Resource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict

Resource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict by Michael T. Klare

By Guest Reviewer: Kaeru from The Technical Lens posted at Bookend Chronicles with permission of site owner.

Human conflict is as old as the story of Cain and Abel.  But what are the reasons for human conflict?  I know there are many from my researches that indicate causes stemming from one side to the other.  As I thought about it overtime, human conflict behavior really stems from two distinct, although real perspectives.  The book Resource Wars, the New Landscape of Global Conflict by Michael T. Klare supports what I believe is a two-perspective concept in human conflict behavior.

For most of the reporting I have witnessed throughout the world’s mass media outlets, the fight for control of oil has been a focus in the current Western conflicts in the Middle East.  While the Middle East is not the only places where the West, especially the United States, purchase its oil, oil itself is not the only sought after resource.  Resource Wars brilliantly exposes specific geographical regions of the world under constant conflict for critical natural resources such as precious metals, water, and of course, oil.  The perpetuating struggle over these elements are critical the survival of many, but a way of control for the few.  These are facts in this world and this fresh new insight about the changing world exposes truth about how conflict really has not changed in certain ways.  This reporting is real life and provides material less often exposed by the mass media you may be used to observing.  Resource Wars will keep you intrigued and may surprise you!

Resource Wars by Michael T. Klare, 2002 ISBN 978-0-8050-5576-4

Never Forget - A Saul Marshall Thriller (Book 2)

NEVER FORGET - A Saul Marshall Thriller (Book 2) by Richard Davis

A new offering of a modern-day warrior tale comes to life in the form of “Never Forget,” a second sequel in the Saul Marshall series. Saul Marshall is plunged into the harrowing machinations of evil which force him to pursue diabolical enemies. He is forced to face the calculated plans of a fatal agenda that anticipates absolute destruction.

The author has distorted the lines of questionable ethics and the bleak realization of impending catastrophe. The stakes have never been higher; and the reader is thrown between the precarious sectors of normalcy and the seedy underworld that the main character must blend into.

“I set my jaw. While I could pretend as though I was still just taking things one step at a time, and could extricate myself with impunity at any point, I knew this was a delusion.”

The research that Richard Davis incorporates into this novel lends another level of credibility that is deeply disturbing.

“ ‘...There’s enormous sensitivity in China towards anything that could constitute an encroachment on sovereignty. And America – the preeminent superpower, and a capitalist one no less – is perceived by China as a prime culprit…’ ”

The story escalates in a compelling crescendo of lies and bureaucracy. Davis has created a wide parallel of cautionary terror and thematic consequences that every reader is coming to associate with his writing.

Richard Davis is a Londoner and this is his second novel in the Saul Marshall Series. In 2011 he graduated from UCL and Cambridge University. He is currently published with Canelo.

Never Forget - A Saul Marshall Thriller (book 2) by Richard Davis, 2017 ISBN 9781911420255

Fool Whiskey Hero

Fool Whiskey Hero (Drunken Fool Thrillers) (Volume 1) by Jason T. Blundell

Two people are brought together under extreme circumstances. Nyah is a young lady who stands in the crossfire of corruption and almost certain death. Grady Fisk is an anti-hero who may be the only solution to Nyah's nightmare. As the unsettling journey takes place, Grady wastes no time doggedly searching for answers. 

Who do you trust?

As the plot thickens to reveal ostensible characters colluding to cover-up a deeper secret, Grady's efforts to clear his name and rescue Nyah becomes a battlefield of suspense. Layered in fast-paced dialogue, the author cuts into the facets of each character, pushing the darker aspects of daily life.

"To stiffen my resolve, and drown my conscience, I sat down with a bottle of rye. I drained the first glass before the ice had cooled it, burning my throat and warming my blood. I finished my second glass and my headache subsided. I stopped using the glass and drank right from the bottle."

Blundell uses a unique perspective of first person narration for Grady and a third person point of view for Nyah. Surprisingly, this does not take away from character development. As a matter of fact, Blundell is able to aptly display the tormented undertones of pain.

"Nyah ran on, still soaked in her mother's blood. She smelled it, and her sweater stuck to her, heavy with it. Her legs finally gave way, and she swerved off the sidewalk and ducked down in some big, leafy bushes at the edge of a property that had fallen into disrepair. Nyah sat down, bringing her knees up to her chin and hugged herself."

As the story progresses, the reader is given moments of pause with the bureaucratic parsings of true power and ethics.

"The police have little proof so they’ve resorted to extracting a confession by force."

The novel is a quick read and allows a measure of hope at the end, that perhaps a human being has the capacity for change. Blundell has successfully doled out an irrevocable challenge of resolution that is the epitome of this thriller.

Jason T. Blundell was born and raised in North Bay, Ontario. He played football for the University of Manitoba and graduated with a BA in English. He is currently published with New Pulp Press.

Fool Whiskey Hero (Drunken Fool Thrillers) (Volume 1) by Jason T. Blundell, 2016 ISBN 978-1945734052

Bess: A Pioneer Woman's Journey of Courage, Grit and Love

Bess: A Pioneer Woman's Journey of Courage, Grit and Love by Charles Cranston Jett

Frontier life would be difficult for a man or a family, but for the collective imagination to conceive of a lone woman braving such a stark and unforgiving land is nearly impossible. This is an engrossing tale about Bess, a highly motivated and determined young woman who lives on the frontier. The entire historical narrative is accurate and enthralling. There is something quite remarkable about Bess, she stands apart from the traditional pioneer woman. The lone image of Bess on the cover is suffused with a brave solitude that resounds within the pages of the story.

Charles Cranston Jett has created a phenomenal storyline that offers a radical challenge in disproving the stereotypical prototype of a woman in the early 1900's. The reader will follow the emotional roller coaster of the heroine's struggle in combating the tremendous changes throughout her journey.

"She lay in bed for a moment, taking deep breaths. Today is the day I will be leaving my home in search of another, she thought. She took a deep breath—and the thought did not frighten her—it excited her."

The research that Jett has done breathes a dual tone of truth and fantasy for the reader.

"Doc went inside the house and came out with the 30-30 rifle, but by the time he started down toward them, the coyotes had already run off. What was left of the sheep was mostly the hindquarters, so Doc brought the carcass back to the homestead and severed the hind legs because they had been untouched and could be used by the family."

There is an abundant cluster of hope and joy that the reader will hold close to his or her heart when reading this book.

"Afterwards, they held a social gathering right in the middle of the street in town. Everyone could get something to eat from the food that members of the audience had brought for all to share. It had been a great day in Haley. Life on the prairie is good. Thought Bess."

I was surprised at the way this book gripped my attention. The author allows for a sustaining exuberance and expressed devotion in his creative diction. There is a reminder of the legacy of traditions, principles, and commitments that exist in our history. This inspirational story engenders all readers to pursuing their dreams and evokes subtle reminders of the human struggle that never ends.

Charles Cranston Jett is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He is the author of two other new books: "Wanted: Critical Skills!" and "Career Crises and the Doom Loop".

Bess: A Pioneer Woman's Journey of Courage, Grit and Love by Charles Cranston Jett, 2017 ISBN 978-1-4787-6486-1, 978-1-4787-6517-2

The Summoned King: Book One of The Kalymbrian Chronicles (Volume 1)

The Summoned King: Book One of The Kalymbrian Chronicles (Volume 1)  by Dave Neuendorf

A young man finds himself in the middle of a fantasy realm that holds every fear, joy, and desire that one can possibly imagine. James Madison Young, the protagonist of this story, is summoned into an uncertain place, where he must learn to adapt quickly and force an entire kingdom to rebuild itself against the powerful cabal of treachery and deceit that works to undo everything that James attempts to restore.

As James is married off to the naive princess and crowned king, the reader gets a glimpse of an innately sharp, well-read young man. 

" 'Our government should not be in the business of subsidizing religions. Every religious group should be responsible for raising its own funds. I understand that the network of temples is being funded with tax money. I’m going to proclaim a new law prohibiting use of government funds for religious purposes, and further prohibiting any government interference with religious observances or anyone’s application of religious principles in his personal or business life.' "

Dave Neuendorf clearly interweaves the politics within this fantasy realm with American history. The more the story continues to develop, we see James become a stronger leader with principled ideas that are not popular with the Council of Advisers. 

But what regime change was ever quiet?

" 'Regulating sin isn’t a function of government as I see it. Drunkenness, prostitution, drug use, and the like are unwholesome and harmful to society, but attempting to stamp them out by law only stimulates rebellion. Once a spirit of rebellion is accepted by the culture in one case, it paves the way for more serious rebellion. That’s what happened back in my home country when the government outlawed alcohol. Laws need to be enforceable.' " 

I was glad to see magic incorporated into this fantasy story. Neuendorf has captured the mythic and disruptive nature of a true teenager, intentionally setting a scene for an archetypal sense of righting a great wrong that can only be done by the untainted, idealistic view of a young adult. I look forward to the next installment that will give readers a further glance into this extraordinary realm that the author has created.

Dave Neuendorf is a Java software development consultant who published "The Summoned King: Book One of The Kalymbrian Chronicles (Volume 1)" in February 2016. He and his family live with their two dogs, a Samoyed and a Siberian Husky, in Aurora, Indiana.

The Summoned King: Book One of The Kalymbrian Chronicles (Volume 1) by Dave Neuendorf, 2016 ISBN 978-1523973569