Desert Burial: A Novel

by Brian Littlefair

Nuclear waste, Africa, and the new world order conjoin in a literary thriller that announces a new talent of startling proportions.

Mali, northwest Africa, the near future. The Sahara is ravaged by internecine warfare. Ty Campbell, an American geologist living in Mali, spends his days on the conflict's periphery, dowsing for water and trying to forget his murdered wife. When Lila, an aid worker near emotional collapse, leads a human convoy of African refugees into Mali's badlands, Ty's solitude is shattered, but his conscience is reawakened. In a desperate bid to save the refugees, Ty and Lila are forced into a Faustian pact with Bud van Sickle, the smiling face of Timbuktu Earthwealth, a powerful multinational corporation competing for the lucrative privilege of ridding the planet of its nuclear waste. Van Sickle's solution? Bury it beneath the land Lila's refugees have claimed.

Pressed into reluctant service by Timbuktu Earthwealth, Ty is shuttled from commando training centers in Virginia to technocratic councils in Vienna to the jungles of the Congo. As the stakes escalate and Mali's growing civil war threatens to consume Lila and her refugee camp, Ty finds himself at the center of a ruinous conspiracy of global proportions.

Genres: Thriller, Science Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 2002

Reviews

[Lisa Reads & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The setup was a bit slow, but odd enough to hold my interest. By the time the story ramped up, I had grown accustom to the first person present tense, and was curious to read how the protagonist would proceed. Gems are scattered throughout, and scenes vary from action/thriller to science fiction-worthy techno-speak. I would not categorize the story as science fiction, but as techno-thriller, with political and social themes.

A unique component of the novel was its focus on Africa. Although the story is futuristic, its treatment of African and international politics, as well as the plight of its people is enlightening. I felt the author, Brian Littlefair, has written about subjects that he knows well. From the author bio, Brian "is a consultant specializing in foreign direct investment. He has worked with and advised many foreign joint ventures, international financial institutions, and the federal government." Through this novel, Brian offers insight into the psychology of international relations. The bonus is that Brian is also a very talented storyteller--his prose and dialogue are excellent!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really much science fiction. But I would call this book a cross between futuristic sci fiction and thriller. Ty Campbell is a widower, working in Mali for the National Atomic Energy Administration, when the world's in turmoil. People are dying from dysentery and other diseases. He's chosen by Bud Van Sickles from Timbucku Earthwealth and Janissary Security to be on a top secret panel. They want him to find out what's going on and what to do with the disposal of nuclear waste. They're up against The Authority from Jamaica and a Russian company. There he would later the secrets of sabotage happen before his eyes, when he relives the memories of his wife's murder and sees how war tears up the country. From Africa to Europe to America, he would take you across the world and discovers what would happen to the future. This is a good read.