Prayers for the Assassin
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| Author | Robert Ferrigno |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Political, Thriller, Science fiction novel |
| Publisher | Scribner |
| Released | February 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| ISBN | 0-743-27289-7 |
Prayers for the Assassin is a political thriller, and a work of speculative fiction, written by American crime writer Robert Ferrigno. The story is set in 2040, after economic strife and a pair of nuclear attacks have led to civil war, causing the United States to split into two hostile and competing nations: one a moderate Islamic republic with its capital in Seattle, the other a breakaway Christian Bible Belt built on the ashes of the former Confederacy and with its capital in Atlanta.
The hardcover edition of Prayers for the Assassin was published in the United States in February 2006 by Scribner.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
The bulk of the plot takes place in the new Islamic Republic, the majority of whose inhabitants have converted to Islam. The nation's culture is a fusion of traditional American and Islamic: the Super Bowl is still played, but the participants break at halftime for afternoon prayers.
As the story opens, the country is facing a crisis, with competing political and religious factions threatening to destroy the fragile peace that exists within the Islamic States of America. At the same time, behind the scenes, a messianic figure known as the Wise Old One contrives to seize power for himself, and fulfill the ancient prophesy of the restoration of the Caliphate.
The story's protagonist is Rakkim Epps, a Fedayeen warrior who is devoted to his cause, even if he has lost his faith. Epps must risk everything to save the life of Sarah Dougan, the young historian he loves.
[edit] The New America
After nuclear suitcase bombs completely destroy New York City and Washington D.C. and a dirty bomb irradiates Mecca the United States is split into four pieces. The Islamic Republic comprises the west coast, southwest, and most of the midwest. After the bomb attacks were revealed to have been done by Israeli agents and many celebrity conversions a large porportion of the country converted to Islam. The new country was founded as a beacon of light, but has failed to live up. Civil liberties are severely curtailed with the first and second amendments removed and a Talibanesque religious police called the Black Robes gaining more and more power. Jews are ostracized and Catholics have taken the role of second class citizens. The roads are falling apart, satellite communications are often down, and the I.R. lacks scientific growth, living off excess technology stored by the former United States. The U.S. military has advanced little, with modern technology the best it can produce. Many landmarks and warships were renamed after Islamic figures, the best example being the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan renamed the I.R.S. Osama Bin Laden. It is mentioned that the new government attempted to destroy Mount Rushmore, but gave up due to the sheer size of the monument.
The Bible Belt comprises the old south minus Virginia, and with much of Missouri. After the transition millions of evangelical Christians immigrated here. Its government is much looser and decentralized, resembling the old confederacy. Their technology they have is not made clear, although it is mentioned they have the only recipe for Coca-Cola.
Nevada is its own free state with a large and growing population it serves the exact same capacity as it does now.
The Mormon territories comprise Utah, plus parts of Colorado and Idaho. Little is mentioned about it.
[edit] Marketing
The Denver Post describes the aggressive marketing campaign behind the book.[1] Publisher Scribner, a CBS Corp. subsidiary, hired interactive design firm Level 10 to promote the book online through three websites.
The article notes: "With Prayers campaign of so-called "viral marketing" to generate buzz, instead of traditional advertising venues, could this be a new world order in the way books are sold?"[2]
Advance copies of the book were sent to webloggers.
[edit] Reviews
- "It would be easy for such a novel to veer off into the absurd or the preposterous, or simply degenerate into silliness. Prayers for the Assassin never does. It is sharp, fascinating and wildly entertaining, cover to cover. If you read just one book this year, let it be this one." The Philadelphia Inquirer
- "Every once in a while a novel is so dazzling and audacious that it seizes you by the scruff of the neck, making you sit up and take notice. Robert Ferrigno's new political thriller, Prayers for the Assassin is one." Chicago Sun-Times
- "Ferrigno can't be bothered to get the basics of nuclear weaponry right, let alone do justice to the implications of his main conceit. He acknowledges as sources six Islamic websites, one book and two articles, and if this was the extent of his research it's hardly surprising that the result is a pile of lamentable clichés and half-imagined characters, strung together in a plot of such hopeless absurdity that it's all but impossible to follow." Guardian Unlimited [3]
- "Mr. Ferrigno has given serious thought to his hypothetical scenario [and] these aspects of the book are by far its most involving...While the book's background exerts a grim sci-fi fascination, its central story manages to be surprisingly ordinary...It has enough novelty to attract attention and enough substance to be genuinely frightening." The New York Times
- "It's always risky when an established writer jumps the comfort zone, forsaking familiar terrain to try something new. It's a pleasure to report, therefore, that Kirkland writer Robert Ferrigno's new book is a provocative and compelling success." Seattle Times
- "Ferrigno's sharply ironic eye for details of life in a Muslim America is often gripping, like the pause before the second half of the Super Bowl because of midday prayers. But long before the end, the what-ifs and that looming ache in the frontal lobes have done their damage." Chicago Tribune
- "The local colour is more compelling than either the plot or the characters: there's a guy -- maverick ex-fedayeen -- and a girl -- plucky, and dangerous with a chopstick -- and a sinister old villain with the usual psycho subordinates. Standard fare, but in a curious way the routine American thriller elements lend the freaky landscape a verisimilitude it might not otherwise have had." Macleans
[edit] External links
- Robert Ferrigno's Official Web Site
- Prayers for the Assassin Official Web Site
- "Republic World News" - Fake news site for the "Islamic States of America," created to market the book
