Could Goliath be Real? Imagine this ... NUCLEAR SUBMARINE HIJACKED (UPI) Pentagon officials confirm that Simon Covah, a former Russian scientist working with the Navy's Underwater Warfare center, has hijacked the GOLIATH, a nuclear stealth submarine armed with sixteen Trident-II (D5) Nuclear Missiles. Covah, whose family were victims of terrorism, has issued the following demands: 1. The complete and immediate cancellation of the United States' Missile Defense Shield Program. DEADLINE: 13 August 12:01 P.M. Greenwich 2. The public execution of the following criminals of state: A. Saddam Hussein DEADLINE: 15 August 12:01 P.M. Baghdad B. Moamar Khaddhafi DEADLINE: 17 August 12:01 P.M. Libya C. Slobodan Milosevic DEADLINE: 17 August 12:01 P.M. Yugoslavia D. Kim Jong Il DEADLINE: 17 August 12:01 P.M. N. Korea E. Yassar Arafat DEADLINE: 17 August 12:01 P.M. Tel Aviv Failure to comply with any demand will result in the launch and detonation of a Trident-II (D5) Nuclear Missile. Care to read more? Best-selling author Steve Alten's newest thriller, GOLIATH, debuted in July to 5-star reviews. Written before the events of 9-11, this "fictional thriller" is beginning to read like a prophecy as President Bush pushes for an invasion of Iraq, turmoil continues in the Middle East, and India and Pakistan flex their nuclear muscles. And now a movie? Hollywood superagent Joel Gotler (The Firm) is representing the GOLIATH movie rights with producer-managers Ken Atchity and Chi Li Wong of AE (Atchity Entertainment International, Los Angeles). GOLIATH promises to generate strong attention in both Hollywood and among book lovers in light of the ongoing war on terror, which begs another interesting question: Will international events dictate movie scenes in GOLIATH, or will Hollywood dictate international events? Says author Steve Alten, "the underlying theme of GOLIATH is that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. What is a little disturbing is that Simon Covah's motivations are not that far off from President Bush's. Terrorism and acts of oppression are evil, and we want to crush evil, but evil is never a black and white issue. A violent reaction to an act of violence is necessary, but retribution also taints the soul. At some point, the lines can become blurred, and we are seeing that in the Middle East as well as in the United States. How a GOLIATH film maker addresses these issues could potentially have an impact on the public's perceptions regarding the West's ongoing war on terror, but it might also bring to light our "unofficial policy" of looking the other way when it comes to human rights travesties in China, Tibet, and other lesser-known lands." GOLIATH is now available in book stores nationwide and is receiving high praise from critics. Booklist calls GOLIATH, "an exciting read," while Publisher's Weekly states, "Alten offers readers, particularly young adults, much to think about, morally and politically, in a world haunted by weapons capable of universal destruction."

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