Skull Dance

by Gerd Balke, Michael LaRocca

“A terrorist with a little technical know-how and twenty pounds of smuggled plutonium could make a bomb powerful enough to destroy a city. That's what we should be worried about.”US Pentagon official, New York Times,May 13, 1996“In a surprisingly philosophical novel with a great deal of substance, SKULL DANCE tells of the time after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Berlin becomes an open city with numerous former Russian military members attempting to sell weapons.“Chris Ramsdorf, a former East German soldier, comes to England and because of his knowledge of weapons of the Eastern Bloc, is hired by M15, British Intelligence. However, he loses his position and goes out on his own dealing weapons and is hired by a group of Russians to dismantle a warhead and extract plutonium. Fearing the weapon might be used against England, Chris tells MI5 about the deal and is told to go along with the Russians.“He believes a plan is in motion to thwart the deal but something goes wrong and he ends up in a jail in India. Inside the jail, we observe his ideas of life. He's able to cope for a time but when the situation becomes intolerable, he must attempt to gain his freedom.“There is outstanding character development as we see Chris evolve from a selfish, uncaring person to someone with compassion and empathy for others.”Michael A. Draper, Vine Voice, June 10, 2011“Gerd Balke asked me to edit five of his novels in 2000. We were living in Hong Kong. We were still working on SKULL DANCE when he died of a sudden heart attack. I stepped into the ‘author’ role and did my best to preserve Gerd’s vision and his voice.“SKULL DANCE was first published by Novel Books Inc. in 2001, then later by Booktrope. As I give it one more edit and publish it again, I’m amazed by how timely it remains, and how prescient.”Michael LaRocca“Being born in the aftermath of WWII Germany was perhaps the true catalyst responsible for turning Gerd Balke into a devoted pacifist. A conscientious objector and one-time student activist, he participated in anti-war demonstrations during the seventies in Europe and clearly prefers Rock & Roll over any military hardware.“He has traveled extensively in Asia, learned to speak several languages, including Chinese and Thai, and always had his heart and soul glued to the pulse of life. He loves the ideology, mysticism and powerful spirituality of the East, which, when fused with Western consciousness, makes up the kind of philosophy he’s interested in. He is devoted to travel and meeting people and would go to Mars if he could get a visa. His spiritual encounters include a stay in a Buddhist Monastery in the Himalayan Mountains and a brush with death on the island of Bali.“In 1979 he moved to Hong Kong, married a Chinese woman, pursued a professional career in Engineering and studied Kung Fu and Quantum Mechanics for kicks. He loves to discuss life and the secrets of the Universe with people who are equally taken by the subject, and most enthusiastically shares a bottle of Glenmorangie with anyone who dares the challenge.“He has a license to handle explosives but stubbornly refuses to offer his skills for revolutionary purposes. Instead, he chose the written word to transmit his thoughts. Gerd Balke writes about culture, philosophy and ways of the world. He is an active member of the Hong Kong Writer’s Circle.”Gerd Balke(writing about himself in third person)

Genres: Thriller

412 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 2016

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over all this was a interesting read with moments that grab your attention and wont let go. The only thing I didn't like was it felt like the author was trying to be too descriptive at moments that didn't call for it.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a suprisingly philosophical novel that gives the reader plenty to think about, "Skull Dance," tells of a time after the Berlin Wall came down.

Chris Ramsdorf was a soldier in East Germany. When the wall came down, he was free to travel and went to England. He got a job with M15 because of his knowledge of weapons of the Eastern Bloc.

After he lost his job, he returned to Berlin where many people were now selling military weapons. Chris is hired by a group of Russians to dismantle a warhead and extract plutonium.

Thinking that this weapon might be used against innocent people, Chris tells his old bosses at M15 but is told to go along with the Russians.

He tinks a plan is in motion to stop the deal but something goes wrong and he ends up in a jail in India.

There is outstanding character development as Cris evolves from a selfish, uncaring person into someone who regards others with compassion and understanding.

The story does meander from place to place which slows down the action but gives us a deeper understanding of Chris, and, perhaps, with the author.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intense and atmospheric. A great thriller that kept me on the edge of white knuckling the pages. I really enjoyed it.