Author: William T. Hathaway
ISBN: 0-9738442-3-X

The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons:  Writer, Journalist and budding Author: Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews

 Combining a story of the military with Sufi mysticism, William T. Hathaway
manages to conquer the two topics in a cohesive work of fiction in his novel
'Summer Snow.'

A Vietnam veteran, Jeff Madsen, finds himself in the midst of the war on
terrorism in Kyrgyzstan, where he meets a Sufi mystic, Cholpon, who is
trying to achieve peace through the collective consciousness under the
tutelage of her shayka or spiritual teacher, Djamila.

In 'Summer Snow' Hathaway explores how everything is connected. When shown
against a backdrop of political conflict and the possibility of a nuclear
bomb being set off, it shows the futility of war since the universe is
inside of us just as we are in it. Therefore, an attempt to destroy it is an
attempt to destroy ourselves. All it accomplishes is setting us further from
our goal of enlightenment and true inner glory. The physical things are
maimed, but the spiritual energy lives on.

While Jeff attempts to escape from his violent past through alcoholism,
Cholpon struggles with a far more distant past - a past life in which it
appears she and Jeff were unable to fulfill their desires. As they come
together in this life during this violent and tumultuous time, their love
reawakens and they find themselves immersed in circumstances far out of the
realm of their every day lives.

In contrast to Djamila and Cholpon's world, where they are one with the
universe, there is Jeff's world where he is constantly fighting battles he
can never win.
In the midst of this story, when taken into the context of the world we now
live in, there is a political message against the leaders of the world who
use violence as a means to solve the problems of their nations. Hathaway is
clearly advocating peace. The vision he presents in 'Summer Snow' offers an
alternative in dealing with perceived enemies.

This vision is a beautiful one, offering the possibility that meditation can
change the consciousness of those who continue the warfare. Take a pause and
think about what this could mean for our world. Unfortunately, as Djamila
says in the book, "we are too few, too late. So now Kali must have her
dance." The goddess of destruction takes over and those who live through it
must deal with what is left afterwards.

'Summer Snow' is a compelling read, offering a unique perspective on war and
peace. It blends suspense, passion and spirituality in a thriller that not
only gets your heart racing, but also challenges your mind and spirit to be
aware of their place in the universe as "little cells of the great body of
God, each with a job to do."