REVELS AND PERILS

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

When the young Californian scientist, Sky, traveling the old Silk Roads, unaccountably becomes pregnant, she and her partner, Leila, repeatedly debate how it could have happened. Other people wonder as well. Some assume Sky had an affair and lied about it; some think she was victimized while unconscious; a few think she might have brought it about through her own, highly advanced scientific research -- eliciting applause, denunciation, or a desire to capitalize on it. But one group of people believe the father was the legendary Yasnik – and they therefore venerate mother and child. Sky herself does not know. Buffeted by these reactions, Sky and Leila flee across Central Asia, while well-meaning and also hostile scientists, intelligence operatives, thieves, militaries, and others pursue or seek to protect them.

The book confronts major themes of science and religion, individual and community, the environment, cultural differences, the quest for power and the search for safety. The Book of Yasnik  is primarily an adventure and mystery story. It is also a coming of age and love story. 

Writing about two women in love and about the Silk Roads of Central Asia may seem quite a stretch for a North American man, but I've spent my life very connected to several wonderful, inspiring women and the past fifteen years researching and teaching about the Silk Roads. Having performed on stage as a dead, gay, artist and scientist -- when I'm not any of those -- has shown me how to stretch.

The book is dedicated to my sister, Diane, a caring anthropologist who died much too young.  

Books two of Revels and Perils is under edit; book three is half complete

PHOTO BY SUSAN LIGHT, 2024