copy of his first book. I just finished it and am spellbound by the author's unique ending - an obvious setup for a sequel.
Beginning in 1990 Russia, the story is divided into three parts. Part I is Ivan's story, an old, destitute Soviet nuclear weapons engineer with a secret. Through Ivan the reader meets opportunistic KGB Colonel Alexi Valek, who introduces us to Mohammed al Midhar, bin Laden's fiendishly determined lieutenant. Valek discovers Ivan's secret and the adventure begins.
In Part II, American nuclear-physicist-turned-terrorist Ralph Eid becomes Mohammed's brilliant protégé and takes center stage. As the chilling plot unfolds, the author shows how easily an intelligent, patient group of terrorists can plant five atomic bombs--hidden in plain sight--in our cities.
Part III jumps the story to 2004, when Hilda Rodman defeats George Bush in her bid for the presidency and immediately pulls America's troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. While chaos erupts in the middle east, Mohammed presents his in-place plan to destroy five American cities to the Shura. In return for his part in destroying the Great Satan he will be named caliph, leader of the new Islamic Empire.
Running afoul of America's military in the wake of her fateful decision to recall the troops, Rodman offers a token appeasement by appointing retired Air Force Major General George Alexander to be Secretary of Homeland Security. Hours before the timers, set by Mohammed and Eid, detonate the nuclear weapons, Alexander leaves Washington on a family emergency. Warned of a pending attack, Alexander tries unsuccessfully to reach Rodman, while she's giving her "Everything is Wonderful" speech to a join session of Congress. In the end Rodman's arrogance and ambition are her undoing. The bombs detonate, America is left leaderless, and our government and capitol city has been reduced to radioactive ash.
Stunned by the not-so-perfect, unhappy ending to the novel, the reader struggles to comprehend the real possibility of such events actually occurring. Suddenly we're aware that in a real the world, life as we knew would be gone in the blink of an eye. If not fiction the story we'd just read would be history and our best hope would lie with the sole survivor in the line of succession to the presidency, George Alexander, a man we know little about. Forced to assume the presidency, Alexander will face a daunting task.
By co-mingling history, fact, and great story telling the author has given terrorists full sway to render a crippling blow to our country. Still reeling from the cliff hanger ending the reader becomes irresistibly caught up in the fictional troubles facing a shattered nation. The author has given us only a glimpse of Alexander. Is he the man right man for the job? Can he inspire Americans to follow him to victory over the forces of evil? Only time and Boyland's sequel, "Behold an Ashen Horse" will tell. From what we do know it appears Alexander is a no-nonsense man with no trace of political correctness. Qualities, which may or may not be tantamount to his future success as a world leader.
Anchored in historical events, the novel's plot is replete with facts about U.S and Soviet nuclear weapons programs, the Soviet-Afghanistan war, Iraq, and of course al-Qaeda. Fast paced and believable, Boyland's tale will most certainly make any sane person reevaluate America's sense of security. One military friend, who's read the book, tells me the technology described in the story is accurate. Other friends have told me that "The Rings of Allah" is the equal to Tom Clancy's "Sum of all Fears." Not being an avid Clancy reader, I'll have to accept their word for that, but, all things considered, I can make this observation. After reading this novel its clear to me that readers who love cliff-hanging, edge-of-the-seat action can be certain of one thing. Boyland has staked his claim on being America's newest star in the galaxy of techno-thriller authors. If his next novel is as good as his first, we're in for another phenomenal read.
November 30, 2007 | |
So So 
Hard to get through. Made it about half way through and that awas it. Very creative especially the beginning but loses its appeal toward the middle
September 11, 2007 | |
Thank Allah it's only fiction! Too possible! 
Author Lee Boyland puts his extensive special weapons background to use in spinning this completely believable tale of al-Qaeda's next step after 9-11. Leftover Soviet technology from the beginning of the Cold War falls into al-Qaeda's hands, and they establish an intricate network in order to place five atomic devices in five US cities. The US gets word of the attack, but will it be in time?
Boyland does a great job of mixing good character development with great technical background in order to create this story. Technical readers will appreciate his attention to detail as he relates and educates the reader on the workings of gun-type atomic weapons. Literature advocates will respect how he uses significant events to develop his main characters. Many new writers fall into the trap of trying to tell too much of the story, but Boyland avoids this by jumping sometimes a year ahead in the story in order to keep things moving.
A great action story that is just a bit too possible, this is definitely worth it for action and techo fans alike.
August 12, 2007 | |
A Frightening Scenario
Not many people could write this book, but Lee Boyland's background and in-depth knowledge of nuclear physics enables him to lay it out in terms that are as easy to understand as they are frightening. In addition to spelling out how a nuclear attack could be done from a technical standpoint, the author takes us into the minds of Muslim extremists who are intent on destroying modern civilization and taking humanity back to the seventh century.
A believable plot, fascinating characters, and suspenseful writing combine to make THE RINGS OF ALLAH a must read for everyone, but especially for those who believe a terrorist nuclear threat in America is overblown. Such an attack won't be easy to pull off, but the author clearly shows that it can be done, and that we need to be ever vigilant. To paraphrase Secretary of State Rice, "The terrorists can make many mistakes. We just have to make one." Highly recommended.
Maurice Medland
Author of CHINA STAR
July 25, 2007 | |
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