Recensori in anteprimaGordon Zuckerman

A historically accurate work of fiction.

During the turbulent late 1950s (Eisenhower Era), the New Sentinels are called upon to reveal a hidden plot (Operation Ajax) to topple Iran's Parliamentary Government, reinstate the exiled Shah, and take over Iran's oil industry, the fourth-largest in the world.

WHAT IS ONE'S DUTY TO THE GREATER GOOD?

If you're born into the power, resources, and ability to fight evil in the world, is it your responsibility to do so?

The easy answer seems to be, yes... but what if you knew it would cost you your family? If you knew you would always live in fear? If it would more likely cost you your life?

This is the central thematic question at the heart of Sentinels interwoven into the subtext throughout the series.

Our heros will struggle with their call to duty, have their resolve galvanized, and face uncertainty in their choices, ultimately finding an answer to this question in the end.

***

The Sentinels is a historical fiction drama mixing suspense, romance, and political intrigue, all done with a touch of humor.The elegant, globe-trotting, and history spanning production visuals will captivate the audience while they get hooked into the story by the complex interpersonal conflicts and biting humor between the characters. Imagine the HBO series 'Succession' but with characters you root for because at their core they are good people you want to see succeed.

Gordon Zuckerman's ongoing historical fiction series, The Sentinels, delves into an alternate version of history where influential individuals strive to prevent wars instead of initiating them.

In Crude Deception, our heroes known as 'The Sentinels' are in an epic battle against a big oil monopoly. As America's dependence on fossil fuel takes hold in the post-World War Two climate of economic growth, seven major oil companies join forces to control the industry, amassing obscene profits, squeezing tax-payers, and manipulating supplies around the world. In a plotline eerily reminiscent of today’s political climate, the Sentinels fan out across several continents in an intricately plotted mission to bring Big Oil to its knees.

This is a continuation of the story of the Sentinels, a group of elite, conservative, intellectuals crusading to do good, by preventing nefarious scoundrels from exploiting the general public. Even so, it is an interesting read from the standpoint of what, if something like this had happened in the past, would the outcome have been.

In the first novel of the trilogy, Fortunes of War, the Sentinels thwart the plans of German Industrialists to establish a fourth Reich following the collapse of Hitler’s attempt to create the third. In the second, Crude Deception, they are opposing the major international oil companies, and their respective countries in their attempt to monopolize the exploration, development and production of the world’s available crude oil. ...naturally and thought-provoking only if you are willing to consider the implications of the story. Both books may be considered a cautionary against acceptance of the apparent status quo, advocating that active steps be taken to assure that not only the vested interests make decisions, but those impacted by the outcome have a major input as well.

Fortunes of War delves heavily into how money played a key role in building up Hitler’s attempt of world domination and how the loss of that money helped bring him down. In the financial devastation of the 1930s, a greedy, power-hungry group of German industrialists plot to usher in the National Socialist Party in order to rearm Germany and reap the financial rewards. With Hitler in power, the Six Sentinels, graduates of an elite American doctoral program, uncover the industrialists' plan to hoard hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal war profits and put their lives on the line to serve justice.

Gordon Zuckerman is a masterful storyteller. He provides ample political intrigue, romance and forceful exploits. The action takes place across Europe and America.

The year is 1932. The previously dominant German nation was on the brink of financial and societal collapse. An influential collection of prosperous and well-placed businessmen decided it was time to do something. They have a simple plan. They will choose a potential leader for the nation who was sympathetic to the notion of rearmament. They will make available ample monetary support to make certain of a victorious rise to power. Their motivation for succeeding is their profits during the rearmament would be enormous. The prospective leader they decided to sponsor was Adolf Hitler. At the time he was the rising star of the National Socialist German Workers Party.

But what if Germany lost the war and the businessmen took their profits out of the country before it fell? A group of young doctoral students at University of California at Berkeley hypothesized that such funds would eventually find their way to another military conflict elsewhere in the world. By early 1945, it becomes apparent that it is about to become an actuality in Nazi Germany. That's when the group makes a decision to reunite and implement a plan to thwart war profits from leaving the country.

The Sentinels is a group of six economics doctoral students at the University of California, Berkeley, who have discovered a pattern that explains and can even predict repeating cycles of the rise and fall of world powers. In particular, the Sentinels assert that German industrialists are pushing Europe into war.

The newly revised Voices Behind the Curtain is a historical fiction novel featuring an engaging cast of characters that will appeal to many interested in the historical, political, and economic events that shaped the world in the years – after World War II.

Although Voices is the 3rd book in 'The Sentinels' trilogy, reading the first two books is not a prerequisite.

A full-cast 30-min. pilot of 'The Sentinels' was recently completed and is currently being considered for production. This title is also available in audiobook format.

Synopsis:

In 1946, peak military-industrial contracting has been cut by 400 billion dollars. Some of the same industrial organizations responsible for creating a military arsenal capable of supplying six different wars on four separate continents have become concerned. The economic impact of converting their-war time manufacturing to peace-time production represents risks they are not willing to accept. A consortium of these companies determine they must find a new way to restore the lost military contracting. Their plan calls for them to manipulate the Congressional military appropriations process for their own self-interests.

Hearing of the plot, the Sentinels decide to challenge. Voices Behind the Curtain is a story about powerful and resourceful people, those who endeavor to implement their plan of corruption, and those who oppose it.

Jacques Roth and Mike Stone return to lead the Sentinel opposition and devise a plan capable of opposing one of the world’s largest conglomerates.

Meet Miss Mercedes, a former Miss Universe winner, whose ambition to become a celebrated actress has led to her downfall. Follow her life as she re-invents herself and influences those around her. Natalie Cummins, the retired star of the London and New York musical stages, is determined to use her entertainment experience to find British employment for "Back Listed" Hollywood actors, writers, and directors. Marco Tanfredi and Don Cerreta, two second-generation Sicilians, who have learned to it is necessary to resist the ‘temptations of the street,’ if they wish to pursue their American Dream"

The reader is allowed to ride side-saddle with these principal characters as they proceed to protect the integrity of the Congressional Appropriations process. Their journey leads them through the entertainment industry in Mexico, Southern California, London, and New York.

Fortunes of War delves heavily into how money played a key role in building up Hitler’s attempt of world domination and how the loss of that money helped bring him down. In the financial devastation of the 1930s, a greedy, power-hungry group of German industrialists plot to usher in the National Socialist Party in order to rearm Germany and reap the financial rewards. With Hitler in power, the Six Sentinels, graduates of an elite American doctoral program, uncover the industrialists' plan to hoard hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal war profits and put their lives on the line to serve justice.

Gordon Zuckerman is a masterful storyteller. He provides ample political intrigue, romance and forceful exploits. The action takes place across Europe and America.

The year is 1932. The previously dominant German nation was on the brink of financial and societal collapse. An influential collection of prosperous and well-placed businessmen decided it was time to do something. They have a simple plan. They will choose a potential leader for the nation who was sympathetic to the notion of rearmament. They will make available ample monetary support to make certain of a victorious rise to power. Their motivation for succeeding is their profits during the rearmament would be enormous. The prospective leader they decided to sponsor was Adolf Hitler. At the time he was the rising star of the National Socialist German Workers Party.

But what if Germany lost the war and the businessmen took their profits out of the country before it fell? A group of young doctoral students at University of California at Berkeley hypothesized that such funds would eventually find their way to another military conflict elsewhere in the world. By early 1945, it becomes apparent that it is about to become an actuality in Nazi Germany. That's when the group makes a decision to reunite and implement a plan to thwart war profits from leaving the country.

The Sentinels is a group of six economics doctoral students at the University of California, Berkeley, who have discovered a pattern that explains and can even predict repeating cycles of the rise and fall of world powers. In particular, the Sentinels assert that German industrialists are pushing Europe into war.

The American economy is sliding under the rising tide of deficit spending. Can the next generation of Sentinels reverse the downturn? Four years after the bursting of the great consumer debt bubble, the country is dangerously overleveraged, and underemployed. The United States is quickly losing its competitive edge against the goods-producing industries of China and India. In an environment of stagnated government leadership, five highly accomplished entrepreneurial leaders step forward. They hope to solve the economic problems by implementing ''Employ American,'' a step-by-step strategy designed to restore the competitiveness of American manufacturers. Sovereign governments, offshore manufacturers, foreign oil producers, and domestic power generating utility companies are threatened by the possible realization of the ''Employ American'' plan. Their efforts to prevent the Sentinels from achieving their goal are constantly, menacingly present. A Matter of Importance unfolds through the drama of the evolving lives of each of the principal characters. Romance, fear, victory, and disappointment are never very far away.

The American economy is sliding under the rising tide of deficit spending. Can the next generation of Sentinels reverse the downturn? -- Four years after the bursting of the great consumer debt bubble, the country is dangerously overleveraged, and underemployed. The United States is quickly losing its competitive edge against the goods-producing industries of China and India. In an environment of stagnated government leadership, five highly accomplished entrepreneurial leaders step forward. They hope to solve the economic problems by implementing “Employ American,” a step-by-step strategy designed to restore the competitiveness of American manufacturers. Sovereign governments, offshore manufacturers, foreign oil producers, and domestic power generating utility companies are threatened by the possible realization of the "Employ American" plan. Their efforts to prevent the Sentinels from achieving their goal are constantly, menacingly present. A Matter of Importance unfolds through the drama of the evolving lives of each of the principal characters. Romance, fear, victory, and disappointment are never very far away.

The American economy is sliding under the rising tide of deficit spending. Can the next generation of Sentinels reverse the downturn? Four years after the bursting of the great consumer debt bubble, the country is dangerously overleveraged, and underemployed. The United States is quickly losing its competitive edge against the goods-producing industries of China and India. In an environment of stagnated government leadership, five highly accomplished entrepreneurial leaders step forward. They hope to solve the economic problems by implementing “Employ American,” a step-by-step strategy designed to restore the competitiveness of American manufacturers. Sovereign governments, offshore manufacturers, foreign oil producers, and domestic power generating utility companies are threatened by the possible realization of the "Employ American" plan. Their efforts to prevent the Sentinels from achieving their goal are constantly, menacingly present. A Matter of Importance unfolds through the drama of the evolving lives of each of the principal characters. Romance, fear, victory, and disappointment are never very far away.

The sentinels return in an epic battle against a big oil monopoly. As America's dependence on fossil fuel takes hold in the post-World War Two climate of economic growth, seven major oil companies join forces to control the industry, amassing obscene profits, squeezing tax-payers, and manipulating supplies around the world. The Sentinels, graduates of an elite American doctoral program - who, in Zuckerman's last book, foiled a group of German industrialists' scheme to hoard illegal war profits set out to break the circle of power. They quickly discover that the oil barons' influence runs deep in the U.S. and British government and banking sectors. Undeterred, the Sentinels fan out across several continents in an intricately plotted mission to bring Big Oil to its knees.