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If you love THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, MAN OF LA MANCHA, and LES MISERABLES, you will enjoy this fascinating analysis of how the three musicals reflect the basic teachings of the Bible. Dr. Jones is a Harvard PhD and a professor emeritus of Spanish language and literature, as well as a novelist, humor columnist, biographer, the author of a widely-adopted textbook, a cartoonist and a graphic artist. She taught "What is Love?" for several years in the adult Sunday School program at her church, and claims she is still trying to get to the bottom of it all. She looks to the ancient Greeks, the 12th-century troubadours, the 19th century Romantics, C.S. Lewis, John Stott, Michael Green, and to the rest of God's extended family to guide her along the way. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: Sonia Jones is a gifted author and teacher who beautifully presents and contrasts the dramatic love stories of Man of La Mancha, The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Miserables with the greatest love story of all from the Bible. She explores the various meanings of love, and gives deep insight into the hearts of the characters involved and the resulting dramas that unfold. If you love these classic writings and musicals, this study will add to your understanding and appreciation. --Roma Angus, choir director, Halifax, Nova Scotia

THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA have elected as their first president the principal proponent of the merger between Canada and the U.S.A. The unification of the two nations has created an economic expansion of immense proportions. Ivan Welland, an early supporter of the President, has been chosen by the incoming administration to revamp the civil service and head up a new approach to immigration. His program of targeted recruitment of immigrants and merit-based government employment policies brings out a host of international and domestic detractors. Welland's battles with vicious enemies of democracy delve into the operations of insidious forces that employ suspicion, intrigue, and assassination to oppose the growth of a stronger, more prosperous North America. Learn how, and at what cost, Ivan Welland suffers personally by placing his country first, regardless of how divergent his hopes and ambitions may be.

When Dominique Perdue finds a cruise ship passenger's lost ID card, she ends up becoming an accidental stowaway, heading for parts unknown. She soon gets mixed up with some terrorists on the cruise ship who mistake her for one of their own. She joins the ship's choir, where she enlists the help of some brave passengers and their gifted choir director. This is an unusual mystery novel where lurking danger combines with the inspiring songs of Broadway that flow through the pages, providing sensitive insights into the human condition. The plot includes two love stories, topped off by the choir's once-in-a-lifetime performance at the Sydney Opera House, leading to a poignant and uplifting finale. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: This is a must read. Dr Jones displays great storytelling ability and crafts a tale of suspense, intrigue, and comedy, bundled with romance, sophistication, and existential issues related to self worth and purpose. -Dr Michael R Lawrence, neuropsychologist, Grand Rapids, Michigan I was intrigued by this novel right from the opening chapter. I was led through a gripping story, beginning with unintentional identity theft and then on to the high seas, with rich characters forging deep connections through serendipity and chemistry. I did not put the book down until I had savoured the epilogue's satisfying revelations. A terrific read! -Janet Manuel, poet and choral singer, Summerville, Nova Scotia

A life's work of writing compelled by inner and outer forces,"Disturbing Comforter" takes the reader through a framework of vision, joy, anguish, and revelation. Janet Manuel uses luminous language to uncover the discomforting and sometimes painful nature of the Other's intersection with a frail human being, while in other pieces she simply observes the complicated society in which she must function. The random ordering of the poems speaks to the wholeness that life brings, in a pattern visible from the observer's viewpoint. Janet Manuel lives and writes in a small community an hour outside Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is a transplanted city dweller who has recently embraced country life. Born into an immigrant British military family in Northern Alberta, just before the launch of Sputnik and the dawn of the Space Age, Janet feels herself to be "born out of time," but she is grateful for the various forms of modern technology which allow the writer's craft to be so much simpler than it was in the recent past. Working in the health data analysis field from a home-based office, she is, as stated in the poem "Ordinary," a plain woman with a remarkable message. Her husband, two greyhounds, two cats, and a young draft horse share her life.

Cloning Jesus, by Sonia Jones When linguist Lisa Maxwell goes to the Basque Country to seek the unknown origins of the language, she meets some enigmatic characters in a lost village in the Pyrenees Mountains. Who is stealing relics from major cathedrals in Spain, and why? Who are the Illuminati? Who is the physician that flies in by helicopter to examine two little boys, and what does he want from them? What is going on in the state-of-the-art biotechnology laboratory? Soon more questions begin to emerge. Who are the Basques, and why is their language unique? Are they a race apart? What happened to humans after the Fall? What role does Rh-negative blood play here? How do genetics and linguistics combine to unlock the mystery of the origin of humankind? Can creation be reconciled with evolution in a brand new way? Is it possible to clone Jesus? If not, why not? If so, what are the consequences? Sonia Harrison Jones, a PhD from Harvard University in Romance Languages, presents some creative, intelligent answers to these questions and many others in this fascinating first novel.

MANY BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN about cougar attacks in the wild, providing readers with much-needed information about how to avoid becoming the victim of a dangerous predator's natural hunting instincts. Author and noted wildlife photographer Mark Kostich takes a different approach. He describes in riveting prose the true story of his deadly encounter with a cougar that attacks him when he enters its enclosure in a carnivore sanctuary. He lives to tell the tale, providing invaluable advice to those who have also survived traumatic experiences of their own. There is much to learn from this gripping narrative, especially in terms of what to expect and how to deal with the ongoing anguish that reveals itself in the dark period of seemingly endless nights that lie beyond the attack. MARK KOSTICH is a medical dosimetrist at University of North Carolina Hospitals, and an award-winning international wildlife photographer. His work has been published by National Geographic and is on exhibit in the American Museum of Natural History and in the Paris Museum of Natural History. His photography appears internationally in numerous books, magazines, galleries, museums, and schools, and can also be seen at www.kostich.com. His adventures have taken him face-to-face with wild animals all over the world. One of them would change his life forever.

This is a poignant, respectfully humorous bird's eye view of the Old Testament, where people in the Scriptures come alive and talk directly to the reader. Noah's wife worries about what will happen if both elephants stand on the same side of the ark, the prophet Hosea wonders why God asks him to marry a prostitute, and Satan boasts about his nefarious plans. With the help of 170 beautiful color images created by professional photographers and designers around the world, "Old Testament Alive!" will give you much to think about as it foreshadows events described in the author's "New Testament Alive!" WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: "As a pastor, I was delighted to discover such an interactive study guide. My wife and I sat down with some very bright international students who knew nothing about the Scriptures. When we shared the Bible and the Gospel with such intelligent students, it was so helpful to have this manual to inform our discoveries and launch us into discussions." - Rev Winston Clark, pastor Win and Nancy Clark served for 33 years in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and in Oxford, Ohio. They now work with Horizon International, advocating for African HIV/AIDS orphans. "The Bible came alive for our Intervarsity Christian Fellowship study group when we met the people in both the Old and New Testaments and listened to their stories in their own words. We found the books very informative and entertaining. It is one of the reasons why my wife and I became Christians. Now that the two volumes are published, we plan to use them for discussion groups in our church." - Dr Cheng Wang, pathologist

The Riviera is the scene of Truman Cottrell's second novel. Inspector Rene Martin of the French National Police is called upon to untangle the webs woven by Corsican Mafia boss Henri Casanova, who involves some naive American students in coersion, grand larceny, and murder. Along the way the police inspector falls in love with his American witness, but must choose between love and duty. Cottrell blends his masterful story into the historical background of the beautiful Cote d'Azur, the ancient island culture of Corsica, the problems of modern France, and contemporary intercontinental romance.

Dr. Ivan Welland, in response to the economic crises in the U.S., decides to take on the challenge of curing the ills that have caused the problems. He leads his non-profit Foundation for Democracy Research into a study of the alphabet soup of regulatory agencies responsible for the economy. We learn about the functions and failings of the SEC, Fed, FDIC, IRS, BIS, OMB, and the network of complexities under which our economy barely survives. Along the way we discover a plot to defraud the U.S. Treasury of TARP funds intended to save a bank from insolvency. The reader is led into the center of a corruption scheme which, if successful, will be the largest known embezzlement in history. This is the sixth cautionary thriller by Aidan de Vries. It takes us where we need to go to understand the risks that threaten the economic pillars of our democratic system.

Summary: A gripping thriller about scientists who want to clone Jesus, opponents who want to stop them, competitors who want to steal the research, and concerned individuals who point out the serious consequences of such an undertaking. Very interesting thoughts about science and Christianity, the origin of the species, and the meaning of life. Fascinating surprise ending. Story line: When linguist Lisa Maxwell goes to the Basque Country to seek the origin of the Basque language, she soon finds herself tangled up with some enigmatic characters in a small mountain village. Who is stealing relics from the major cathedrals in Europe? Who is the physician that flies in by helicopter to examine some little boys, and what does he want from them? What sort of research is being carried out in the state-of-the-art biotechnology laboratory? Soon more questions begin to emerge. Who are the Basques, and why is their language unique? Are they a race apart? What happened to humans after the Fall? What role does Rh-negative blood play here? How do genetics and linguistics combine to unlock the mystery of the origin of humankind? Can creation be reconciled with evolution in a brand new way? Is it possible to clone Jesus? If not, why not? If so, what are the consequences? Sonia Harrison Jones, a PhD from Harvard in Romance Languages, presents some creative, intelligent answers to these questions and many others in this fascinating first novel. What readers are saying: I LOVED it! For me the test of a good book is that when I'm not reading it I'm thinking about it and trying to figure out when I will be able to get back to it, and that definitely happened with this book. - Julie Graveline, retired Canadian Naval Officer This is a masterpiece!! It was a real gripper. My wife and I almost fought for the computer. There is much of the "intellect apologetics" in the book about the tragedy of using Christianity to gain power. The last chapter of Cloning Jesus, I think, highlights "living apologetics." Great! - Rev. Clarence Vos, pastor and retired professor, Calvin Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

When the new President takes office, Dr. Ivan Welland's term as Secretary of Defense is over. He agrees to chair the Foundation for Democracy Research, whose mandate is to design a presidential election system that will better serve America. Welland is soon involved in secret machinations that take place out of sight of the voters, but that have immense consequences for Americans. Dr. Welland's effort to restore democracy, amend the Constitution, and force the corrupt and treasonous President to return to the principles of the founding fathers becomes a deadly adventure that takes the reader into the realm of murderous power mongers, FBI investigations, and federal prosecutions by the U.S. Attorney. This thought-provoking cautionary tale is the fifth political thriller by Aidan de Vries. It may be almost prescient in its reflection of possible future events, and is certain to challenge every reader's ideas of what democracy is and should be.

It is always a pleasure and a very great honor for an author to be invited to write a regular column for a respected publication with a wide and loyal readership. Such is The Banner, the denominational magazine of the Christian Reformed Church. When erstwhile editor-in-chief John Suk told me he was looking for some material that was both humorous and poignant, I jumped at the opportunity. I hoped to provide my readers with stories that would make them chuckle over their morning coffee and also give them something to think about as they went about their daily business. Eight years have gone by now since the column's inception, so it seemed to me that it was high time to gather the stories together between two covers. So here it is - a collection of topics ranging from warbling church mice to operatic moose calls, and from chaos on the farm to wild roosters running amok in the Dutch countryside. But life has its darker side, too. You will come across poignant stories such as the one about a grieving linguistics professor, or a dog who sniffs out his owner's cancer. There is also a longer piece at the end of the book about my own daughter's brush with death. It is my hope that you will take comfort in the knowledge that the tears will eventually be wiped away, and life at last will truly be ever-laughing. I have changed the names of some of the characters to protect the privacy of the individuals who populate these true stories - with the notable exception of Obadiah Kelly, who is already so famous that it's useless to try to hide his identity. I'll bet you didn't know that his name is on your lips almost every day. Read on! There is much to learn.

When linguist Lisa Maxwell goes to the Basque Country to seek the unknown origins of the language, she meets some enigmatic characters in a lost village in the Pyrenees Mountains. Who is stealing relics from major cathedrals in Spain, and why? Who are the Illuminati? Who is the physician that flies in by helicopter to examine two little boys, and what does he want from them? What is going on in the state-of-the-art biotechnology laboratory? Soon more questions begin to emerge. Who are the Basques, and why is their language unique? Are they a race apart? What happened to humans after the Fall? What role does Rh-negative blood play here? How do genetics and linguistics combine to unlock the mystery of the origin of humankind? Can creation be reconciled with evolution in a brand new way? Is it possible to clone Jesus? If not, why not? If so, what are the consequences? Sonia Harrison Jones, a PhD from Harvard University in Romance Languages, presents some creative, intelligent answers to these questions and many others in this fascinating first novel. DATOS SOBRE LA AUTORA Sonia Harrison Jones nacio en Inglaterra, se doctoro en Lenguas Romanicas en la Universidad de Harvard, y fue catedratica de lengua y literatura espanola en la Universidad de Dalhousie en Halifax, Nueva Escocia. Su lista de publicaciones incluye un texto de gramatica espanola para estudiantes universitarios de primer ano (SPANISH ONE, Van Nostrand, NY), una biografia de la escritora argentina (ALFONSINA STORNI, G.K. Hall, Boston), dos autobiografias (IT ALL BEGAN WITH DAISY, Penguin/Dutton, NY, y DAISY AND GOLIATH, Erser and Pond, Halifax), una memoria (THE PRIMROSE PATH, Erser), una coleccion de cuentos humoristicos (OF MICE AND MOOSE CALLS, Erser), y la presente novela escrita originalmente en ingles (CLONING JESUS, Erser). Han aparecido sus publicaciones tambien en The Reader's Digest, The Catholic Digest, The Banner, y la serie Chicken Soup for the Soul. Aparece en Who's Who in the East, International Authors and Writers Who's Who, The World Who's Who of Women, and Who's Who in Canada.

Jones compiles selections from her humor column called Life Ever Laughing, originally published in The Banner magazine.

When Stephanie Marks learns that her father is having an affair, her loyalties are divided between her long-suffering mum and her charismatic dad. So if married couples live a life of quiet desperation, Stephanie reasons, wouldn't it be better to be an exciting mistress than a boring, predictable wife? She'll need courage to play the role of a femme fatale, but Stephanie believes she has what it takes to be just like her dad. When she sees what a short shelf-life his mistresses have, however, she wonders how she will ever find fulfillment in life. Everything changes when Stephanie's dad gives her a champion canary. The pet shop lady offers to pay her big bucks to breed him to her best female, and that's when Stephanie's real education begins. Dickie and Speckles teach her some lasting lessons about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. Renata Peraldi has written a poignant true story based on a diary she wrote fifty years ago. Her comments on the behavior of her canaries remind us that all God's creatures are members of our extended family, and through them we find comfort in learning that love is possible even for those of us who are pleased to call ourselves homo sapiens.

WHEN CHAMPION SAILOR CHARLOTTE (CHICK) CHASE finds a job as a yacht delivery captain, she looks forward to making use of her champion sailing skills. While delivering a 55' racing yacht from Florida to Massachusetts, she encounters a small, unmarked boat loaded with armed men heading from Cuba to the U.S. When her vessel is fired upon, she radios the U.S. Coast Guard to report the incident. Thus begins a series of adventures that involve salty exploits up and down the Atlantic Coast. Charlotte becomes inexorably entwined with the new Coast Guard that now functions under the Department of Homeland Security. She eventually teams up with a handsome, intelligent young officer who helps her deal with the challenges she faces on the high seas. Every page invites the reader to share in an exciting, plausible, swashbuckling series of events that involve elements of mature romance, sailboat racing, national security, and good old-fashioned patriotism. Intertwined are observations about sea life and human life made by a knowledgeable, experienced writing salt. Truman Cottrell is a Canadian citizen, born in the U.S. He moved to Nova Scotia to pursue his interest in sailing and writing.

When a mysterious old gentleman declares his life-long love for Marion Belle Pond at her funeral, her daughter, Sonia Harrison Jones, realizes there is a lot about her life that she didn't know before. The old man's words inspire her to embark on a journey to rediscover her mother through the people she knew and loved. This true story touches on Percy Pond, the author's grandfather and celebrated frontier photographer who documented the Klondike Gold Rush, the founding of Juneau, and the culture of the native tribes in Alaska. It also introduces Kay Harrison, the author's charismatic father, who was the Managing Director of Hollywood's Technicolor Films in London, Paris, and Rome. Set against against the backdrop of pre-war Japan, the early years of the territory of Alaska, and the drama of World War II, this unique saga shows us history as it plays out in the life of one family. It explores the unpredictability and profound ironies of life, the effect of heart-rending choices with their far-reaching consequences, and the transforming, empowering nature of love and forgiveness.

At last a beginning Spanish textbook written for English speakers who are serious about achieving near native fluency! The author, Sonia Harrison Jones, is a Harvard PhD, a lifelong language professor and a best-selling writer and dramatist. Now she has produced a three-in-one volume that will prepare conscientious students to function successfully in a Spanish-speaking country as they perfect their communication skills. The textbook is suitable as a handy reference since it contains thorough and comprehensible Spanish grammar explanations in English, a Spanish-English/English-Spanish dictionary, and a vast list of helpful verb conjugations. The end material also includes answers to all the exercises, as well as translations of the dialogs and prose passages, enabling students to get instant feedback to assess their progress as they prepare for classroom activities or for upcoming tests and exams. The secret of the book's success is its incisive organization and clarity. Written by a talented individual writer rather than by the usual textbook's lengthy cast of co-authors, it proceeds from lesson to lesson in a cohesive, interesting style. The dialogs and prose passages in each lesson follow a lively, encouraging and sometimes humorous story line that uses as many cognates as possible to enhance the students' acquisition of the vocabulary. Color images and artwork in the book are not only beautiful but pertinent to the material at hand.

This is a highly readable book that discusses about three dozen plays by Lope de Vega, the most successful playwright of the Spanish Golden Age. Based on research carried out at the University of California at Berkeley under the mentorship of Jose F. Montesinos, and completed at Harvard as a Ph.D. dissertation under the direction of Stephen Gilman, the book discusses Lope's use of the technique of foreshadowing to create suspense and dramatic irony in his plays.

This incredible success story tells in accurate, humorous detail how two sophisticated New Yorkers left the rat race and bought a farm in Nova Scotia. When their cow, Daisy, gave them too much milk for their little family, Sonia Jones started making dairy products for the local health food stores. Her recipes for yogurt, ice-cream, cheese spreads and cheesecakes took the province by storm, and soon the company began to grow like Topsy. The Jones's enterprise was so successful that they ended up becoming the proud owners of a multi-million dollar corporation. WHAT THE PRESS IS SAYING: The author relates the story in an engaging fashion, even describing setbacks cheerfully. There is added charm in accounts of veteran farmers whose advice was invaluable to the couple, to whom rural life at first was utterly alien. -Jim Morrison, Publishers Weekly The most appealing idea in this book is the notion that small-scale capitalismcan help preserve both ecological balance and individual freedom. Especially when applied to farming, the vision brings out the Jeffersonian in us all; and the author is always cheerily optimistic about its prospects. "The chickens fattened themselves on maggots; the pigs took care of the wastage emanating from the kitchen or the dairy-case shelves; and the tourists liquidated the farm-related food products so the cash could then be used to keep the business growing." This is a striking passage-a sort of yuppie version of Virgil's "Georgics," with a notable element of truth. -Bob Coleman, New York Times A colorful parade of well-drawn characters and tragicomical events, from a leaky filling machine to two years of production built on a kitchen stove and Styrofoam boxes. This all but ensures the Jones's life will soon be the subject of a made-for-TV movie. Would Jane Fonda care to play the confident, unstoppable Sonia? -Jennifer Henderson, Toronto Financial Post What's especially interesting about Jones' story is that her company was asuccess in spite of itself. It was in business before it even had a name; it had no plan and no start-up money. That's nothing short of amazing when you consider that everything written or said about entrepreneurship stresses developing a solid business proposal, having a sound marketing plan, and spending a fortune to launch the enterprise. -Marilyn Linton, Lifestyle Editor, Toronto Sunday Sun

ALFONSINA STORNI was an important poet and writer in Latin America during the 20th century. Born in Switzerland and raised in Argentina, she was a major force in the Modernist and feminist movements there. Sonia Harrison Jones was awarded a Canada Council grant to research Storni's publications in Buenos Aires, where she combed through libraries and archives, and also interviewed most of the writers, poets, and critics who had known her. Dr Jones presents her life and works in a lively, pleasing style, and provides thoughtful, valuable new insights into Storni's turbulent life and expressive poems, plays, and short novels. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: "It is remarkable that this book, written in 1979, was still a best seller on Amazon in 2003." -Claudia Edith Mendez, PhD thesis, University of Maryland "Sonia Jones is one of the pioneering scholars in bringing attention to the importance of Storni's contribution to the feminist movement." -Celia Garzon-Arrabal, "The Theater of Alfonsina Storni: Feminism and Innovation" ProQuest, 2008 (PhD thesis, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) This is one of four books on the reading list for Latin American Women's Poetry at Cambridge, Dept of Spanish and Portuguese, Faculty of Modern & Medieval Languages. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sonia Harrison Jones earned her PhD from Harvard. She has written a dozen other books in many different genres, all available from Amazon or ErserandPond.com.

GORDON F. JONES sees the existence of two nations, the U.S. and Canada, on the continent of North America as being contrary to the best interests of its own citizens. He points out that Canada and the U.S. evolved separately as one continuing political error, and should be united for the benefit of the citizens of both countries so they can achieve their true objectives, namely wealth, security, and a lasting peace. Religious and political freedom enter into it, but it is the opportunity for personal prosperity during these troubled times that really holds the citizens in thrall. Jones shows how, by not wanting to openly admit our financial objectives, we North Americans are forgoing the opportunity of realizing our goals, and in so doing we are failing to provide the world with an example of the peaceful politics of the possible. As a citizen who has lived half his life in Canada and half in the United States, Jones is a credible observer. He offers reasons why the U.S. and Canada should never have developed separately, and he makes cogent proposals as to how this could still be redressed. His life experience as a father, grandfather, company president, entrepreneur, coach, and church elder are all at work as he paints the picture of the United States of North America.

Portfolio management is about adding value, or Alpha -- the added return attributable to investment management. In a market averaging a 7% return over 40 years, $1 grows to nearly $15. Add an extra 3% a year of extra return (the Alpha) and that #1 grows to more than $45. Just 3% a year of extra return, and the results are multiplied three fold. Studies show that the individual investor underperforms the market by 6% to 17% annually. The truly sad part is that it does not have to be that way. Provided with the right tools, individual investors can outperform the market and reduce risk as well. This book will show you how one portfolio manager does exactly that -- adding an extra 3% annually to long term returns. It will show you how you can do the same, so you can triple your wealth in a manner tailored to your own unique individual management objectives and risk tolerances. Born in New York City, Payson Hunter is a Vice President and Portfolio Manager with CIBC Wood Gundy. He has given financial and investment expertise to individuals, corporations, and institutional clients for over 25 years.

WHEN IVAN WELLAND discovers that the freedom of the press provision of the Bill of Rights is about to be exploited by an international media conglomerate, he is forced to come to terms with what may be some basic flaws in the American democratic system. His investigative team delves into the world of international mergers and acquisitions, and discovers that the people in control of words and graphics can be at least as worrisome to the Department of Defense as terrorists armed with guns and bombs. Is the media obligated to report the truth, or does the First Amendment protect a reporter's right to twist the facts? Is America what it was meant to be, or is it only a reflection of the hidden agendas of various interested parties? In this fourth political thriller by Aidan de Vries, hero Ivan Welland is cast into a dangerous void where appearance and reality become blurred. The reader is challenged, along with Ivan, to re-examine the meaning and perception of truth, and how it should be presented to the public.

After a meteoric rise in the Government, Ivan Welland is appointed Secretary of Defense by the newly-elected President. Realizing that defense is not possible until peace is secured, he evolves a plan whereby, with the help of his faithful team and some remarkable supporters, he is able to thwart the many enemies of global harmony and offer the President a brilliant new program to make peace and true defense a welcome reality for all.

When Sonia and Gordon Jones left New York City for a quiet life on a farm in Nova Scotia, they never dreamed they'd end up creating a multi-million dollar yogurt industry. But when Daisy gave too much milk for the family, Sonia started making yogurt for a local health food store. The product was so popular that it got shelf space in all the supermarket chains in the Maritime provinces. Sonia Jones wrote a book called "It All Began With Daisy" which was published by E.P. Dutton, adopted by the Literary Guild of America, condensed by the Reader's Digest and translated into many languages. But competition from a successful small business is not always welcomed by big business interests, so Goliath rose up to challenge Daisy. At this point the action diverges from the Old Testament narrative, where David uses his own ingenuity to overcome Goliath. In this true story the federal government requires that the slingshot be disallowed in favor of regulation swords for all parties to the conflict. The poignancy of the betrayal of Citizen Daisy by her own government is palpable. Yet this is not just an attack on the co-conspiracy of big government and big business. The story of Daisy and Goliath, like all good parables, crystallizes the issues and provides us with hope for a better future.

When Captain Niko Constantine (able seaman and womanizer of note) is selected to command the largest cruise ship in the world, he looks forward to enjoying the most challenging, exciting journey of his life. But what he doesn't know is that a group of jihadist terrorists is plotting to turn the luxury liner's maiden voyage into a trip to hell. Once again Aiden de Vries has written a riveting story about Ivan Welland, the hero of "Council of Caliphs," who is suddenly called upon to save the carefree passengers from certain death. This time, right out of the blue, he and his team of Navy Seals are given some crucial assistance from an unexpected source.

When the State Department sends Harvard PhD student Ivan Welland to Chechnya, he sees it as a perfect chance to gather material for his dissertation. Little does he know that he will soon become involved with an imam in a local mosque who turns out to be one of the most dangerous Islamist jihadist terrorists in the Muslim world. Thus begins an exciting and challenging mission in the life of this bookish academic. He discovers the headquarters of a council of caliphs that directs terrorist attacks worldwide, and he uses his academic training to come up with a startling plan for mounting a successful counterterrorist attack on jihadists everywhere, while at the same time avoiding the tragedy of collateral damage.