Robert Stone receives critical acclaim for the philosophical layers of his writing as well as the intensity of his multidimensional characters. Setting this deeply provocative, best-selling novel in modern day Jerusalem, Stone puts a disillusioned American journalist adrift in the supercharged atmosphere at the end of the millennium. Christopher Lucas, unsure of his own beliefs, is wandering through Jerusalem, working on an article about religious mania. When he meets Sonia Barnes, dusky nightclub singer, devoted Sufi and mystic, he is entranced. As Sonia helps Lucas meet some of the visionaries and gurus who fill the city, the two suddenly find that they have become pawns in a fanatical bombing plot. Its target is no less than the Temple Mount, the ancient city's holiest site. Through visions ranging from Armageddon to Paradise, Damascus Gate captures the whirlwinds of spiritual fervor that swirl through Jerusalem. George Guidall's narration adds dramatic shadings to the physical and psychological landscapes Lucas traverses in this crossroad of nations.
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"I'm not sure if I liked this more because I picked it up as a free book at a garage sale in San Francisco or not. The novel absolutely sparked my interest in Jerusalem and the intricacies of the city and the Middle East. Not an easy read, but I recommend it often. "
— Donna (4 out of 5 stars)
" I didn't think the ending was that much of a twist. And the main character was a religion major...too many religion references that we non-religion major have to look up. "
— Amy, 2/14/2014" Reading as a prep to our trip to Israel, Palestine, and Egypt. Deals with the Jerusalem Syndrome, a condition held by many residents of Jerusalem. "
— Mary, 2/3/2014" I tried to read this when I was 18, then had to put it aside until I had studied a little more on world religions. Stone has done his homework and isn't interested in waiting for readers to catch up. I wish his story had maintained that level of attention to detail (the climax is fairly incomprehensible, with jumbled images and a relatively weak aftermath). "
— Kurt, 1/30/2014" I'm re-reading this as part of my crash course in thrillers. I'll let you know... "
— Richard, 1/29/2014" Stone's Dog Soldiers, about the dark side of the hippie movement, is one of my favorite books. And although Damascus Gate falls well short of that novel's power, it's still a helluva read. It's a literary thriller set in pre-millennial Jerusalem, and is about the impact of place and religion on the psyche. Despite that its 500 pages are often densely packed with obscure religious and historical references, it nevertheless possess a swift and powerful narrative velocity, which is owed primarily to the complex plot that unfurls against the backdrop of a fascinating, often terrifying setting. "
— Kevin, 1/19/2014" Not one of Stones's best. It talks about a plot to blow the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem by Jewish fundamentalists. The idea of tunnels underneath the city was far fetched for me. "
— David, 1/18/2014" I'm not sure if I liked this more because I picked it up as a free book at a garage sale in San Francisco or not. The novel absolutely sparked my interest in Jerusalem and the intricacies of the city and the Middle East. Not an easy read, but I recommend it often. "
— Donna, 1/18/2014" Loved this book. Great set pieces. crash of the religions. "
— Peter, 1/16/2014" So many plots, characters, stories; all compelling. Read it twice so far. Unforgettable! "
— Leni, 1/14/2014" This was a book that was enjoyed by other members of my book club, but one that I could not get into. This book needs a glossary as many readers will not be able to understand many words used. "
— Val, 1/14/2014" War in the middle east. I didn't like this as well as his others, but that's not a put down. "
— Tom, 12/28/2013" This is just a vacation book for me... "
— Jennifer, 12/23/2013" I found it very confusing - to the point I didn't even bother with the last 50 pages or so. "
— Donna, 12/3/2013" Couldn't get into it. Too complicated and too high minded. "
— TJ, 12/2/2013" A novel set amidst the religious politics of contemporary Israel. Too complicated for my tastes. "
— Marvin, 10/18/2013" Dim, abstract story of a writer in Jerusalem trying to figure out what he is supposed to do. I could stand only fifty pages. "
— Chuck, 7/21/2013" truly gripping thriller/meditation on the Mideast. Robert Stone is one of those writers that tricks me...always setting me up with wrong expectations and delightfully so. "
— Peter, 7/16/2013" If the US is divided up between Red and Blue states, Jerusalem, Israel, and Palestine are every color in the spectrum stirred up in a bucket. "
— Jay, 4/14/2013" Didn't keep me interested. Admit that I bought it years ago due to the interesting cover. Wrong decision. "
— Richard, 10/24/2012" It took awhile for me to get really involved in this book, but it became very engrossing about half way through. "
— Vanessamerrell, 7/11/2012" I finished this almost a year ago but forgot to move it off the currently reading shelf. I remember liking it. "
— Chrissie, 5/4/2012" Hated it could not hold my attention and was too confusing "
— Donna, 9/7/2011" This book was really interesting, because it gets into the religious/political conflicts and dynamics in Jerusalum in a way that is really interesting but not didactic. I always wonder how accurate the info is though when a book talks so much about politics/religion "
— Kathryn, 12/6/2010" Maybe I would rate this 1-1/2 stars. The best thing I liked was the information of different spiritual ideas, even though I think it was very muddled. I really did not like the plot. Overly long, pretentious, and rambling. Not my cup of tea. "
— Denise, 10/2/2010" This was a book that was enjoyed by other members of my book club, but one that I could not get into. This book needs a glossary as many readers will not be able to understand many words used. "
— Val, 6/24/2010" Dim, abstract story of a writer in Jerusalem trying to figure out what he is supposed to do. I could stand only fifty pages. <br/> "
— Chuck, 6/23/2010" My favorite by this author. Re-reading. Maybe not his greatest work, but a great genre-bender that I couldn't put down. "
— Edward, 5/6/2010" Another book read in Maui. I recall loving it. If only I still had it. All my MANY books read in Maui are still in Maui. Think I will buy again :) "
— Pamela, 3/27/2010" Reading as a prep to our trip to Israel, Palestine, and Egypt. Deals with the Jerusalem Syndrome, a condition held by many residents of Jerusalem. "
— Mary, 3/11/2010" Many groups vying for the same piece of ground---some political and all religious. Characters of all types--zealots, humanitarians, journalists. "
— Trudy, 1/9/2010" War in the middle east. I didn't like this as well as his others, but that's not a put down. "
— Tom, 8/24/2009" If the US is divided up between Red and Blue states, Jerusalem, Israel, and Palestine are every color in the spectrum stirred up in a bucket. "
— Jay, 6/20/2009" 140 pages and not much has happened. Keep reading? Probably. "
— Patrick, 3/3/2009" truly gripping thriller/meditation on the Mideast. Robert Stone is one of those writers that tricks me...always setting me up with wrong expectations and delightfully so. "
— Peter, 1/27/2009" I picked this up for a dollar at a used bookstore, and really wanted to read it, but it just didn't hold my attention. Maybe I'll try again another time. "
— Meg, 1/11/2009" This is just a vacation book for me... "
— Jennifer, 12/29/2008Robert Stone (1937–2015) received most of the accolades and awards possible for a contemporary novelist, and he has been called the best writer of the post-Vietnam era. His many novels, which have enjoyed commercial success as well as critical acclaim, include the National Book Award winner Dog Soldiers, Damascus Gate, Bay of Souls, and A Hall of Mirrors. He was also the author of the short story collection Bear and His Daughter, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.