Robert Oster

Whispers In The Dark Robert Oster

It's 1955, the height of the Cold War. Premier Nafka Yentsin is the brutal leader of Beyzakia, a tiny but crucially important independent totalitarian Balkan state. Yentsin has been in negotiations with the United States regarding opening up commercial relations with the Western democracies to improve the weak Beyzakian economy. Treaty conditions include the enactment of political and civil rights reforms. An ad hoc joint intelligence task force recruits entertainment impresario and music columnist Wyatt Hunter to produce a series of "goodwill" American music concerts throughout Beyzakia during the preliminary talks. Wyatt is more than willing to temporarily sacrifice his present career by his burning desire to cover up his real identity. He later learns that his girlfriend has been chosen to be the featured performer. Fake history and real historic events are amalgamated into a tongue-in-cheek narrative replete with typical Osterian humor and satirical wit.