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Against the Oaks of Bashan
In 1970s Buenos Aires, with the city under military occupation, people disappear at a terrifying rate. They are the desaparecidos, those who vanish forever.
Camouflaged by the ongoing crisis, someone abducts young adults for another goal. These desaparecidos are used to create a compliant, easily- manipulated population.
Lucas and Vera Freund are among those abducted. The young couple–both brilliant scientists–have stumbled onto a discovery that could change humanity forever. To shield their work from those who would abuse it, they’re willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Years later, Frances Fons and Julian Haller meet in Zurich. They know nothing of the horrors that transpired in Argentina. The two only know they’re young and in love.
They’re also in danger.
Someone has manipulated the sweethearts their entire lives with a singular goal in mind. Deep in a scientific institute in New Mexico lies a secret, locked away behind the door of a special vault–a door that only Frances and Julian can open.
An engaging tale of conspiracy and control, Against the Oaks of Bashan raises a troubling question: if your thoughts are not your own, whose are they?
Camouflaged by the ongoing crisis, someone abducts young adults for another goal. These desaparecidos are used to create a compliant, easily- manipulated population.
Lucas and Vera Freund are among those abducted. The young couple–both brilliant scientists–have stumbled onto a discovery that could change humanity forever. To shield their work from those who would abuse it, they’re willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Years later, Frances Fons and Julian Haller meet in Zurich. They know nothing of the horrors that transpired in Argentina. The two only know they’re young and in love.
They’re also in danger.
Someone has manipulated the sweethearts their entire lives with a singular goal in mind. Deep in a scientific institute in New Mexico lies a secret, locked away behind the door of a special vault–a door that only Frances and Julian can open.
An engaging tale of conspiracy and control, Against the Oaks of Bashan raises a troubling question: if your thoughts are not your own, whose are they?
230 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2015
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Julia Starling
3 books2 followersJulia Starling is a medical doctor and psychotherapist. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she spent five years in the UK finishing her clinical studies and then moved to California to complete her psychotherapy training. She currently lives in northern New Mexico with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 16, 2015
I received this book free for review from the author or publisher in exchange for an honest review. Despite the privilege of receiving a free book, I’m absolutely candid about it below because I believe authors and readers will benefit most from honest reviews rather than vacuous 5-star reviews.
The nutshell summary on this book is that it seems to be attempting to be a sci-fi action novel with a fair amount of violence and lots of technical jargon. Our villains are trying to create... well, a breed of human that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, to be honest.
To the positive, the idea for this book has at its heart the potential for a good story and the author obviously knows her science. Written in a more effective way, this could be an exceptionally entertaining and educational work because it brings up many key bits of science that you just don't see written about. The author is on the cutting edge in this respect.
To the negative, the writing is rather a chore to get through. It's difficult to keep track of which character is which and the author's grammar is fairly spotty with words misused entirely in places that jar the reader quite soundly out of the stream of the narrative. As I've said many times about many books, this book needs a good sound editing to bring it to a place that it can be enjoyable to readers. In its current form the book is rather perplexing and entirely not recommended.
In summary, 'Against the Oaks of Bashan' is a great idea for a book and executed by someone who obviously knows her subject matter but sadly that is not a sufficient skill set to cobble together a readable and enjoyable work of literature.
PS: I hope my review was helpful. If it was not, then please let me know what I left out that you’d want to know. I always aim to improve.
--- Free copy received for review
The nutshell summary on this book is that it seems to be attempting to be a sci-fi action novel with a fair amount of violence and lots of technical jargon. Our villains are trying to create... well, a breed of human that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, to be honest.
To the positive, the idea for this book has at its heart the potential for a good story and the author obviously knows her science. Written in a more effective way, this could be an exceptionally entertaining and educational work because it brings up many key bits of science that you just don't see written about. The author is on the cutting edge in this respect.
To the negative, the writing is rather a chore to get through. It's difficult to keep track of which character is which and the author's grammar is fairly spotty with words misused entirely in places that jar the reader quite soundly out of the stream of the narrative. As I've said many times about many books, this book needs a good sound editing to bring it to a place that it can be enjoyable to readers. In its current form the book is rather perplexing and entirely not recommended.
In summary, 'Against the Oaks of Bashan' is a great idea for a book and executed by someone who obviously knows her subject matter but sadly that is not a sufficient skill set to cobble together a readable and enjoyable work of literature.
PS: I hope my review was helpful. If it was not, then please let me know what I left out that you’d want to know. I always aim to improve.
--- Free copy received for review
January 24, 2016
No oak trees feature in this dark suspense tale set mainly in twentieth-century Argentina with some globe-trotting near the end. The early chapters are much like a standard suspense story with points of view ranging from a bored, discarded wife of a man who has been corruptly gathering money; and a young girl going through school wondering why her family isn't the same as others and why she and her brother need to give mouth swabs every now and then. We've also met some shady persons using a church to arrange a meeting or message drop but don't see the connection for some time.
Only after her father flees the onset of corruption charges in the 1990s does young Frances Fons find her life changing dramatically.
Other characters include a young couple who are working in the field of science during the 1970s but we've barely met them when they are abducted, imprisoned and tortured continually; I wasn't able to read most of it. That just means the tale is too dark for me, but other readers may be fine with it. This meant I never got to know the couple as persons and I understand their involvement in the evil schemes only from what discussions took place outside the rooms. Well, it's no secret that some Nazis fled to South America, and we see they are continuing their foul experiments.
The title quote from the Bible got me thinking, I must add. The speaker is railing against the cedars of Lebanon and against the oaks of Bashan, which he promises God will destroy. I really can't see a creator having it in for trees. My interpretation would be that the people of Israel having overgrazed their land and destroyed the ecosystem are left with desertification, and are envious of other lands that still have trees. They want those folks' pride to go before a fall. Methinks God should have told them wealth should not be measured in sheep and goats.
If you've read 'Chromosome 6' by Robin Cook or similar medical thrillers, you'll have a good time with this well-described, layered, speculative fiction in an unusual setting.
Only after her father flees the onset of corruption charges in the 1990s does young Frances Fons find her life changing dramatically.
Other characters include a young couple who are working in the field of science during the 1970s but we've barely met them when they are abducted, imprisoned and tortured continually; I wasn't able to read most of it. That just means the tale is too dark for me, but other readers may be fine with it. This meant I never got to know the couple as persons and I understand their involvement in the evil schemes only from what discussions took place outside the rooms. Well, it's no secret that some Nazis fled to South America, and we see they are continuing their foul experiments.
The title quote from the Bible got me thinking, I must add. The speaker is railing against the cedars of Lebanon and against the oaks of Bashan, which he promises God will destroy. I really can't see a creator having it in for trees. My interpretation would be that the people of Israel having overgrazed their land and destroyed the ecosystem are left with desertification, and are envious of other lands that still have trees. They want those folks' pride to go before a fall. Methinks God should have told them wealth should not be measured in sheep and goats.
If you've read 'Chromosome 6' by Robin Cook or similar medical thrillers, you'll have a good time with this well-described, layered, speculative fiction in an unusual setting.
February 9, 2016
Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
Right off the bat, I have to say this is an excellent story. It is a story of the darkest
conspiracy imaginable contrived by a man trained in the art of genetic manipulation by one or
more fugitive Nazi scientists, the illusive and sinister Professor Litvac and the effects of his work
on two generations of scientists under his influence. Beginning in military ruled Buenos Aires
after the 1976 coup, more than 30,000 people (desaparecidos) disappeared through politically
enforced murder or imprisonment. Against the Oaks of Bashan is a story based on these
disappearances and proposes the scenario what if a trained scientist with a fetish for power,
trained by the dark influences of escaped Nazi scientists managed to develop genetically superior
scientists gifted in genetics and cell biology and focused their efforts on engineering a compliant
race of humans based on fear satiated by rampant consumerism. The atmosphere of political
danger, uncertainty, narcissism and diversion engendered in Buenos Aires during the 1970s
provides the backdrop for Professor Litvac’s sinister plan.
Enter Lucas and Vera Freund, gifted scientists who are an important part of Professor
Litvac’s plan. Vera has made an undisclosed but significant scientific discovery that she and
Lucas do not want Litvac to know about. During the course of concealing it, they become
desaparecidos imprisoned by Litvac while forced to continue their work. Antonio Fons, a
narcissistic surgeon is recruited by Litvac who appeals to his vanity and inner need for wealth to
participate in his “experiments” …really more torture than science. Antonio finds that Vera has
family money and facilitates their escape to a facility in New Mexico.
One generation later, Frances Fons, Antonio’s younger daughter is accepted out of school
into Plan B of the local medical school…that is to say, she is targeted by Litvac to continue his
experiments. Antonio resists her recruitment into Litvac’s influence, but is countered by Frances’
school administrator with whom Antonio has financial arrangement. Frances enters the Plan B
program against Antonio’s wishes, and Antonio is discredited exiled to Uruguay.
More, I cannot tell without spoiling the story. It is sufficient to say that two generations of
scientists have an amazing relationship and that Professor Litvac’s evil scheme has very long
The author’s writing style displays a unique and interesting talent for description.
Description is a good thing for establishing context and tone, but in places I found myself
distracted from the storyline by descriptions. Other than that, the story was extremely well
written although the copy that I was given for review needed to be carefully proofread and
Against the Oak of Bashan should appeal to anyone with a taste for dark conspiracies,
psychological/political thrillers, or historical fiction. Julia Starling has done an excellent job in
all respects.
5-Stars Clabe Polk
Right off the bat, I have to say this is an excellent story. It is a story of the darkest
conspiracy imaginable contrived by a man trained in the art of genetic manipulation by one or
more fugitive Nazi scientists, the illusive and sinister Professor Litvac and the effects of his work
on two generations of scientists under his influence. Beginning in military ruled Buenos Aires
after the 1976 coup, more than 30,000 people (desaparecidos) disappeared through politically
enforced murder or imprisonment. Against the Oaks of Bashan is a story based on these
disappearances and proposes the scenario what if a trained scientist with a fetish for power,
trained by the dark influences of escaped Nazi scientists managed to develop genetically superior
scientists gifted in genetics and cell biology and focused their efforts on engineering a compliant
race of humans based on fear satiated by rampant consumerism. The atmosphere of political
danger, uncertainty, narcissism and diversion engendered in Buenos Aires during the 1970s
provides the backdrop for Professor Litvac’s sinister plan.
Enter Lucas and Vera Freund, gifted scientists who are an important part of Professor
Litvac’s plan. Vera has made an undisclosed but significant scientific discovery that she and
Lucas do not want Litvac to know about. During the course of concealing it, they become
desaparecidos imprisoned by Litvac while forced to continue their work. Antonio Fons, a
narcissistic surgeon is recruited by Litvac who appeals to his vanity and inner need for wealth to
participate in his “experiments” …really more torture than science. Antonio finds that Vera has
family money and facilitates their escape to a facility in New Mexico.
One generation later, Frances Fons, Antonio’s younger daughter is accepted out of school
into Plan B of the local medical school…that is to say, she is targeted by Litvac to continue his
experiments. Antonio resists her recruitment into Litvac’s influence, but is countered by Frances’
school administrator with whom Antonio has financial arrangement. Frances enters the Plan B
program against Antonio’s wishes, and Antonio is discredited exiled to Uruguay.
More, I cannot tell without spoiling the story. It is sufficient to say that two generations of
scientists have an amazing relationship and that Professor Litvac’s evil scheme has very long
The author’s writing style displays a unique and interesting talent for description.
Description is a good thing for establishing context and tone, but in places I found myself
distracted from the storyline by descriptions. Other than that, the story was extremely well
written although the copy that I was given for review needed to be carefully proofread and
Against the Oak of Bashan should appeal to anyone with a taste for dark conspiracies,
psychological/political thrillers, or historical fiction. Julia Starling has done an excellent job in
all respects.
5-Stars Clabe Polk
December 6, 2015
An intense, suspenseful psychological thriller with a very interesting underlying message.
Memorable and well developed characters, from a quirky and strangely charismatic Antonio Fons, one of the main villains in the story, to an oppressed, wide-eyed housewife with aristocratic ambitions to a sensitive, "different" and misunderstood Frances Fons.
I enjoyed the action scenes, the fights and car chases. In fact, this novel is really cinematic--it would make a great movie.
All in all, a very well written thriller with some intriguing sci-fi elements and a literary merit that is rare in contemporary literature.
Memorable and well developed characters, from a quirky and strangely charismatic Antonio Fons, one of the main villains in the story, to an oppressed, wide-eyed housewife with aristocratic ambitions to a sensitive, "different" and misunderstood Frances Fons.
I enjoyed the action scenes, the fights and car chases. In fact, this novel is really cinematic--it would make a great movie.
All in all, a very well written thriller with some intriguing sci-fi elements and a literary merit that is rare in contemporary literature.
February 28, 2016
As intriguing as the premise of this medical thriller initially sounded I found the narrative vague in places and the fact it was peppered with Spanish phrases made it harder to read, which is definitely not helpful in a complex thriller.
The grammatical errors throughout were consistently irritating and the phrasing did not sound natural. In short I found this book incredibly difficult to read and there was a lot of telling rather than showing which spoiled the book for me.
This book needs a decent line by line editor before its ready to be sold to readers, at the moment it currently reads like a very early draft.
The grammatical errors throughout were consistently irritating and the phrasing did not sound natural. In short I found this book incredibly difficult to read and there was a lot of telling rather than showing which spoiled the book for me.
This book needs a decent line by line editor before its ready to be sold to readers, at the moment it currently reads like a very early draft.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews