Reviews on the fictional novel "Clouded Crescent - Garrulous Goon" written and self published by M.R. Rambler

“The possibilities for such a war, contrary to what is being said, are very remote if not impossible. Everyone loses in such a war. Israel loses, Syria loses and the Arabs lose.

“War is out of fashion .. war is the easiest thing. It has a known goal and a limited platform. But if the peace process collapses, it is much worse than war. Let me stress that terrorism and violence are more dangerous and horrible than war.” Said President Hosni Mubarak of the Arab Republic of Egypt, a decade ago on The Hebron pullout.

Yes, President Mubarak had rightly said it: “…..terrorism and violence are more dangerous and horrible than war....”

Contemporary world is the victim of terrorism. Terrorists are not of any caste, creed, color or nationality. Their creed is terrorism. The world community has to find a way how to contain it. At first to find the reason that leading to terrorism. Then to find a remedy to reduce it and eliminate it. Terrorism can not be contained by counter-terrorism or state-sponsored law enforcement. It can only be contained by political dialogues and concessions.

Terrorism of different kind is always there in different countries. But, after September 11, when we hear about terrorism, our eyes are focused on one particular religion. All religions are for people’s peaceful co-existence and well being. Religions teach good morale, tolerance and brother-hood. Yet, some misguided people turn to destruction and loss of lives in the name of religion. Such an act on the part of them is caused for branding the whole religious believers in bad light.

Religious leaders had often clarified that religious teachings have no connection with those indulged in terrorist activities in the name of religions. But, those attempts were not sufficient to those who do not even glance through the teachings of other religions than their own.

Main steam media as well as prominent community leaders have a key role to play in the direction of teaching the world community that the religion – Islam – to which a large number of people point is not wrong, but some name-sake believers. Islam is the living religion. It teaches peace, tranquility and brotherhood. To eliminate the misunderstanding of Islam, Islamic believers have to come out.

It is in this respect, we have to view Mr. Mohammed Rasheed Rambler’s novel “Clouded Crescent – Garrulous Goon.” He dedicated his novel to terrorism haters. To peace lovers.

As the author himself says in the preface of his fictional work, “Clouded Crescent is a story of a chattering child of a commoner, who falls in the hands of malevolence mongers and terrorists in milieu of contemporary Pakistan, terror campaigners compel him first to become terror thinking Islamist after he escapes from a prison falsely accused by his landlord. Then the radicals sent him to Taliban training camp where due to his liberal views and dissenting acts, terror trainers put him before firing squad; a drug baron rescues him from the claws of death and uses him in drug and arms smuggling to India and Saudi Arabia.

Basher who has a character of more of heroics than acumen, befriends a Sikh gunrunner to Maoist rebels, then in a sort of religious school in the insurgency belt of India where he encounters a headmistress who keeps him as her gigolo. At the time of 9/11, Basher escapes from India through Nepal.”

The author Rambler is a retired man of 63 years and embarked on writing fiction as hobby after his superannuation from his job. An Engineer by profession but inspired by his father who was a short story writer and his brother was a Ph.D. in English Literature and Professor of English, who made him to read occidental literature and cherish reading and writing in English language and that past encouragement is responsible for his fictional work appear to public.

Throughout the novel, he used bold, tough and harsh word to criticize terrorism. He is deeply pained in the foolish act of some misguided religious brethrens’. He did not spare them through out his novel.

Instances of terrorist acts the world over were carefully studied and boldly presented in the novel. A large number of casualties of terrorist acts are the same religious people of which those terrorists belong, the novelist clearly says in the preface of the novel.

I am helpless to quote many of his words, sentences and phrases, due to the circumstances’ compulsion. Famous Benjamin Franklin had rightly said: “Those who wish to live in peace, should not comment on all what they see…….” Of course, this world is neither for stooges nor for cowards. It is for brave and courageous people. Novelist M.R. Rambler has taken a courageous step. I salute him. Let it be an added inspiration for him to come out with more and more such novels.

One of Reviewers, Mr. Abdi-Noor Mohammed, rightly reviewed: “Sounds great. Would like to read it during the Summer, Insha Allah. Seems you have picked a hot topic and gave it a splendid title: “Clouded Crescent: Garrulous Goon.” You grab the attention of the reader and welcome him/her with much ease and fervor…”
Yes, Mr. Rambler has picked a hot topic. The title itself is arresting. Every peace lover, this novel “Clouded Crescent – Garrulous Goon” a self published book by the novelist M.R. Rambler and available at Amazon, BookSense, Froogle and Barnes & Noble.com.