Rating: 
Summary: The most entertaining seven bucks I've spent in decades
Review: Gary Krupka, Educator & Business Consultant: Jihad is the most entertaining seven bucks I've spent in decades! The logical premises are right out of today's newspapers. The political situations and their consequences are all too real. The military strategy is superb. The results are logical and compelling. It's a great story!
Rating:
Summary: The most entertaining seven bucks I've spent in decades
Review: Gary Krupka, Educator & Business Consultant: Jihad is the most entertaining seven bucks I've spent in decades! The logical premises are right out of today's newspapers. The political situations and their consequences are all too real. The military strategy is superb. The results are logical and compelling. It's a great story!
Rating:
Summary: Reid did everything right.
Review: Holly Trueblood, Senior Executive & Author: The scope of Jihad by MacDonald Reid is huge. The characters are clearly defined and interesting. The political, social and military interactions are wonderfully complex, leading to unexpected yet, in hindsight, obvious consequences. There's plenty of technical detail, fulfilling the reader's need for information on the hows and whys, yet never getting in the way of the story. Filled with unexpected humor, Jihad is a thriller packed with meat, not just techno-thriller. For a first time author, Reid did everything right.
Rating:
Summary: Reid did everything right.
Review: Holly Trueblood, Senior Executive & Author: The scope of Jihad by MacDonald Reid is huge. The characters are clearly defined and interesting. The political, social and military interactions are wonderfully complex, leading to unexpected yet, in hindsight, obvious consequences. There's plenty of technical detail, fulfilling the reader's need for information on the hows and whys, yet never getting in the way of the story. Filled with unexpected humor, Jihad is a thriller packed with meat, not just techno-thriller. For a first time author, Reid did everything right.
Rating: 
Summary: JIHAD: World War In 2036 is history that hasn't happened.
Review: I began writing JIHAD: World War in 2036 just before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. When the reality of war overtook my fictional events, I suspended writing to await the results. The defeat of Saddam Hussein posed as many questions as it had provided answers. What would have happened, for instance, if other Arab countries or even Iran had allied with Iraq? What if this war had become the spark that brought about Moslem unity throughout the Middle East and North Africa? These questions were wonderful grist for my imagination. Initially, I assumed there were no "bad guys" or "good guys." Each side had strong, cogent and, from their point of view, proper reasons for going to war. Therefore, I chose a major character from each of the four sides. To further enhance this resonance, each was named David and each was born on the same day. In large part, the story of JIHAD is theirs and that of their families. As the story progressed, I needed two additional perspectives. Since the bulk of the action occurs in Saudi Arabia, I needed their viewpoint. The Saudi royal family was perfect for this role. I also needed the point of view of the American troops fighting the war in Arabia. A platoon of American soldiers continued the theme, becoming an extended family. The war itself was caused by all the factors present today in the Middle East and Africa. Islamic fundamentalism is one of the driving forces. Oil is a second. A third is the weakening of American power and influence. I like to say that JIHAD is history that hasn't happened, yet. The book poses a real-world scenario that could happen! Therefore, JIHAD is also a warning. Religious fundamentalism is a clear and present danger to all societies. Islamic fundamentalism was a major contributing factor to this story of World War III. However, super-religious fanatics of all faiths are equally dangerous. The impending world energy crisis was a second factor. Even in 2036, the world will be dependent upon oil. Those who have it can use it as an economic weapon. Unless other sources of energy are developed, a war between the "haves" and the "have nots" is probable. Military downsizing, especially by the United States, was another causative factor of the war. Saddam Hussein and his ilk will continue to exploit our weaknesses. Unless we have the strength and the resolve to confront them, such tin pot dictators will flourish. I point to Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Japan's Co-Prosperity Sphere as examples. Today's military thinkers believe that technology will offset the decreases in "manpower." Undoubtedly, smarter weapons in the hands of highly skilled, thoroughly trained and dedicated men and women will go a long way towards redressing the divestiture of power. Yet, as demonstrated in JIHAD, technological prowess is no substitute for a powerful military, capable of deterring aggression. I will also take advantage of this forum to reply to some of my critics, who complain that I have not developed my characters sufficiently for their tastes. I refer them to two books that became great movies: In Harm's Way and The Longest Day. In Harm's Way is a standard three-plot scenario. In the "A Plot", the hero (John Wayne) meets the enemy and wins. As expected, said hero has a love interest (Patricia Neil). The "B Plot" is generally the dark one. Kirk Douglas rapes a young nurse, but dies a hero's death. The weak "C Plot" leads Duke's snobbish, snotty son (Brian Depalma) into the real world, where he becomes a man, only to die. How mundane! (Yes, I use exclamation points, when a point has to be made!) The Longest Day tells many stories simultaneously. They intertwine into a Gordian knot of such complexity that it can not be unraveled. To understand the events of that time, all the stories of all the characters and how they interacted must be told. Eisenhower makes the fateful decision to invade in spite of the worst weather in the Channel in decades. Paratroopers land. Red Buttons' parachute is caught in a steeple. From that vantage point, he sees the horror of a landing gone bad. John Wayne is also a paratrooper, lost and with a broken ankle. Richard Burton is an RAF pilot. Shot down, he stares at a German officer, whose boots are on the wrong feet. Eddy Albert and Robert Mitchum face the hell of Bloody Omaha. Of these two stories, JIHAD: World War in 2036 is like The Longest Day. Yet, I do not agree that the main characters in JIHAD are undeveloped. In The Longest Day, which of these characters are "developed"? What do we know of Duke Wayne's character? Who was Robert Mitchum portraying and what happened to him. What was Richard Burton's character really like? These questions are non sequiturs, i.e., who cares? The Longest Day is a story of men, caught up in events far larger than them and completely beyond their control. Similarly, JIHAD tells of men and women involved in the greatest, most terrible war in human history. By their actions, they shall be known!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book, but too expensive
Review: I finished reading this book and found it to be very entertaining. The story flows well and it is obvious the author knows her tactics and military terminolgy. The story is engrossing and kept my interest. The biggest turn off is the price. The book is not a hardcover yet it is very expensive. It is way too pricey for a soft cover.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book, but too expensive
Review: In the arcane realm of the techno-thriller there are but a few leading lights. The names of Tom Clancy, Larry Bond and Dale Brown are familiar to aficionados of this genre. Let me introduce a new one: MacDonald Reid. Reid's first novel, JIHAD: World War in 2036, follows the tried and true formula established by Clancy and Bond in their epic, Red Storm Rising. It's big (over six pages), has many maps, a glossary and a plethora of characters. The action shifts rapidly and dramatically. Its military situations and tactics are realistic, and its technological innovations are superb. However, it's not the formula that makes JIHAD a ripping yarn, it's the writing. MacDonald Reid is a gifted storyteller. Jihad is the story of war in the Middle East and North Africa. It is a brutal yet poignant story. Reid's major characters are strongly presented. First Sergeant Al Murphy is the archetypal John Wayne ... bold and fearless, yet fatherly. General Tavid Hammedyanni is so slimy that you will cheer when he gets his due. Major David Weissman is a citizen-soldier, forced by circumstance into greatness. Commander Tafid Kamsanni is converted by battle and death from zealot to patriot. The words of Lt. Commander Muriel MacDonald will captivate and inspire every American, while her death will cause you to weep with Commander Dominic Russi. And then there is Rachel.... Jihad is also a story of hope. Although there is an inkling of problems in the future (a hint of a sequel?), Jihad ends on an upbeat note. New ideas and new concepts emerge from the horrors of holocaust. A new era dawns, bearing with it the promises of peace and prosperity for all Mankind. Even if you're not "into" techno-thrillers, I recommend Jihad by MacDonald Reid. If you are, you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: A New Star in the Techno-Thriller Galaxy
Review: In the arcane realm of the techno-thriller there are but a few leading lights. The names of Tom Clancy, Larry Bond and Dale Brown are familiar to aficionados of this genre. Let me introduce a new one: MacDonald Reid. Reid's first novel, JIHAD: World War in 2036, follows the tried and true formula established by Clancy and Bond in their epic, Red Storm Rising. It's big (over six pages), has many maps, a glossary and a plethora of characters. The action shifts rapidly and dramatically. Its military situations and tactics are realistic, and its technological innovations are superb. However, it's not the formula that makes JIHAD a ripping yarn, it's the writing. MacDonald Reid is a gifted storyteller. Jihad is the story of war in the Middle East and North Africa. It is a brutal yet poignant story. Reid's major characters are strongly presented. First Sergeant Al Murphy is the archetypal John Wayne ... bold and fearless, yet fatherly. General Tavid Hammedyanni is so slimy that you will cheer when he gets his due. Major David Weissman is a citizen-soldier, forced by circumstance into greatness. Commander Tafid Kamsanni is converted by battle and death from zealot to patriot. The words of Lt. Commander Muriel MacDonald will captivate and inspire every American, while her death will cause you to weep with Commander Dominic Russi. And then there is Rachel.... Jihad is also a story of hope. Although there is an inkling of problems in the future (a hint of a sequel?), Jihad ends on an upbeat note. New ideas and new concepts emerge from the horrors of holocaust. A new era dawns, bearing with it the promises of peace and prosperity for all Mankind. Even if you're not "into" techno-thrillers, I recommend Jihad by MacDonald Reid. If you are, you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: The best technolo-thriller since Red Storm Rising
Review: Jihad: World War in 2036 by MacDonald Reid Commonwealth Publications, 576 pages, $6.99 By P. R. Anderson, Met.E., MBA, Ph.D. In the arcane realm of the techno-thriller there are but a few leading lights. The names of Tom Clancy, Larry Bond and Dale Brown are familiar to aficionados of this genre. Let me introduce a new one: MacDonald Reid. Reid's first novel, JIHAD: World War in 2036, follows the tried and true formula established by Clancy and Bond in their epic, Red Storm Rising. It's big (over five hundred and fifty pages), has many maps and a plethora of characters. The action shifts rapidly and dramatically. Its military situations and tactics are realistic, and its technological innovations are superb. However, it's not the formula that makes JIHAD a ripping yarn, it's the writing. MacDonald Reid is a gifted storyteller. Jihad is the story of war in the Middle East and North Africa. It is a brutal yet poignant story. Reid's major characters are strongly presented. First Sergeant Al Murphy is the archetypal John Wayne ... bold and fearless, yet fatherly. General Tavid Hammedyanni is so slimy that you will cheer when he gets his due. Major David Weissman is a citizen-soldier, forced by circumstance into greatness. Commander Tafid Kamsanni is converted by battle and death from zealot to patriot. The words of Lt. Commander Muriel MacDonald will captivate and inspire every American, while her death will cause you to weep with Commander Dominic Russi. And then there is Rachel.... However, Jihad is also a story of hope. Although there is an inkling of problems in the future (a hint of a sequel?), Jihad ends on an upbeat note. New ideas and new concepts emerge from the horrors of holocaust. A new era dawns, bearing with it the promises of peace and prosperity for all Mankind. Even if you're not "into" techno-thrillers, I recommend Jihad by MacDonald Reid. If you are, you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: The first fictional work I really liked.
Review: John Pasakarnis, Engineer: It was all I could do to put Jihad down once I started reading it. As I progressed thru the story I was torn between needing to know what was going to happen and regretting how fast I was going thru the book. I look forward to your future works. PS. I have always enjoyed non-fictional historical books, but this is the first fictional work that I really liked. I look forward to reading this one again - soon!
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