The first Ruslan Shanidza novel He can throw away his future or he can betray his principles and the people he loves. That is the stark choice faced by Ruslan Shanidza, an athlete from the southern fringes of the Soviet Union. He dreams of Olympic glory but despises the ruling Communists and longs for independence from Russia. Something has to give, especially after a fight with the son of a leading Party member brings him to the attention of the secret police. Set in the final decade of the Cold War, this political thriller reads like historical fiction. It takes you to a time and place where the Communist Party seeks to control every aspect of life and anyone who resists faces heavy-handed repression. Later, as the dictatorship begins to crumble, Ruslan will find himself caught up in an ethnic conflict that re-ignites with catastrophic results. "Magnificent, sweeping and powerful." Paul M Muller, author of Flight of the Marbles and Suicide Inc. "…will keep you turning the pages…Prepare to be sucked in with gripping characters and political intrigue until the very end." OnlineBookClub.Org Official Review "Highly enjoyable, gripping page turner, solid story and characters, political intrigue; what's not to like?" E.P. Goodreads reviewer "…takes you in, grabs a hold of you and does not let go until the very end where you are left wanting more." N.A. Goodreads reviewer