Reviews

Fortune’s Lament

  • “In his latest spellbinding volume, Fortune’s Lament, Cressler throws us into the cacophony of the decline of Islamic Spain and the conquest of Granada. His compelling descriptions of horrendous religious battles between the Moors and Christians, often orchestrated by strong and cunning women, are startling. The familiar explorer, Columbus, is seen in a different context as he campaigns for the queen’s favors. Fearless warriors, quick to fight to the death on a bloody battlefield, were often not willing to fight off the field for love. Cressler’s tender, almost reluctant, portrayal of Yusuf and Danah’s Great Love was authentic, poignant and mystical. I was fortunate enough to experience my own Great Love in this lifetime and yes, it transcends even (his) death.”—Valerie Jackson, “In Conversation,” NPR’s WABE, Atlanta
  • “Fortune’s Lament is an enthralling tale from start to finish. In this third book in the Anthems of al-Andalus Series, Cressler has truly hit a stride with his narrative craft. Like Emeralds and Shadows, Fortune’s Lament is richly layered with political, architectural and military detail, and presents a textured portrayal of the messy and stubborn yet ubiquitous combination of religious ideology and political power that has made and broken many an empire. Wrapped up in yet another a deliciously satisfying love story, Fortune’s Lament provides readers with an intimate view of the complex geo-political panorama surrounding the fall of the last Muslim stronghold in Iberia and the rise of Catholic Spain on the world stage. Cressler accurately situates the most well-known of Isabella and Ferdinand’s pursuits—Columbus’s voyage—within the horror wrought on Jews and Muslims in the Catholic Monarch’s quest for political and religious unity. We all know how the story ends, but Cressler’s moving portrayal builds the hope that perhaps, somehow, with the compassion and tolerance the novel evokes in us, things just might turn out differently.”―Julia Baumgardt, Assistant Professor of Spanish, Marian University, Indianapolis
  • “The Kingdom of Granada is approaching its end. Beset by internal conflict and pressure from their enemies, the future appears bleak for the Moors. Extensively researched and beautifully written, Cressler’s novel leads us into an exotic world of love, ghosts, intrigue, and betrayal. A must-read for all lovers of historical fiction.”—Joan Fallon, author of the “Al-Andalus Series,” Málaga, Spain
  • “Fortune’s Lament, Cressler’s third historical novel of al-Andalus, soars to new heights as a compelling tale that leaves nothing wanting: provocative prose that delights the imagination, intrigue on multiple levels, vivid scenes both tender and terrifying, and Great Love that spans generations. Cressler invites each reader into a 15th century story that cannot help but challenge contemporary perceptions and responses to the personal, family, national and global complexities of our time. May the promised sequel be in our hands and hearts with little delay!” ―Catherine Crosby, co-founder of the Neshama Interfaith Center, Atlanta
  • “American novelist John D. Cressler realizes a European dream. ‘Nie Wieder Krieg,’ (German for ‘Never war again’) is a painting the German artist Käthe Kollwitz created after she found out that her son, a soldier, had been killed in the First World War. Only a few decades later, the horror of the Second World War was upon us. In many ways, the European Union was created to prevent future wars. Peace became a realizable dream, enhancing civilization our core business. Today, sadly, tensions are rising once again, often spurred on by ignorance, nationalism, and religious conflict. With lovely, poetic prose, Cressler uses his historical fiction to bring alive, in vivid detail, medieval Muslim Spain, whose lessons in peaceful coexistence and multiculturalism are still very relevant 1,000 years later. Using a beautiful love story set during the final collapse of Muslim Spain, Fortune’s Lament reminds us all of what truly matters most in the end, and that our dream of peace remains within our reach.”―Hugo Vercauteren, screenwriter and creative producer, Mortsel, Belgium
  • “As in the first two volumes of the Anthems of al-Andalus Series, this third entry, Fortune’s Lament, weaves together an intriguing tale of love, war, technology, and medicine in medieval Spain, with a touch of mysticism to add to the mix. We are transported back in time to bear witness to a world and a set of peoples that most of us do not know very well at all, but should. This volume continues to prime the imagination in a wonderful and quite captivating way, especially as we see this fictionalized world place us on the cusp of the global landscape that we know today.”—Jacqueline Jones Royster, Dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Tech
  • “Cressler’s Fortune’s Lament brings to life the glory of Islamic Spain in dramatic and vivid prose, and his work shows the value of extensive research. His fascination with Andalusia under Muslim rule is apparent, and his historical novels do justice to the epic sweep of this period of history. The lesson his storytelling leaves with us is the importance of coexistence and the richness that multiculturalism brings to our world—one that is perhaps even more relevant in our day.” —Christopher Thornton, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
  • “Fortune’s Lament is set in Granada at the end of the Middle Ages, during the encroaching reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. Cressler expertly uses the rich history of this period as scaffolding to build a beautiful tale of love and intrigue. The story grabbed my heart while provoking me to think more deeply about the value of religious pluralism.”—Reverend Thomas Kenny, S.J., Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School
  • “Cressler has an amazing ability to transport the reader to another time and place with his use of descriptive language (one can smell, see, taste, hear and feel the scene) coupled with his scholarly dive into this rich history. This has been proven before with Emeralds of the Alhambra and Shadows in the Shining City, and now no less in Fortune’s Lament. The weaving together of love stories, tales of power and conquest, of the horrors of war and the ways in which religion can be used for political gain, juxtaposed with stories of Divine mystical love produces a novel which will grab the reader from its opening chapter. In addition to being a page-turner, Cressler offers us an expanded and more nuanced understanding of history that can serve us as members of one human family: especially as diverse cultures and religions still struggle to live, understand and love together. There is much to engage the reader, and much to ponder here.” ―Marian Monahan, co-founder of the Neshama Interfaith Center, Atlanta
  • “As an Arab literary historian I owe John Cressler a deep admiration for his stance not just as an objective observer of the achievements of a different civilization, here the Arab-Islamic, but also for the contagious thrill that emanates from his writing about it as a novelist. Fortune’s Lament, the third novel of his Anthems of al-Andalus series is a beautiful love story set in historical perspective, and like his first two novels, is written in a gripping style showing Cressler’s clasp on both fine literature and the shared experience of love and war, jealousy and conspiracy, of peoples and cultures. I think its release is an important event and I look forward to seeing many Arab readers read and enjoy it.”―Salma Khadra Jayyusi, poet, writer, and literary historian. Founder and Director of EAST-WEST NEXUS/PROTA for the Dissemination in English of Arabic Cultural Achievements

From Early Readers:

  • “Granada in the 15th century was wracked by bloody religious battles; court jealousies, cunning, and intrigue; ominous religious persecution; personal suffering, guilt and forgiveness. Yet love thrives! Fortune’s Lament conjures Layla and William from Emeralds of the Alhambra through jinns and magical realism to show how Great Love endures for an eternity, transcends religious differences, and transforms and embraces Hakim Danah and her betrothed. Yet we have one more ever-present love in Fortune’s Lament: Nature, the verdant earth and her magical skies, the scents and beauty deliciously described in wondrous detail throughout. This book uplifts the soul.” —Denise Black
  • “Fortune’s Lament is a page-turner that constantly surprises. It is all there—a love story, great battle strategies, palace intrigue. I am not sure when I have learned so much while being so greatly entertained.” —Trish Byers
  • “I found myself turning page after page without realizing the passing time. Fortune’s Lament was equally thrilling, thought provoking, emotive, and historically interesting. The history is brought alive through champions of honor, dignity, and love, and the story told in a manner that resonates with today’s society, moving the reader to pursue Great Love in his or her own life.” —Angela Como
  • “Historical fiction at its best leaves you wanting to learn more about people, cultures, places, and events. Fortune’s Lament succeeds.” —Douglas R. Davis
  • “An epic tale of love and war with bigger than life characters. Fortune’s Lament is a fast-paced visual panorama of unconditional love and the harsh realities of war. A thrilling page-turner that leaves you emotionally exhausted.” —Dennis Day
  • “It’s all here, yet I want more. Political intrigue, parallel love stories, inspiring quests for knowledge, and damnable acts of subterfuge spurred me through the fascinating history of late 15th century Spain depicted in Fortune’s Lament, the third novel of the Anthems of al-Andalus Series. John Cressler clearly loves his subjects and has ignited my curiosity in the integral lessons of the fall of Muslim Spain and the emergence of European colonialism. Can differing faiths coexist—even thrive—in peace? How often must we forget the tragedies of history? And most of all, what is that mystery called Great Love? —Howard Holden
  • “Another masterfully written tale by John Cressler. The history is rich, the romance intense, the intrigue suspenseful, and the action compelling. I loved it and I think you will too!” —Tom Jablonski
  • “Fortune’s Lament is a reader’s delight! Cressler has done it again in the third book of the Anthems of al-Andalus Series. While Queen Isabella plots and schemes to achieve the downfall of the Moors in late 15th century Granada, the Spanish Inquisition endeavors to root out all Christian non-believers in Spain, Columbus seeks the favor of the Spanish crown to support his voyage to the ‘ends of the earth’, and love blossoms between a Moorish knight and a young woman who seeks to become the first female physician in Granada. A page-tuner par excellence will keep the reader entranced until the wee hours of the night. History, political intrigue, religion, architecture, and adventure concoct a savory stew that will have readers salivating until the final denouement. Highly recommended!” —Roger A. Meyer, MD
  • “With its evocative, often beautiful prose and key insights into the history of the time, Cressler’s latest book is an exceptional work of historical fiction. He skillfully weaves the separate story threads into an intriguing tale that appeals to readers who enjoy complex stories, strong characters, and enlightening history come to life.” —Barbara Nalbone
  • “Fortune’s Lament is a treat for lovers of historical fiction. In this exciting third novel, Cressler weaves a masterful story set in 15th century Spain, during the turbulent times of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, when conquest and desire to cleanse Iberia of Muslims and Jews takes precedence. Caught in this sweeping landscape of war and peace, Danah is an endearing protagonist, a young woman who is aspiring to become a physician while struggling with love and self-discovery in a society dominated by men. I was quickly swept into the story and could not put the book down. A masterfully crafted novel of love and intrigue that once more emphasizes Cressler’s enthusiastic belief in the goodness of humankind.” —Acar Nazli
  • “Fortune’s Lament invites readers into a time and place in history which continues to impact us profoundly today: the beginnings of the Spanish Inquisition and ongoing hostilities between the Christian and Muslim worlds. We enter into the lush world of the Alhambra and the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, getting a glimpse of Muslim, Jewish and Christian worldviews while be entertained by engaging characters and their stories, both historical and fictional. It is a fast, entertaining read that will leave you pondering what might have been done differently, and what we should be doing differently in today’s world so that history doesn’t continue to repeat itself.”
    —Patty Smith
  • “Fortune’s Lament takes us back to Spain in the late 1400’s and unfolds a story filled with history and love. It tells of choices we all have to make in our lives. We meet historical and fictional characters, woven together in a way that helps us see our time through their eyes. Ultimately, the story makes it obvious that only love can transcend our differences. Only love can make it possible for us to live together as Allah/Yehovah/God intended.” —Bud Treanor
  • “My favorite book so far in the Anthems of al-Andalus Series, Fortune’s Lament weaves together a series of intertwining narratives with one in particular at the forefront. We follow a young Muslim woman as she defies social norms to become the first female doctor in her community, embarking on a quest for truth along the way that ends in her finding Great Love. Though set in medieval Spain, this story evokes emotions and teaches lessons that transcend both time and space.” —Lara Tucci
  • “I felt like I was dropped into 15th century Spain, experiencing a full range of emotional twists and turns as the mystery of true love unfolds amidst the harsh realities of war. A truly remarkable novel that explores the power of Great Love.” —George Tzintzarov

 

Shadows in the Shining City

  • “An inspiring and deeply moving novel on both the nature of love and the many beautiful possibilities brought to life when religions learn to coexist.” —Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
  • “A mesmerizing love story … filled with vivid historical descriptions of treachery and strategies in politics, religion, power, and love during the Golden Age of Moorish Spain.” —Valerie Jackson, In Conversation (Between the Lines), National Public Radio
  • “This is the second novel in Cressler’s Anthems of al-Andalus Series, where the legacy of the Arab/Islamic civilization in medieval Spain, with its refinements, its enduring tolerance, and its esthetic dynamism is celebrated. A novel about love, political strife, and cultural conflicts, it is written in a rich and shimmering style carrying an implicit message on the value of recognizing the achievements of the “other,” and asserting the fact that there is no fixed center for human creativity and progress.” —Salma Khadra Jayyusi, poet, writer, and literary historian. Founder and Director of EAST-WEST NEXUS/PROTA for the Dissemination in English of Arabic cultural achievements
  • “An enthralling narrative to a shocking history. In this novel of 10th century Spain during the critical transition in the Muslim world from a progressive leader to a cruel megalomaniac, the author brings the reader straight into the landscape, the majesty and the struggles for power which cast the shadows upon al-Zahra, the Shining City. Cressler brilliantly weaves together fact and fiction, passion and intrigue, the throes of love, and the violence of war. With great attention to detail, he artfully unfolds the drama of a young and forbidden love, exquisitely keeping us rapt in the story, wondering in each moment, what will happen next?” —Rabbi Rachael M. Bregman, Temple Beth Tefilloh
  • “Another tour de force! Cressler submerges us in a luxurious narrative evoking the loves, lives, intrigue, and history of 10th century Córdoba, a time of religious and political amity among Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Our master storyteller provides a cautionary tale of how human desire can corrupt the power of love through the love of power. We cheer for Rayhana and Zafir while we witness the horror of books burning on the pyre of one man’s insane desire to stem the love of knowledge. We rejoice in the many triumphs of al-Andalus, yet despair at lessons not yet learned about how human beings may live and love together. Shadows in the Shining City is a lovely, moving, and inspiring story of how it might have been. We believe!” —Professor Susan Abraham, Loyola Marymount University
  • “Cressler is a master of meticulously researched detail. His intricately woven characters plumb the depths of love and fear, cunning treachery and wisdom, immersing the reader into the heart of 10th century al-Andalus as it balances on the edge of a cosmic shift, with repercussions that continue to reverberate today. What better way to learn history than through the eyes of lovers both young and seasoned: lovers of books and scientific discovery, of beauty and of harmony among diverse peoples, and ultimately, human love that defies all obstacles to proclaim, ‘I believe’!” —Cathy Devlin Crosby, Cofounder of Neshama Interfaith Center
  • “Cressler is a master of rich description, pulling the reader into each scene. An incredible love story supported and sustained by the remarkable coexistence of religions that characterized that magical era. (We) are left yearning for a return to convivencia.” —Father Bruce Maivelett, S.J., Jesuit Superior, Ignatius House Retreat Center 
  • “Cressler’s suspenseful novel, set at a decisive moment in Spain’s pre-modern history, challenges our all too comfortable prejudices about medieval culture as the eternal dark “other,” an allegedly primitive and less cultured period we have long left behind. Under the deceptive garment of an engaging love story, Cressler reveals the human continuities between the medieval past and the modern present, confronts twenty-first century religious intolerance with the decline of a relatively peaceful convivencia among tenth-century Spanish Muslims, Christians, and Jews, and celebrates the powerful role of learning and intellectual curiosity for interfaith dialogue.” —Professor Richard Utz, Chair, School of Literature, Media and Communication, Georgia Tech,  and President, International Society for the Study of Medievalism
  • “Cressler has done it again! He has woven an intricate and fascinating web in 10th century Córdoba from the threads of court intrigue, war, lust for power, passion, and most of all, love. The author reminds us that the most powerful force available has always been, and will always be, love; and that people from different cultures and religions can not only live together in peace, but also thrive and flourish even more profoundly in diversity. Cressler helps us all to believe that these highest values are still attainable and worth fighting for. A great read with a heartfelt message for today’s world!” —Marian Monahan, Cofounder of Neshama Interfaith Center
  • “Cressler is a vivid writer who creates a breathtaking adventure that is both intensely entertaining and informative. The reader is immersed in the cultural, religious, and scientific currents of one of the most remarkable periods of Spanish history. I look forward to the next one!” —Father Thomas Kenny, S.J., Chaplain and Teacher, Atlanta Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

        Reader Reviews

  • “Cressler has done it again! Against a tapestry of historical grandeur and religious conflict in 10th century Spain, he has woven a compelling tale of political intrigue, cultural turmoil, and forbidden love. Page turning was never so easy, or so unstoppable! Can’t wait for the third installment of this memorable trilogy!” —Roger A. Meyer, M.D.
  • “A medieval masterpiece filled with love, intrigue, betrayal, and passion … (that) leaves the reader thirsting for more!” —Dennis Day
  • “A superbly written novel (that allows readers) to glimpse the complex events that shaped Spain … (and) become living witnesses to a slice of the history of al-Andalus which Cressler brings to life with such love and care.” —Acar Nazli
  • “Takes you into the intrigue of a sophisticated civilization in medieval Córdoba. Full of ambitious plots, secrets, and true love. It kept me on the edge of my seat!” —Trish Byers
  • “A love story inspiring to those lucky enough to have been loved unconditionally, and to those who hope for such a blessing someday. This riveting story kept me on edge throughout.” —Preston Bennett
  • “A fast-paced, fun read that makes medieval Spain come alive. Characters of differing cultures and faiths come to life in a way that shows the goodness that is possible when we are tolerant.” —Patty Smith
  • “A love story (that) will make you see that times change but mankind remains the same; capable of great love and awful treachery. Take a trip back to 10th century Spain and see people of faith—Muslim, Christian, and Jew—live with and love one another. There is hope for us all and it begins with love.” —Bud Treanor
  • “I have undergone an education about a period of time of which I knew little, and best of all, is that in becoming educated, I was thoroughly entertained!” —Bob Wilhelm
  • “You will be awestruck (and) your breath will be taken away over and over again as you read the beautiful love story of two young people … whose unwavering love outshines the powerful, intriguing political forces set against their union.” —Denise Black
  • “(Cressler is) a first-rate storyteller. Wonderful three-dimensional characters, dramatic situations, and fascinating historical and cultural details.” —Tom Nadar, Ph.D.
  • “Exhilarating! A beautifully told story of love that finds a way to triumph. Historically compelling, with characters that make the time come alive.” —Tom Jablonski
  • “Weaves fiction and fact into a suspenseful, intriguing, passionate saga. A compelling story exploring themes of love, religion, and the thirst for power. A must read!” —Barbara Nalbone

Emeralds of the Alhambra 

  • “A deeply moving and enlightening novel on the co-existence of religions.”    ─Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
  • “…seamlessly weaves history, religion, passion, loyalty and romance into a compelling, beautifully-written, narrative which brings [the reader] into the richness, majesty and complexities of this different, yet alluring world…”   ─Rabbi Rachael M. Bregman, Temple Beth Tefiloh and Rabbis Without Borders
  • “… More than ever, we need stories like Cressler tells, confirming the transformative power of relationships. Cressler illuminates the beauty and meaning found in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, reviving an important shared history…”   ─Eboo Patel, Founder and President, Interfaith Youth Core
  • “…Cressler has woven an imaginative and intricately persuasive story…[a] vivid and gorgeous world of romance, intrigue, murder and negotiations between multiple religions in medieval Spain…[a] story of love between human beings, for God, and for the creation so graciously bestowed on us. A thoroughly gripping and engaging first novel.”   ─Professor Susan Abraham, Harvard Divinity School
  • “…A work of honesty and sensitivity that renders in depth, and with painterly detail, the living contours of a great civilization that the modern world needs to re-discover…A moving story of love across boundaries, set at a critical point in history…with unmatched and vivid descriptions of place, lifestyle, manners and practices…”            ─Salma Khadra Jayyusi, poet, writer and literary historian.  Founder and Director of EAST-WEST NEXUS/PROTA for the dissemination in English of Arabic cultural achievements.
  •  “[Cressler’s] compelling characters and vivid imagery bring this tale of intrigue and barrier-breaking relationships to life in a way that even a visit to the Alhambra did not…[Celebrates] the power of love to forge human hearts into timeless bonds.”    ─Cathy Devlin Crosby, Cofounder of Neshama Interfaith Center
  • “A captivating love story that speaks deeply to the purest and most humane places of the heart. A highly enjoyable and enthusing novel.”   ─Aytekin Erol, Lawyer Society of Cinematographic Work Creators, Istanbul
  •  “Emeralds of the Alhambra has it all – mystery, intrigue, duels and interfaith romance…Cressler artfully draws us into the fascinating lives of the novel’s main characters with vivid prose. We experience the blows and blood of the fierce battles between enemies, as well as the luminosity and laughter of spell-bound lovers…Transports readers back to medieval Spain and offers them a peek behind La Convivencia and all the rivalry, romance and complex relationships that existed between Jews, Christians and Muslims.”     ─Tayyibah Taylor, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Azizah Magazine
  •  “…A story of passionate love…And the spiritual quest for God…Cressler adds a most important element to the mix by weaving in the “problem” of how to reconcile interfaith concerns, [making] this wonderful novel especially prescient for the third millennium.”    ─Marian Monahan, Cofounder of Neshama Interfaith Center
  • “History, conquest, and a captivating love story…Dares us to engage in conversations with those of different faiths. This is more than a novel, it is a resource.”           ─Angela Harrington Rice, Senior Executive Producer, Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters 
  • “[Cressler] has a finely-tuned, sensuous capability to drink in and pass on exquisite sights, smells, colors, sounds and tastes…[At] the deepest level…Cressler helps [the reader] understand the…overwhelmingly powerful force that love truly is…and the role love plays in the experience of the Divine.”    ─Father Gene Barrette, Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette 
  • “…The novel’s rich and descriptive narrative serves as a call from the past, challenging us to realize that more is possible than we dare imagine. In its pages are found nearly everything that makes us human…”   ─Professor John B. Switzer, Spring Hill College,  Cofounder and Director of the Muslim, Jewish, Christian Trialogue

             Reader Reviews 

  • “Cressler weaves a beautiful love story between a man and woman who overcome the boundaries of language, religion and dogmas to form a perfect union, and which epitomizes Andalusian civilization. I lost myself in this engulfing story and fell in love with [Cressler’s] own humanity and sense of tolerance. We need to come together, as he writes so beautifully in the Emeralds of the Alhambra, as peoples of the world, to endure times that are becoming increasingly violent and fanatical.”                           ─Acar Nazli
  •  “Seeped in a rich and sensual history, this is a tale of love and faith that transcends time…Cressler reminds us of the transformative power of a hope and courage rooted in love, a reminder that is essential as we face the seemingly insurmountable conflicts of today.   ─Anita Hall
  •  “…An eye-opening novel and a beautiful story full of daring, intrigue [and] love…It is a story you will not find anywhere else, and it must not be missed!”                     ─Robert Wilhelm
  •  “…The riveting story line of battles, political and religious skullduggery, and the star-crossed love of William Chandon…and Layla al-Khatib…makes this…a real page-turner!”    ─Roger A. Meyer, MD
  • “…Transported me back to [the] 14th century, where the landscape…looked different…but the problems of humanity were the same ─ How do we live together in peace?…[Cressler’s] painstaking research and his care for detail are evident. I would not be surprised if someone decides to make an epic movie based on Emeralds of the Alhambra.”    ─Kemal Korucu
  •  “With beauty and ardency, Emeralds captures the triumph of love over religious and social conventions, progress over history, and warmth over the chilling callousness of war.”    ─Sylvia Hall

Silicon Earth

Silicon Heterostructure Handbook 

Silicon-Germanium Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors 

Extreme Environment Electronics

  • Review of Extreme Environment Electronics by IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, July 2013
  • “It is an excellent reference book in a somewhat specialized field… this book details a lot of stuff not really documented anywhere else. It is likely to be ‘the’ book on this subject.”– Marco Corsi, Texas Instruments
  •  “… a comprehensive compendium of valuable information on the operation of electronics in extreme environments.”– Edward Peterson, author of Single Event Effects in Aerospace