At the beginning of Desert Storm in 1991, things go terribly wrong. A secret organization that has infiltrated many Arab armies and governments emerges from hiding and inflames a broad and bloodily successful anti-Western uprising. American troops at the Battle of Khafji and throughout the Middle East are faced with a much bigger war than the one they had been sent to fight. What was supposed to be a safe war designed to ensure the reelection of George H. W. Bush turns into a disaster that destroys his presidency, puts Dan Quayle in the White House as the puppet of right-wing elements in the intelligence community, and imperils the West. The consequences are widespread and frequently grim: a resurgent Soviet Union, a seemingly endless war in the Middle East, and the growing threat of tyranny in America. Written well before the events of September 11, 2001, Dawn Crescent depicts the interwoven lives and adventures of a diverse group of characters -- soldiers, spies, subversives, innocents -- in a turbulent alternate world which could be a warning for our own. "Engaging characters and fast-paced writing make Dawn Crescent a real pleasure " -- Harry Turtledove, author of the "American Empire" series