This novel is frightening, poignant, intelligent, and disturbing. I couldn't possibly be more impressed. The first thing I should say is this: the author had many opportunities for this story to become tedious and boring with too many facts; after all, she has 'built' a world war (based on realistic ideas that are plaguing the world as we sit at our computers right now). But this story never became tedious or boring. I found myself marveling at the brilliance of this writer to give so much detail and still keep it interesting and moving forward. There was a major risk of alienating readers with the continuing build up of what was going on around the world with the Islamist movement, but it just built up more suspense and dread as the story moved along.