Scimitar's Edge

by Marvin Olasky
2006 / 276 pages

When a party of four Americans vacations in Turkey they become the target of terrorists who believe torture can be poetic and artistic.

That’s the plotline, but I’m not going to recommend this for its plot. The merits of the book are in the author’s expertise. WORLD magazine editor Marvin Olasky has authored such nonfiction books as The Great Divide: The failure of Islam and the Triumph of the West and The Religions Next Door: What We Need To Know About Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, And Islam. So Scimitar’s Edge is a highly educational novel, giving readers an insightful look into the minds of Islamic terrorists.

However it is also Olasky’s first attempt at fiction, and while it is suspenseful, the dialogue can be clunky at times. From an entertainment perspective, or evaluated on its literary merit, this is an average book. But for those who like learning via a fictional format, this is a pretty accessible way to learn more about Islamic terrorism, and learn about it via the insights of a wise, knowledgable and trustworthy Christian author.

One caution: this is only intended for adults. Olasky details some of the terrorist’s torture, and while he treads quite tactfully, it could be too much for young readers.

You can buy a copy at Amazon.com