Flames of Heaven

A novel of the end of the Soviet Union----shortly after the collapse of Communism and the Berlin Wall. As Russia crumbles within and all around them, the Muslims, and the peoples of surrounding providence's and middle Asia revolt. The main character is a hedonist painter, with a small group of characters stuck in the unintentional web. We see the effects of culture and prejudice and how it determines peoples thinking. Peters is a former army officer who has toured these areas and understands the culture. He brings out the miserableness of Communism----the people----the unhappiness----the lostness----the falseness. Peters has an ability for variability in his writing, and an uncanny eye for detail. He is unique in the way he gets inside an individuals' head. I think he is one of our great versatile writers of our time. The only negative I found in this novel was some unnecessary graphic details. Wish you well Scott

Peters does it again. A magnificent combination of strong characters and geopolitical reality and a fine primer on the political importance of Uzbekistan that was written nearly a decade before 9/11.

This book may be in the wrong category. I would not really place it in the action group becuase it is a display of a deep character driven novel. It is really a very interesting look at this difficult time for Russian's. It was also much more enjoyable then I thought it would be. The descriptions of the locations and main home were very good. I also liked the characters that were created. They had depth and feeling, not just scratch the surface to fill pages. The book is not the feel good hit of the year, it does had a rich plot that you need to keep up with, but the author rewards your efforts with a masterly written book. I think when it comes down to it that is the strength here, the writing is just very good, a lot of feeling comes out.

The prologue. Ralph Peters gives you the perspective, the eyesight, of a Soviet Third Shock Army officer stationed in East Germany, 1989. Inside the Magdeberg headquarters, you drink vodka with the Russion generals. You smell the stink of their fear-sweat. You hear their outrage and lack of understanding as the East Germans protest down the streets against them. Against you.Ralph Peters gets you so close to them, you not only feel the scratchy wool of their uniforms, but when word comes that the locals are tearing down the Berlin Wall... it hits you with the same end-of-the-world kidney punch as it must have hit real-life Soviet officers.And that's just the first few pages. Next up, we have exotic locals, both hot and cold, intrigue, plots, Islamic terror, and some of the hottest (...romance) to ever land on the pages of a hardcover novel.Plus the usual heaping dose Ralph Peters of tragedy.Beg, borrow, buy, or steal this book.

Since Peters came out with Red Army, I have read all of his works. I have enjoyed them all, but this is his best to date.