North from Calcutta by Duane Evans, First Edition : May 2009, Pages : 348, Price : USD 24.95
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Pecos Moon LLC recently published a novel on South-Asian terrorism by former CIA Station Chief Duane Evans. Duane Evans graduated from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, with a BS degree in police science. After college, he joined the Army as a commissioned Military Intelligence Officer and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After a tour as a platoon leader he attended, the Special Forces Officer course with a follow-on assignment to the 7th Special Forces Group. Duane also completed U.S. Army Ranger School and earned a Master Military Parachutist rating. After six years in the Army, Duane joined the CIA in 1983. He completed the career trainee program and language training and began his career overseas as an operations officer. After tours of duty on four continents, Duane retired in 2007.. At this point of his life, Duane now had the opportunity to complete the book he had been thinking about writing since 1995 -- North From Calcutta. Duane's CIA career included service as Chief of Station, the Agency’s most senior field position. He earned the Intelligence Star which is awarded for valor. His career included tours of duty in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, the setting for North From Calcutta.
The title of the novel grabbed my attention when I came to know about this book. Ambassador Cofer Black commented on the book this way : ‘Great tale of today’s espionage and terror which also brings back that uneasy feeling of being among the clashing forces of Pakistan's intelligence service, India, and radical Islam, all superimposed on the delicate regional nuclear balance. North from Calcutta is both 'what it's like' and 'what it could be.’
This is the first novel by a writer who served his country as an intelligent officer, became a pioneer in genre of espionage, touched the sentiment of terrorism with great emotion and truth. Why the book became a sensation to the scholars and researchers? It is first of kind in the history of fiction, a novel based on true story of the Indian sub-continent that runs with the magical ground of Kashmir, Calcutta, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The main theme of the book is : ‘In the shadow of minarets and mosques, Pakistani intelligence officer Tarek Durrani questions the fundamentalist fervor coursing through his nation’s fractious government and the steel of his own loyalty. As hidden enemies plot in the corridors of power, Tarek must discover the mission within the mission and the sinister force behind a rising march towards war that infects every corner of his government, including his own ultra-secret organization, the ISI. As a terrorist plot unfolds, threatening to bring the entire sub-continent to the brink of war, Tarek plays out one last deadly game, putting his cold, practiced intelligence skills to the ultimate test, even as he falls under the spell of the hypnotically seductive Indian architect who cracks the combination to his soul. From the skyscrapers of Dubai to the streets of London, from the tea gardens of the Himalayas to the crowded backwaters of Bangladesh, Tarek has no choice but to search for the truth that transcends elaborate deceptions. A truth that will lead him.’
The language of the fiction is very smooth. The way writer narrates the scenario of confronts, is unquestionably unique. As we know that the situation of the region stated in the novel is worsening day by day. Duane Evans concentrated on the focus point all through the pages.
-Rafique Sulayman
Dhaka, Bangladesh
..........................................................
Pecos Moon LLC recently published a novel on South-Asian terrorism by former CIA Station Chief Duane Evans. Duane Evans graduated from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, with a BS degree in police science. After college, he joined the Army as a commissioned Military Intelligence Officer and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After a tour as a platoon leader he attended, the Special Forces Officer course with a follow-on assignment to the 7th Special Forces Group. Duane also completed U.S. Army Ranger School and earned a Master Military Parachutist rating. After six years in the Army, Duane joined the CIA in 1983. He completed the career trainee program and language training and began his career overseas as an operations officer. After tours of duty on four continents, Duane retired in 2007.. At this point of his life, Duane now had the opportunity to complete the book he had been thinking about writing since 1995 -- North From Calcutta. Duane's CIA career included service as Chief of Station, the Agency’s most senior field position. He earned the Intelligence Star which is awarded for valor. His career included tours of duty in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, the setting for North From Calcutta.
The title of the novel grabbed my attention when I came to know about this book. Ambassador Cofer Black commented on the book this way : ‘Great tale of today’s espionage and terror which also brings back that uneasy feeling of being among the clashing forces of Pakistan's intelligence service, India, and radical Islam, all superimposed on the delicate regional nuclear balance. North from Calcutta is both 'what it's like' and 'what it could be.’
This is the first novel by a writer who served his country as an intelligent officer, became a pioneer in genre of espionage, touched the sentiment of terrorism with great emotion and truth. Why the book became a sensation to the scholars and researchers? It is first of kind in the history of fiction, a novel based on true story of the Indian sub-continent that runs with the magical ground of Kashmir, Calcutta, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The main theme of the book is : ‘In the shadow of minarets and mosques, Pakistani intelligence officer Tarek Durrani questions the fundamentalist fervor coursing through his nation’s fractious government and the steel of his own loyalty. As hidden enemies plot in the corridors of power, Tarek must discover the mission within the mission and the sinister force behind a rising march towards war that infects every corner of his government, including his own ultra-secret organization, the ISI. As a terrorist plot unfolds, threatening to bring the entire sub-continent to the brink of war, Tarek plays out one last deadly game, putting his cold, practiced intelligence skills to the ultimate test, even as he falls under the spell of the hypnotically seductive Indian architect who cracks the combination to his soul. From the skyscrapers of Dubai to the streets of London, from the tea gardens of the Himalayas to the crowded backwaters of Bangladesh, Tarek has no choice but to search for the truth that transcends elaborate deceptions. A truth that will lead him.’
The language of the fiction is very smooth. The way writer narrates the scenario of confronts, is unquestionably unique. As we know that the situation of the region stated in the novel is worsening day by day. Duane Evans concentrated on the focus point all through the pages.
-Rafique Sulayman
Dhaka, Bangladesh
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