Phase One After Zero

The prolific Chernozemsky adds this novel to the recent works of popular fiction prompted by 9/11. Except in Chernozemsky's "Phase One After Zero," the attack on the World Trade Towers is aborted even as the terrorist plot is unfolding with the planes already in the air. Greg MacPherson struggles with Abu Atta, the terrorist ringleader, on the roof of one of the Trade Towers as CIA and FBI officials work desperately to bring into action the countermeasures to prevent the varied attacks. MacPherson is modeled psychologically on Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber; except that he has a change of heart as the deadly plot is nearing its culmination. Chernozemsky is interested in exploring "parallel dimensions" whose possibility reveals the alternate paths of history and the related different situations for individuals and Humankind. "What we think of our life on planet Earth, the people and the places, could be just reflections in parallel mirrors, where history changes, takes different paths, or maybe is simply postponed and eventually arrives at the same outcome because the course of history may be irrevocable." MacPherson leaves the U. S. by going to Canada on his way to meet with the leaders of Al-Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden, in the Middle East. As MacPherson is brought into the terrorist circle and he and other plotters return to the U. S. to lay the groundwork for their sensational terrorist acts, the reader is exposed to the demented, yet rigorously rationalistic mind of the terrorists and their ruses to evade detection. As he has done in many of his previous novels, Chernozemsky uses this premise of a parallel dimension and narrative of how it might be played out to good effect. In terms of a compelling dramatic line, the author also sheds light on his larger themes of the complexities and related unpredictabilities of human nature and the coincidences which make for history affecting the lives of millions of persons and the fate of nations. Chernozemsky has used this technique previously in novels based on World War II and the ethnic strife in the Balkans. Readers of imaginative popular literature with distinctive characters, absorbing intrigue, and riveting action will find this book rewarding.

A skillfully crafted novel from an accomplished writer, Phase One After Zero takes the reader on a fascinating fictional journey with Greg MacPherson. Starting with the bombing of the city hall in an Oklahoma town the story is loosely based on the idea of what might have happed if Timothy McVeigh had escaped and joined the Al-Qaeda. In this story Greg MacPherson escapes to Canada and then moves to the Middle East. Joining Al-Qaeda he becomes involved in the terrorist activities and the planning of the attacks of September 11. But, when it comes time for the attack he has some second thoughts. With well-defined characters and a writing style that is fast-paced but choppy at times it examines the problem of evil fighting evil as well as how a single event can dramatically change history. A good read for people who like suspense novels Phase One After Zero is a recommended read.

What if Timothy McVeigh was never captured but went on to affect the security of the world in other devious ways? What if this homegrown terrorist went on to consider further plots after his attack on Oklahoma City? What would the world be like if 9/11 never happened? In an alternate take on history, author Vladimir Chernozemsky takes on Timothy McVeigh, Osama Bin Laden, terrorist training camps, and the CIA. Giving McVeigh the fictional name of Greg MacPherson is just the beginning. Greg escapes after the bombing and finds his way to Canada through an underground web of cells, finds himself outcast even from Communists, meets a mentally unstable girl whom he feels a connection to, and ends up on a slow boat to Beruit after the Mob, whom he'd been working for, discovers who he is, exactly. And this is only from the first chapter! In Beruit, Greg meets Abdoulah Atta who eventually leads him to Osama Bin Laden, training camps and ultimately, to his fate. Through it all Greg is slightly mental, drug addicted and remains his own one-man army. He realizes what devastation he has caused, and after much inner struggle he contemplates putting a stop to the plans that are being made for an attack on America. But before that can happen there is much action and drama to be had. "Phase One After Zero" is a gripping, interesting tale right from the start. It is fascinating to read an alternate history that involves many of the characters, places and events that we all wish we'd never heard of. This is a masterful work of fiction that will leave readers thinking of how each moment in history affects the next. This is an exciting read; a well-written book. Review By Heather Froeschl.

One of the challenges fiction authors face is trying to capture absurd news headlines and weave them into an exciting story without boring the reader. Author of 46 novels, plays and screenplays, Vladimir Chernozemsky effectively manages to pull this off with his most recent novel PHASE ONE AFTER ZERO, and for a laugh, even throws in some black humor. According to the author, the idea of his story came to him when he was rummaging through his deceased's wife's newspaper cuttings, wherein he discovered an article stating that Timothy McVeigh, was born on an alien planet and that escaped capture and joined a terrorist group in the Middle East. Zeroing in on this premise, Chernozemsky's plot focuses on McVeigh, the Oklahoma City Bomber, whom he renames Greg McPherson and who eventually becomes an Arab terrorist. After his horrendous crime, McPherson runs away to Hamilton, Canada, and it is here where he meets up with a young mentally unbalanced teenager, Lydia, whom he falls in love with. From the opening chapters, it's clear that Chernozemsky, and his readers, will have some fun with the plot, as we follow McPherson from Hamilton to Montreal, and eventually to the Middle East, where he is recruited into al-Qaida. It is here where he comes in contact with Abu Atta-an important member of the organization. Our McPherson, now known as Ibrahim Ghamal, also gets together with Osama Bin Laden, who is aware of the Oklahoma bombing and praises him for his heroic deed. Osama boasts that "this world is so politically polarized, it's ripe for falling into our hands. Western European powers are so afraid of us that they would compromise to appease us." However, all of this seems to be way over the head of our protagonist, who has his own gripes against a society that he perceives as mistreating him. It is Chernozemsky's research on the time period that is solid and that really shines. This becomes evident when he entwines many of the news stories and articles following 9/11, particularly some of the bungling and lack of co-operation among the various American Government departments with their disorganization, incompetence, hypocrisy, incoherence, and demoralization. The language of PHASE ONE AFTER ZERO is simple and accessible, replete with diverse and sometimes complicated characters, who reveal themselves gradually and convincingly. No doubt, the story will prove to be enough to keep readers turning pages, and in the end we may be left with the question, as I was, what if some of these bizarre news clips that Chernozemsky discovered were actually true. Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures