This novel is a work of fiction published in 2005 by an author with experience working for government agencies concerned with national security issues. He primarily focuses on the relationship between Saudi Arabian Islamyeh (a rebel group he depicts as having recently taken control of Saudi Arabia) and the nation of Iran. The novel begins with a terrorist attack on Bahrain, a small island nation off the eastern edge of Saudi Arabia and in the Persian Gulf. This begins a series of International actions and reactions that constitute the primary plot of the novel. Important characters in the novel include Brian Douglas and Russell MacIntyre (intelligence officers focused on the Middle East from Great Britain and the USA, respectively; Kate Delmarco (an American journalist covering the Middle East); Dr. Ahmed bin Rashid and his brother Abdullah (important Islamic leaders of the Saudi Arabian group); and, finally, Admiral Brad Adams and Secretary of Defense Henry Conrad, big American military players in the novel’s action. Hopefully without giving too much away, I should say that a primary issue that develops in the novel is whether the Arabian Islamists are the primary initiators of the acts of violence that take place in the book. All the major characters in the book are involved in the process of making sense of these acts and trying to work out the most appropriate responses to them. The reader is kept on edge, especially in the final chapters, as this complex and highly dramatic situation is led toward a final resolution.
This is not a novelist’s novel. Clark is a good writer but not a gifted fiction writer. Still, the point of the book is not the literary merit. Clark is trying to show one possible result of “if things go on as they have been.” It is not a pretty sight. He populates his tale with players designed for their expository value. It is clear that the viewpoints presented are intended to represent viewpoints held by specific actors in the real stage of international politics. I enjoyed reading the book and was quite able to get past the clumsiness of Clarke’s fictional style. He portrays a Saudi Arabia, transformed by fundamentalists into Islamyah, but with Islamists who inhabit the real world, and with whom one can negotiate in good faith. He portrays an Iran bent on conquest, less by military means than by stealth and intrigue. He shows extremist American interests bent on faith-based instead of reality-based designs. This provides a bit of viscera to the ongoing mystery that is the Middle East cauldron. Recommended for its content, not its style, but definitely recommended.
What do You think about The Scorpion's Gate (2005)?
This book is horrible. The plot employs every tired cliche known. Characters are grating stereotypes. The editing, fact checking, and proof reading are sub-par. Some examples from the hardcover edition: p58: "The Marine...cocked the M60 machine gun..." The M60 is no longer in service with the U.S. military and would not be in use at the time of this story, ~2010. This annoys as the author takes obvious pride in his knowledge of military gear. p88: "He looked up from the water to see flames from the tales of the two...F-16s as they shot by..."p97: "I would have thought once one, always one. Can a camel change its spots?"
—Seligne
Certainly has faults that make it clear that it was written by a first-time novelist. Fascinating to get an accurate view of certain aspects of intelligence work from someone who know's what they're talking about. The writing style was fine, but the plot was weak, especially at the end. The characters were compelling, but there were a few too many to keep track of with so little text. The affair mini-plot was completely unneccesary and detracted from the book. The A-Team style shenanigan's at the end were even more of a problem, though.
—Jason
This seemed to be one of those books that started as a script for an action movie. It was an interesting story line in the sense of how it played upon current events in the middle east. However it was hard to keep track of all the characters (there were a lot). The end of the book was surprising. The story line was building up to a huge conflict with only a handful of pages to wrap everything up. I had no idea as to how it was going to end, but I was left satisfied. There were a few moments I thought there was bound to be a part 2 of the book, but everything wrapped up.
—Cody Tolmasoff
