The Anvil of the Craftsman
Genres: Political Fiction, Edgy Christian Fiction
Heat level: Some real-world language and wartime violence
A doctoral candidate in Theological Studies accepts recruitment by a friend in the U.S. State Department for an initiative to the most troublesome province in 2006 Iraq. The many challenges of nation building expand the mission from diplomacy to a survival situation as local and international interests position themselves to oppose a State Department initiative: one vital to progress in an uncertain theater.
Terrorism and counter-terror operations threaten to keep the team from leaving the relative safety of Baghdad. Until, that is, a former USAF Special Tactics operative hunting the men who want to kill them draws duty as their protector. The simple questions posed during a tribal council threaten provincial and regional stability; the conclusions reached explode into a clash of faith, loyalty, schism and betrayal that will help shape the future of two nations.
The Anvil of the Craftsman, the debut novel by author Dale Amidei, will be appreciated by fans of a broad range of fiction; from aficionados of the haunting themes of Ernest Hemingway to readers of the tightly woven plots of Tom Clancy and popular titles of authors like Vince Flynn, David Baldacci, W.E.B. Griffin and Richard Marcinko.
Genres: Political Fiction, Edgy Christian Fiction
Heat level: Some real-world language and wartime violence
A doctoral candidate in Theological Studies accepts recruitment by a friend in the U.S. State Department for an initiative to the most troublesome province in 2006 Iraq. The many challenges of nation building expand the mission from diplomacy to a survival situation as local and international interests position themselves to oppose a State Department initiative: one vital to progress in an uncertain theater.
Terrorism and counter-terror operations threaten to keep the team from leaving the relative safety of Baghdad. Until, that is, a former USAF Special Tactics operative hunting the men who want to kill them draws duty as their protector. The simple questions posed during a tribal council threaten provincial and regional stability; the conclusions reached explode into a clash of faith, loyalty, schism and betrayal that will help shape the future of two nations.
The Anvil of the Craftsman, the debut novel by author Dale Amidei, will be appreciated by fans of a broad range of fiction; from aficionados of the haunting themes of Ernest Hemingway to readers of the tightly woven plots of Tom Clancy and popular titles of authors like Vince Flynn, David Baldacci, W.E.B. Griffin and Richard Marcinko.
Excerpt from Chapter 8 - PsyOps
“Mr. Colby, may I
introduce you to Lieutenant General Peter McAllen. General, I present Mr.
Thomas Colby, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near
Eastern Affairs.” The Ambassador moved back slightly as McAllen extended his
hand.
“Mr. Colby, the Ambassador was just telling me of your
initiative. It is … ambitious, sir, considering recent events.”
Colby nodded and transferred his drink to his left hand,
freeing his right to shake with McAllen. “It’s a pleasure, General. I see that
we’ve heard of each another.”
Dinner at the Embassy, this first evening in Baghdad, was
usual. Colby recognized it as unavoidable though a hardship from which he could
spare all but his most necessary staff. Schuster was here, and surprisingly the
man was enjoying himself. Colby had tried to give his Chief Electoral
Administrator, Carol Addams, the night off but she was irrepressible. She
circulated now giving not a clue of having endured the same trip as he. Carol,
who had insisted that Colby not attend without an escort, was working her set
of people across the room. He had his own territory to defend.
The Ambassador looked pleased to have brought them together.
“General McAllen could be of immense help to you, Tom. Few people in Iraq, much
less one so accessible to us here, have as good a grasp on what is happening at
any moment.”
“You’re too kind, sir. I have the benefit of an outstanding
organization that has devoted as much talent as it can spare to the theater.”
In his formal blue mess uniform, miniatures of McAllen's many awards stretched
down his lapel, topped by Parachutist and Combat Infantryman badges.
Colby and the other civilians were in black tie and evening
dress and made for a show here in the Embassy, one of many former Presidential
palaces in Baghdad now under new management. He took the Ambassador’s cue.
McAllen was someone he would need on his side. Information was power, a fuel that
could move mountains, and a shield that could save lives. Diplomacy and
intelligence intertwined wherever they roamed. The problem was that they did
not often share coordinated objectives, Colby thought, except perhaps this
time. “We hope to be of assistance to the military as well, General. Hearts and
minds, if that isn’t too trite a phrase, are what will eventually
transform Iraq into a peaceful nation, and an allied nation,” he offered.
McAllen looked thoughtful. “Your objectives, Mr. Colby,” he
said after lowering his voice, “this direct engagement of the tribal influences
in the provinces, and especially the one that you seem most interested in, is
unprecedented.”
Taken off guard, Colby glanced at the Ambassador, who
shrugged with a "don’t look at me" expression on his face. The
bastard was enjoying this, Colby thought. “General, I’m impressed. We have just
arrived, but that is our objective stated most succinctly. We have people
already working to maneuver us into positions of trust in the rural areas.”
As Colby could tell, McAllen was not trying to be
intimidating or overbearing but merely attempting to broach the nuances of his
situation as gently as possible. “I can appreciate your efforts, Mr. Colby, and
to an extent you are correct. Understand something though, sir. If I know, they
know. I am speaking of political elements, here and back home, who might not
benefit from your success. Intelligence elements exist with a greater native
depth than we have available, some of whom may share your goals and some of
foreign influence that will not. Your team will not remain hidden from any of
them if you make progress in building up your contacts as you expect. They
will know. I hope you can appreciate that.”
Colby sipped his single-malt Scotch. The General’s advice had
the tone of a warning. “Risk comes with any worthwhile endeavor, General. I
hardly need to say that to a man with your experience. Not doing can cost as
much as acting recklessly. What we want to do needs to be done. If we can achieve
it this year so much the better in the lives that are spared, in the financial
resources that could go into rebuilding instead of prosecuting campaigns, and
in the stability of the region. We will be as careful as we can be, sir.
There’s not a martyr among us.”
McAllen looked grave. “If there is anything I know on the
subject, it is that you pick out the martyrs after the fact, Mr. Colby.
Gentlemen, it is getting late for an old man or an early riser, and I’m blessed
to be both. If I can be of any use, do please let me know. I wish you a good
night.”
Colby and the Ambassador nodded then watched him slip out of
the sizable room gracefully, making a stop or two where he said his good-byes.
Colby felt unsettled. The Ambassador turned his attention back to him. “You did
well, Tom. He’s worth listening to, but he’s a soldier not a diplomat. His
world is uglier than ours.”
“Is it, sir?” Colby wondered aloud. “It’s all the same world.
Diplomacy can be war in slow motion. War is the most aggressive form of negotiation.
Politics may be the thousand-foot view of both.”
The Ambassador raised his glass. “Tom, you understand Iraq
better all the time.”
~*~
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The Anvil of the Craftsman (FREE July 18-19, 2012)
Bio: "Dale Amidei lives and writes in the beautiful Texas Hill Country near San Antonio. His fiction defines the inner spiritual processes that he believes occur naturally in all human beings. It features faith-based themes set in the real world, which can be violent. It contains real-world language, which varies between personalities. His characters are realistically portrayed as caught between heaven and earth, not always what they should be, nor what they used to be. In this way they are like all of us. As Dale says: "A novel begins with having something to say. Everything that comes next, developing the characters, the plot, the first draft, the editing, the polishing, all follow this. First have something to say, and then start writing."
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Thanks for reading and enjoy the book!
Stacey
Thank you so much, Stacey! Great looking feature!
ReplyDeleteYou made that easy for me, Dale. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you're very welcome! Let me know when the next one's out.