Best novel of the decade

Robert Stone writes slowly, and cares little for fashion, so he hasn't really had a big hit... but I think he'll be remembered as one of the best novelists of the 20th century.

Damascus Gate for me surpasses even Dog Soldiers in its psychological depth and complexity, as it tries to sketch the incredible range of political and philosophical viewpoints in modern Israel.

The writing is very dense, and takes very serious concentration to follow, so this isn't for everyone. And Stone has a very bleak style of realism that will put off many others, but he's unbelievably hip, and has a very humane sense of humor as well, so the rewards for making the effort with this book seem to me extremely rich.

The framework of the story is a sinister plot regarding the Muslims in Jerusalem, but this 'thriller' plot isn't really the point of the novel-- it's not a page-turner so much as a literary classic that needs to be read and re-read and contemplated.