In The Shadow of Babylon

John’s premier novel ranked #1 on Amazon Kindle’s Action and Adventure List

The fear and hopelessness of life under Saddam Hussein is brought to life when Dr. Elman Darshi, the world's leading authority on ancient Sumerian languages, is summoned in the middle of the night by the Iraqi Minister of Cultural Affairs. Dr. Darshi is shown photos of gold panels inscribed with an unknown script and commanded to provide a translation. His work leads to the discovery of an ancient scroll from a civilization that existed in pre-history. The voice of a shepherd, who penned the oldest known writing in the world, whispers truths from beyond the modern era... truths that are as powerful and revealing today as they were 10,000 years ago, and will continue to resonate for generations to come.

“An epoch-spanning thriller that's part academic mystery and part historical fantasy. Schwartz deftly weaves the romantic experiences of a pre-historical shepherd into an extended homily that punctuates the trials of the Middle East as the contemporary narrative plunges along in the best page-turner fashion. Not only linked well rhetorically, the prose here is something to behold and is evocative without sacrificing concision, an absolute demand of the thriller genre. Many readers will be convinced that a literary discovery of this magnitude really might change the course of contemporary politics, so confident and convincing is the vision of the novel. A wonderfully written, provocative novel. —KIRKUS Reviews 2012 —

Reader reviews —

"The storyline took a few surprising twists and turns however, the author's dialogue contained some very thought-provoking philosophical phrases, particularly from the context of an ancient civilization. I enjoyed the book and intend to bookmark a few of the sections where the philosophical morphed into the spiritual."

"Powerful. A real adventure for the body, mind, and soul. Could not put it down. Highly recommend for all ages. Ayuba the Shepherd of Hamood will inspire, motivate, and encourage you to live in the present moment, think positively, and expect the best…"

“A truly engrossing tale that keeps you riveted until the end...leaving you with a hope for the future of humanity.”

“The survival and adventures of a young boy unexpectedly transform into a saga of how life in the ancient Middle Eastern empires might have been, while reminding readers of life lessons such as the importance of family and community and imagining a positive future. Powerful story.”