Winter in Kandahar (PDF)

AFGHANISTAN- the name conjures images of rugged mountains, ancient cities, hardened Mujaheddin, a country rife with regional rivalries, and the eternal struggle between Tajik and Pashtun. Afghanistan comes to life in this epic adventure of love, betrayal, and war. Young Tajik Ahmed Jan's heroic journey begins in the Northern Alliance stronghold near Taloqan just a month prior to 9/11. He is swept away by the chaos that soon engulfs the country before a chance discovery propels him to the forefront of the clash between civilizations. Pursued by both the CIA and al-Qaida, he struggles to save his people from obliteration and find the true meaning of life in a land where all seems lost. First Edition was 2004 Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist in the category Best New Voice in Fiction. The historic hatreds that brew within Afghanistan lie at the root of a tense international adventure reminiscent of Cold War espionage novels that have been popular for so long. Wilson sets his story in the now (beginning in August 2001). He takes as his frame of reference the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan and the intertribal warfare that follows in the mountains and caves of the country. His main characters carry the war to Amsterdam, then to the US and Canada. The author makes use of his medical and biological training to set some of the action in the hospitals of the Middle East and the experimental labs of the Netherlands and Canada. As the story unfolds, his characters imaginatively explore the possibilities of DNA technology to make weapons more effective and more horrible. More dead bodies than one would like litter the scenes. The book contains love (and some limited sex) as well as war; chapters are short and crisp, and there is lots of dialogue. Wilson keeps the names short, the better for Americans to grasp them. It would translate well into a movie, but in the meantime, many will enjoy this well-crafted page-turner. -- Edna Boardman - KLIATTThis is an excellent thriller! Focuses on CIA and US special operations. The surprise ending is both entertaining and poignant. -- Bob Spear, Chief Reviewer, Heartland ReviewsI loved Winter in Kandahar! It's a unique exploration of this troubled land. The ending is powerful, ironic, and perfect. -- Leslie Sabbagh, Jobson Publishing, LLC