Melting Down

by Harvey Stone

Set in the not-to-distant future, Melting Down is an environmental thriller about an international terrorist plot conceived by aging nationalists high up in the Russian government. The Arctic sea ice has melted because of rising temperatures. Now, the world's largest untapped reserves of oil and natural gas are accessible under the Arctic. Since Russia has the largest landmass in the Arctic, these terrorists seek one last change to fulfill Russia's destiny of world domination. Blackmailing the world, they place suitcase nuclear devices on the world's glaciers and hold them hostage. As the plot unfolds, US President Charley Breen is in the middle of a photo-finish election campaign. He enlists his life-long friend, Tex Cassidy, who is a former Army Ranger and Pulitzer-nominated reporter. Tex's assignment: uncover the pattern of Russian activity in the Arctic and evaluate the United States' national security interests. Along the way, Tex teams up with Zavia Jansen - the world expert in storm surge barriers and coastal protection. Together, they piece together information about covert Operation Noah, and come face-to-face with the terrorists. Melting Down takes place in many locations from equatorial Colombia to Arctic Greenland, including Washington/Moscow centers of power. The novel follows a host of characters, who represent the full spectrum of viewpoints in regard to energy systems, economic interests and environmental activism. It also highlights a system of thinking that simultaneously addresses social, economic and environmental problems.

346 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2011