JAMIE SHARPE AND THE PIRATES OF BARBARY

 

Jamie Sharpe & The Pirates of Barbary

By Gary R. Bush

2023 Release from

Three Oceans Press.

 

It’s 1803. The US and several other maritime nations are engaged in armed conflict over control of the oceans of the Western world and sea-borne commercial traffic, both legal and not.

Like the rest of the fledgling nation’s military services in 1803, the U.S. Navy exists more in name than in reality. Jamie Sharpe is a rising junior officer in the Navy who, along with other crew from the armed schooner Barbara Allen, is captured off the coast of Tripoli. She sailed alone into the range of the criminals then in control of the north coast of Africa. Even then, the Navy was known for its courage.

This story follows young adventurous Jamie Sharpe on his journey across the oceans and his imprisonment in Tripoli by the evil Captain Kemal Rais, military leader for the Dictator of Tripoli. Sharpe’s attempts to subvert from the inside and to call in help from across the Atlantic is carefully and interestingly documented in this spirited and engaging novel that will interest readers, young and old, and in the bargain reveals an important part of American History that rarely receives much attention in schools. It’s a good story, carefully researched and quite enjoyable. I look forward to the third in Jamie Sharpe’s odyssey in American Naval history.

DESSA AND THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA

 

One could go on at considerable length about this creative, spectacular, unusual concert at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, this week. Embraced by an enthusiastic audience, Dessa commanded the stage, ably supported by a fine orchestra under the direction of more than competent Sarah Hicks. An aside, in many years of concerts and television viewings, I have never seen Ms. Hicks so spectacularly and appropriately dressed.

Multi-talented Dessa, rapper, singer, essayist, writer, with a strong sense of the passage of life, made a number of references to the Ship of Theseus, and the movement of time. In every dimension, this concert epitomized the high standards of the musicians of the orchestra, the flexibility and adaptability of its production staff and capabilities of the entire talented collaboration.  In song after song, rapper Dessa used her voice, often blended with her fine quartet of companion singers to engage and enthrall her audience.

I also want to call attention to and salute the television production staff for its careful reticence and handling of the important visual element. Too many times media directors believe they must try to enhance the visual experience with restless cameras and unusual angles. Tonight’s concert was excellent, in every aspect.

 

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

 I'm not a big fan of hard Rock and Roll, so I don't follow it, don't listen to a lot of it, but I am certainly aware of the R&R segment of life. Recently on CBS"60 Minutes" I watched a thoughtful, careful feature on the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I learned a good deal about members backgrounds, interests, attitudes and their individual approaches to their music. They are one of the most successful bands and have been, across the world, for decades. They deserve to be known and evaluated. I found their stories fascinating and useful. I encourage readers of this blog to find the CBS piece or others and learn more about this talented, musically educated, highly world-successful band.

TAUT FUTURISTIC THRILLER HITS THE MARK

 

FAIL DEADLY       

By John Baird Rogers

ISBN: 9798986244204

A 2023 release from

Gotuit Publishing

Even with the scientific and cultural advances we’ll experience in coming decades, the future, according to this author, will be far from calm and peaceful. Fortunately creative literary talent abounds in our future reading. In this third adventure with Louise (Weezy) Napolitani and Joe Mayfield, that jewel from the author’s mind, Olegarten rises ever higher. Here is a creation of a fine mind, a group of cyber experts loosely organized to help protect the United States against computer hackers who would destroy the nation. It is an organization with strict rules of engagement.

Weezy is a brilliant computer specialist who often thinks outside the box. Her companion and lover Joe Mayfield is a financial whiz, Together, they form an active protective duo against a complex foreign threat to the nation. It is not a task they look for but are thrown into the conflict by circumstance and proximity.

The thread of this well-written and carefully organized novel take Weezy and Joe up and down the East Coast and through the twisted halls of Washington. The story, from page one, moves apace and will often leave readers breathless. From the careful descriptions of action sites travelers would never visit, through the logic of complex communications system and computer uses, the story never flags. The plot thread never descends so deep into technology that readers will become confused, nor does it ever fray into loss of direction.

This is an excellent novel in every sense and will engage any reader who enjoys good thrillers and intense emotional roller-coaster rides. The autocar awaits.