Category Archives: Book Review

A Novel on Aristotelian Islam

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Joel D. Hirst

During the early days of the Islamic caliphate, around the 8th and 9th centuries, the Arab Muslim world was at the peak of civilization. These are the days when Europe was still in its dark ages, brought about by the … Continue reading →

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A Novel from the African Camps

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Joel D. Hirst

Africa captivates and captures you, but not in the way you would think. Not glistening Zanzibar beaches, storied safaris or British lodges — those exist, for sure, the same way Vale and Aspen also exist. Places people only know of … Continue reading →

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A Simple Tale of Soviet Armenia

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Joel D. Hirst

I think this my favorite of my novels. It is not the most elaborate, that would go to “The Unraveling.” Nor is it the best researched, that would go to “Lords of Misrule.” But my novel about Armenia, called “An … Continue reading →

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The Unraveling — My Dystopian Novel

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Joel D. Hirst

Nobody really reads anymore, the statistics are pretty grim. Pew Research suggested last year 40% of Americans read no book at all, 27% read up to four books and 19% — what Pew called “Heavy Readers” (no irony alas) read … Continue reading →

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