The ISIS Affair: Putting the Fun Back in Fundamentalism

David Rich

Dec 2021 · Religion Derision Book 1 · Rich World Books

About this ebook

 Two backpacking curmudgeons, a crotchety Brit and an ancient American, attempt to smuggle priceless world heritage antiquities to safety and save their own skins from ISIS. They outwit themselves at every turn, saved by a Yazidi Joan of Arc in a black comedy and satire on religion and nationalism that puts the fun back in fundamentalism.

The ISIS Affair was inspired by the most widely read article in the history of the Atlantic Monthly in March 2015, “What ISIS Really Wants”, by Graeme Wood. Thanks for the inspiration, Graeme.  

Ratings and reviews

This dark comedy, satire, adventure was a thrill ride from start to finnish.Two friends set out on an adventure one thing leads to another, than they become wanted by ISIS.I think it has good re-read quality, but it's current references of celebrities may become outdated soon. This story is written as if it was originally some kind of personal fantasy story about single-handedly taking out a terrorist organization. It's fun and dramatic, so long as you go into it knowing it's satire.

About the author

David Rich grew up on a ranch in Colorado. His dad introduced him to tractors and cattle, and his mother to music and travel. He toured the country with an amazing group of fellow misfits in the fighting 529th Air Force Band, attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and the University of Chicago Law School. By some fluke he began practicing law in Phoenix with Lewis and Roca, the firm that handled the Miranda case (which he had nothing to do with). After a stint as a law professor, David tried private practice but found the cushy job of assistant attorney general more to his liking. His appointment as judge pro tem by the Maricopa County Superior Court was a resounding success because attorneys immediately settled any case to which he was assigned.

He retired in his 40s to become a sailing captain, pilot, and full-time traveler, living in almost every country on the planet while writing dozens of travel stories. Myths of the Tribe, When Religion and Ethics Diverge (Prometheus Books 1993) examined the influence of organized religion on ethics, 2nd ed. 2019. RV the World, 2nd ed., 2018, combines his seventeen-years RVing the world with how anyone can do it. In 2019 David wrote The ISIS Affair, a satire on religion and nationalism in Syria subtitled Putting the Fun Back in Fundamentalism, and Scribes of the Tribe, Our greatest Thinkers on Religion and Ethics. He published Antelopes, A Modern Gulliver’s Travels, in 2020 and Sail the World?, the prequel to RV the World, in October 2021.