ISBN: 1-57023-177-X



By Bob Bergin

This action-packed adventure novel, centered in the world of Asian antiques, involves colorful characters in settings ranging from the remote mountains of northern Thailand and Bangkok's exotic nightspots to an antique shop in America.

Lured to an ancient lost Khmer city in the jungle, which contains a fantastic cache of ancient bronze and stone carvings, Harry and Aloysius devise a plan to smuggle the massive cultural treasures across international borders and into the lucrative world art market.

But all does not go well as the smugglers encounter shady characters and violence. And all is not what it seems as this exciting story unfolds.

AUTHOR: Bob Bergin is a retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer, a Southeast Asian specialist, and a dealer in Asian art and antiquities. When not pursing art treasures, he hunts down and writes about historic aircraft and the men who flew them in Southeast Asia and China during World War II. His articles have appeared in publications in the U.S. and Asia; some of these articles can be explored here. He is also the author of When Tigers Fly (Impact Publications, 2004) and Spies in the Garden.

PRAISE FROM REVIEWERS

"A fast-paced page-turner by an old Asia hand with an insider's knowledge of the intricacies of the antiquities trade. A good read for the armchair adventurer."
--Sylvia Fraser-Lu, author of numerous books on Asian arts and antiquities, including Silverware of South-East Asia and Splendor in Wood: The Buddhist Monasteries of Burma.

"An adventure story with a delightful twist. Bergin leads you through the jungles of Thailand and the world of antiquities with a steady hand and a sharp eye. A good read."
--Richard Rashke, author of Escape from Sobibor and The Killing of Karen Silkwood.

"A surprise at every turn. A pleasant surprise to find that Bob Bergin has written a fascinating mystery in an area where he has a wealth of knowledge. He has been traveling in Asia for many years searching out art and antiques. Weaving his expertise in this area into an incredible story of rare art, smuggling, and deception - while keeping the vision of the lush jungles and klongs of Thailand - provides a rapid pace of intrigue, rushing waters, elephant trails, and mystery."
--Dick Rossi, President, Flying Tigers Association

"A great story that captures the total sensual package of being in Southeast Asia - negotiating the complexities of social relations, colliding with street-level life, peering down the small side streets shrouded in ancient patinas, and stumbling into the riot of everyday adventures, some soft and quiet, others loud and threatening, but all of them worth the price of a return ticket."
--Lew Stern, Department of Defense Southeast Asia Affairs Specialist and author of many books and articles on Asia.

"Stone Gods, Wood Elephants has most everything a reader could want - quirky characters, an exotic locale, and an interesting story. I was familiar with Bob Bergin's nonfiction writing, as he is a valued contributor to some of Primedia's historical magazines, so I expected a novel by him to be well worth reading. But I was impressed by this engaging and well-imaged tale."
--Nan Siegel, Primedia History Group

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