Enfold Me

by Steven Greenberg

Daniel Blum – scientist, father, soldier – lost more than he knows when the modern State of Israel fell following a massive earthquake and Iranian-led attack.

Torn from family and career, Daniel is alone and scarred, enduring subjugation and terror in Hamas-controlled Northern Liberated Palestine.

Now, together with a figure from his past, Daniel must journey deep under the Carmel mountain, through Egyptian-controlled, quake-ravaged Tel Aviv, and ultimately to the ruins of a secret research facility.

Haunted, Daniel strains the bonds of duty and family as he confronts a world he no longer understands, discovers unintended consequences of his choices, and plumbs the true depths of loss.

Genres: Thriller, Speculative Fiction, Literary Fiction

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2012

About the author

Briefly….

I am a professional writer, as well as a full-time cook, cleaner, chauffeur, and work-at-home single Dad for three amazing teenagers. Born in Texas and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I emigrated to Israel only months before the first Gulf War, following graduation from Indiana University in 1990. In 1996, I was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces, where I served for 12 years as a Reserves Combat Medic. Since 2002, I’ve worked as an independent marketing writer, copywriter and consultant.

More than You Asked for….

I am a writer by nature. It’s always been how I express myself best. I’ve been writing stories, letters, journals, songs, and poems since I could pick up a pencil, but it took me 20-odd years to figure out that I could get paid for it. Call me slow.

After completing my BA at Indiana University – during the course of which I also studied at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Haifa University – I emigrated to Israel only months before the first Gulf War, in August 1990. In 1998, I was married to the wonderful woman who changed my life for the better in so many ways, and in 2001, only a month after the 9/11 attacks, my son was born, followed by my twin daughters in 2004. In late 2017, two weeks before my 50th birthday, my wife passed away after giving cancer one hell of a fight.

Since 2002, I’ve run SDG Communications, a successful marketing consultancy serving clients in Israel and abroad.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read of a post-apocalyptic Israel novel, and it was very good. The premise is that Israel has experienced a very sudden and total collapse. The author takes us on a tour of two successor states: one controlled by Iran, and one by Egypt. Of course both enclaves are very anti-semitic, but with a significant difference. The portion dominated by Iran is reminiscent of Germany in the months following Kristallnacht, except a little more brutal. The Jews in Egypt's Portion are treated more like Palestinians are in contemporary Israel. The author also treats the reader to a pschological plot, and suggests an entirely new sort of genocide. The book is self-published, and priced accordingly. I paid $.99 for the Kindle edition. I was pleasantly surprised, however, at the quality of the quality of the editing and proofreading, as well as the excellent story-telling.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just keep thinking Wow.

For readers wondering why the rest of the world might be willing to intervene in the Mideast, this could be an eye opener. For those already aware of the stakes, Enfold Me - A Novel of Post-Israel by Steven Greenberg, opens our eyes to more grim possibilities.

The characters are believably intense, the scene set with a gritty realism born of an Iranian-defeated and controlled, post-Israeli state of "North Liberated Palestine." Well written, by a knowledgeable author born in the US and long a citizen Israel, Enfold Me keeps the reader engaged and turning pages until the very end.

Enfold Me is a fast read but a haunting novel I can't imagine will be soon forgotten.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enfold Me
Steven Greenberg

Fear weighs heavily within the hearts of many. A nation plagued from birth with attacks, hate, blood-strewn bodies, violence and the hope that one day the world would accept its existence. Close your eyes and visualize the beautiful streets, landscapes, magnificent buildings, hotels, tourists and the bright sunshine that was Israel. The banks, the gardens and the water supply that once supplies the people enjoying the basic necessities of life each day not knowing that their way of life was about to end. Can you see the world before its demise? Burnt orange against sterile white, dust in the air causing you to have difficulty breathing, no greenery, no flowers and the sounds of humanity devoid of emotion and a world left to rot on its own.

Daniel Blum is our narrator as he relates the events in this outstanding novel, Enfold Me by Steven Greenberg in three different ways. Beginning with an email to his family he relates the horrific outcome of the Fall of Israel creating vivid images that would bring tears to anyone’s eyes. The world in which he lived no longer exists. Although his home is still in tact the modern conveniences that most take for granted have been cut off, destroyed and if repaired according to those who now run the country illegal. The horrors of an earthquake with add to this catastrophe and the terrorist attack inflicted on this nation that just wanted to live in peace are graphically and vividly described by our main character. Hamas now controls Israeli people, their movements, their sustenance and their very existence. Cruelty their goal, humiliation their folly as they focus their attention and efforts on destroying the Jewish spirit that soars through every Israeli. In his email to his family Daniel relates how this new government refuses to allow its Jewish residents to turn on their electricity, access to water and much more. Renamed the Northern Liberated Palestine state there are no banks, no work, no water and no electricity for those that remain. Fortunately, he created a garden which he expanded and has food. Able to rewire his house access to electricity which he only uses to power up his laptop and creatively finding a source of water. Next the author allows the reader to understand the history of the time period past and present, the city of Tzipori and how it got its name, the revolutionizing changes and the problems caused by the quake the attacks. Instead of being called Israeli’s they have been given the name Dhimmi’s made to wear orange armbands in order to humiliate and differentiate them from the Muslims. In order to survive they need to barter with vendors to get what they need. The author gives the reader some background into his life before the attacks, his job in a research lab doing genetic testing and working on fertility problems, meeting his wife and then finally introducing his blog which enlightens the reader about his life in the present.

Daniel is a soldier with a mission despite outward appearances. Working undercover for the Israeli Defense Forces he receives an email on his blog with instructions to go to Nazareth to meet his contact. Arriving there the author creates a picture of this town as if it is being reborn, rebuild and remade. But, the treatment of Dhimmi’s is cruel and harsh, as the soldiers do not think twice about inflicting pain on these people at any given time. This first installment of his blog discusses how he met his superior as he describes the mission and the history of how he came to become a soldier. As you read pages 23 you will learn more about the Dhimmi system and the true meaning as it is defined. At the base of this system is the collection of a poll tax called the Jizya claimed to cover the cost of protection. Added into the story is the fact that walking places is not allowed, children and adults have to wear the armbands, transportation is separate and strict rules of control interaction must be adhered to. This reminds the reader of how the Nazi’s marched 6 million Jews to their execution, how the blacks were paraded and sold as slaves and how the world discriminates against others who they feel threatened by or just plain hate.

The author then flashes back to 1989 and the history behind Daniel’s life, those he came in contact with, three men that tried to attack a college library and how he met George Farrah. The author includes the back-story about this interesting Arab and how these two men would come together to research and hopefully change the balance of what happened in Israel. Farrah having fought in Desert Storm and Daniel a soldier in the Israel Army what would they do to try and bring things back to the way they were before? We meet both men in Beirut in the present. But, his journey to freedom would come with many obstacles and hindrances. Roadblocks, checkpoints and encounters that would not only endanger him, place him in a refugee camp and thinking he was going to be home free he went along for the ride. But, the ride would not be an easy one; the deceptions and lies ran high the end result would definitely not bring him closer to his family. Hiding in a cave they meet two young Arabs that show them the way but when the last leg of journey arrives what happens to Daniel lands him in a hospital under the care of a nurse named Ayelet and his life is about to change and the truths that he holds dear tested. As he recuperates and thinks he is about to go to Tel Aviv and see his family the IRF expects him to complete one last mission. What will he do and the end result will definitely surprise the reader as some sacrifices are greater than others and things that appear to be true are really not.

The promises made were hollow and the hope for freedom an illusion. As he recuperates the voices he hears in his head are they real? What was really happening and what really did happen? As the poem entitled Enfold ME reflects his thoughts and he relates it’s meaning you begin to wonder what truths are being hidden and what lies are about to be revealed. Meeting Ayelet, the nurse at the hospital and hoping to go to Tel Aviv to secure his passage to find his way home, Daniel envisions his life with his family. But, reality sets in as he sees the destruction, inhales the dust, finds his way to Ayelet’s apartment and enters The New White City. Describing the carnage, the quake the links among the characters the desecration the reader becomes alerted that something dramatic is about the happen and Daniel’s work would no longer be filled with the sounds of hope but rather with the sounds of silence so deafening that he rings loudly in his ears. The silence in the streets, the lack of responses and the awakening when it’s too late and there is no chance for escape. As Daniel comes front and center with the truth and meets those that have perpetrated the lies the reader learns what they are really after, why Daniel will never have freedom and the truth behind his research. A truth that will send chills through your body, fear within the science world and knowledge that from some responsibilities there is no turning back. What he learns will change everything. Who is behind it he realizes himself. As the end is near and he enters the lab where it all began what would Daniel’s decision be? Will he help those that have lied and deceived him to rid the world of what was being done? What was the research that leads him to this moment that caused so many lives to be sacrificed and lost? What was that last dream and revelation that brought it all back? An ending that will make you think and a twist that will create fear within your inner core. As Daniel Blum confronts the truth, remembers the past and creates the future. But how? How far would you go to protect your family and your country? What is the truth behind those that decided to Enfold Him and take away his life? Author Steven Greenberg leaves the reader with many questions that will haunt you after reading this novel. Characters that are so vividly described, a plot that will keep you on the edge and one man whose journey you will definitely want to take. Daniel Blum learns the true meaning of deceit, lies, hate, fear and finally responsibility in this outstanding novel by author Steven Greenberg. Close your eyes. Now open them. What do you see? Can you see?
Fran Lewis: reviewer

[Foxglove · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was six years old, my blasted older brother told me the story of Dracula and introduced me into a new emotion, sheer terror. I recall that same sinking feeling in my stomach now as I finish Enfold Me by Steven Greenberg. Because while the Count was unlikely to crawl into my room and suck my blood, the horror in this book was only a few short events away from being possible. A world where Israel had lost the war and had become Liberated Palestine. As a proud Zionist, I was haunted by this and had to read this incredible book in short doses, so haunting was the premise.

The post-Israel world is painted in graphic and terrible world through the eyes of Daniel Blum, a world where the modern country of Israel is reduced to a war zone with limited supplies and electricity, where Jews and Christians are Dhimmi, second class citizens. They are forced to wear armbands, have far less access to resources and endure humiliating rituals bent on denigrating them and slaughtering innocent people at whim.

When reading one particular scene of humiliation, I closed my e-reader and decided that Greenberg was veering into racism and that surely, this was just done for dramatic purpose. Unfortunately, truth is stranger than fiction and the day I wrote the email asking that very question, Muhammad Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate, just declared that he will “achieve the Islamic conquest (fath) of Egypt for the second time, and make all Christians convert to Islam, or else pay the jizya,” which made Greenberg quip if he owed Morsi royalties for the free advertising.

The novel is extremely compelling and I will refrain from discussing much of the plot as it’s hard to avoid spoiling the many incredible plot twists. Therefore, I will focus on the overall impression.

Enfold Me is truly well written. I can feel Israel’s rotting corpse in every single word, he paints the beautiful country’s destruction in heart breaking detail without veering into maudlin weeping. The epistolary nature makes the explanations less cumbersome and well woven into the plot. I especially enjoyed the dialogue, Greenberg has an ear for speech which moves the plot along.

The novel does have some weaknesses. Although necessary to the plot, the flashbacks are problematic because we are so worried about Daniel Bloom’s survival. As much as I wanted to know how this happened, I more wanted to know if he would ever see his wife and children again. I think it would have been stronger to have the letter format continue instead of throwing the reader out of the plot and making us want to skip ahead. This should be taken as a strength to the main plot, I wanted no distractions.

Sadly, Enfold Me doesn’t give any easy answers for the problems facing Israel. It’s an important book for the Zionist community to read to open up a conversation on the next steps in the country’s future, but it’s one even more important for the general public to read. Israel may seem like a strong country, but Greenburg shows that only a few steps separate the country from the brink. If that thought fails to chill the reader, read the book.

Count Dracula won’t be able to compare.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most thoughtful and disturbing books I have ever read. A riveting novel that takes a hard look at the political, social and economic realities in Israel and asks -- what if the unthinkable happens? What would the Middle East look like if (when?) Israel is obliterated? Seen through the ideas of a survivor and key operative in the Israeli resistance, this riveting tale of survival, suspense, and counter-espionage will keep you on edge. The plot is impeccably researched, weaves and twists beautifully, and gives ample pause for thinking about the long-term implications of the state of the only democracy in the Middle East. Important as well as entertaining reading for anyone who cares about the present and the future of Israel. My only hesitation about this book is there is too much unnecessary backstory before the plot really gets going. I recommend rapid skimming of the backstory; you can do without it and still get all the main points and follow the plot.

[Maurice Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story line starts out in Israel with a massive earthquake that occurred the previous year and struck the Rosh HaAyin area. Israel immediately deployed 75% of its military forces to dig through the rubble and rescue as many as possible. The damage stretched as far as Tel Aviv. Iran, noticing most of Israeli defense forces bogged down in the rescue effort, seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Israel through Lebanon, conquered “Northern Liberated Palestine,” and set up a dystopian state which stretches from the northern border south to Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee.

Another Arab country invades Israel from the West Bank and established Islamic control in that area, which they named “Central Liberated Palestine.” The Egyptians invaded from the south to set up a protectorate from Ashkelon to Haifa. Even though they claimed they established a protectorate, the Egyptians nevertheless plundered and transferred Israeli wealth to Egypt. Conditions are not good in conquered Israel!

The conquerors reduced non-believers (Jews, Christians, and Druze) to Dhimma, which are second-class citizens. Dhimmas are forced to wear armbands and have far less access to the resources in the country. They also have to endure humiliating rituals bent on denigrating them and even slaughtering them at will. The author describes brutal scenes of humiliating rituals and even murder inflicted on the helpless Dhimmas.

The main characters in the novel are Daniel Blum and George Farrah, a US defense contractor. The fall of Israel rips Daniel, his wife Shira and their two children Alon and Lirob from their peaceful suburban life and Daniel’s scientific career working in the Nes Ziona research lab. He had been working for IIBR on a virus that can alter the function of Sertoli Cells that control the production of male sperm. Uprooted from their peaceful lives and now subjected to harassment and possible murder, Daniel and George secretly make their way to Tel Aviv, sometimes crawling through tunnels, in order to find the ruins of the Nes Ziona research facility where Daniel had been working on a secret military project crucial to the future of Israel, one that could affect the population ratios in the Middle East.

I searched The Internet to see if the author’s references to place names and technical terms are generally known. They are. The main premise of the novel, the presumed Israeli research to alter the racial densities of the region, I think, is most likely fictional. Fictional or not, an adventure novel that suggests Israeli research for a biological weapon like this does not help the animosity that is already widespread in that part of the world.

The author describes some brutal scenes that include many episodes of barbarity inflicted upon the conquered Israelis. He also describes scenes of senseless barbarity the protagonist witnessed that were inflicted upon blacks in the United States in the 1980s during his college days. These scenes of barbarity, and the profanity the author uses to describe some of them, sets a harsh tone for the novel.

The trigger for the fall of Israel, a massive earthquake, causes the Israeli government to deploy most of its armed forces to rescue survivors. The earthquake presumes that God has forsaken Israel. When Iran rushes in to conquer Israel, there is no intervention by The United States or any western nation to stand by Israel even though the western nations, particularly the United States, had always pledged to defend the sovereignty of Israel. Instead, all the western nations abandon Israel. The author does not describe any international humanitarian effort to help the victims who are, in effect, ignored by the rest of the world. Then add to all of this the dangerously provocative and totally unjustifiable research that had been going on in Israel and you have a gloomy, depressing story that presents no shred of hope for anyone in the region.

The author derives the title Enfold Me from a modern Hebrew poem. Nowhere in his book does the author mention scripture or God in any substantive way. Sad, because most of the people in the Middle East adhere to one of the three great religions derived from the covenant Abraham made with the Most High God, the God who is all merciful, compassionate, and who loves all humans intensely. I wonder how the world would be if most humans in the Middle East loved that one God in return and tried to comply with his will.

Enfold Me presents an image of the Middle East where people ignore God and continue hating each other, a somber, depressing, and hopeless image that doesn’t inspire me with any confidence for the future.

[Michelle Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot to like here, and the author is the son of good friends (so read my review with that information in mind). We were fortunate enough to have him speak at our book club meeting in August and share some really interesting insights into his writing process and how he interpreted various elements in his novel.

Steven has a wordy descriptive style that takes some time to warm up to. This novel is also very dark and very violent. The complete lack of anything approaching a fully-formed woman character was a definite disappointment.

With that said, this is a really interesting dystopian novel which manages to escape a clear political stance on Israeli/Mid-East politics. The main character was fully fleshed out, and it was fascinating to get a glimpse of different points in his life. Current and former IU students will be particularly creeped out by one of the novel's episodes, during the main character's time in Bloomington. I was also impressed by how clearly I could picture/smell/taste/feel the settings of the novel, based on Steven's excellent setup and description.

There is also a lot here to consider, morally, based on the characters' choices. I continued thinking about some of the dilemmas presented long after I finished. This novel could be appealing to a wide (adult) audience. There are elements of sci-fi, mystery, thriller, adventure, coming-of-age, and character study, as well as fodder for those interested in politics, religious/race relations, military, and science.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Israel is gone. An earthquake followed by a military take over has completely destroyed it. Now, Jews and Christians are shunned, ridiculed, abused, and killed. They are not allowed to have necessities like electricity and running water, they cannot travel on foot, and they must wear arm bands like the Jews in Nazi Germany. The story takes place around Daniel. He is barely surviving on a garden that he started before the fall and sneaks using the electricity he has from his solar panels.

Daniel is looking for some way to get out and back to his family. He is discovered by an acquaintance he has bad history with. Although he is told that George can help him get out, George has other plans for Daniel and his knowledge.

This is a well written story with a scary ring of truth. I admit that I do not keep current on all of the news so I don’t know everything that is happening around Israel. This story definitely opened my eyes to the basic situation. Then you throw in an earthquake then military take over. I really feel this is a grim but accurate take on what could very easily happen to Israel.

This is a moving book that is painful in how people are treated for being different. I think people should read this. Although the story is based in Israel, I could see it happening anywhere in the world.

I received this book a long time ago in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Post-Israel's reality under Arab rule grabbed my attention right away when I picked up this free Kindle read. Written by an American Jew who now lives in Israel, I figured this book would be enlightening. While I did learn a lot, there was always something off-kilter in the story which is cleared up in the (at times excessively gruesome) end. Part of me wonders if this isn't a self-published book that wouldn't have made the cut with a publisher.

[David Flapan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, intense story of a regular American guy who moved to Israel, then was a victim of circumstance as the country fell to other Mideast countries in a war. The book tells the tale after the Fall, as the American, Daniel, tries to leave.

Written by a native Ft. Wayner, who now lives in Tell Aviv, this is written with insider's knowledge of several topics, including geography, politics, history, and biology.

[Melissa Sargent · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a serious book. One that makes you think and evaluate. That being said, I felt disjoined from the main character and was not able to get the full depth of feeling the writer was trying to convey. This review was given in exchange for a copy of the book provided by Goodreads and the author.

[Mahz]

can't wait to read this :D

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow