The three Sirens (published in 1964) - Authored by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book “sins of Peter Fleming did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was abest seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
The three sirens published in 1964 is a racy novel of sex and infidelities. It deals with the repressed sexuality in our modern times and civilizations and how the myth of sex implodes when it comes in contact with the free society. It also talks about sexual freedom, the gender issues and how cultures clash. It depicts the dangers for conversion of the natives by so called civilization and laments the loss of traditions and cultures lost in the name of uniformity and civilization.



Dr. Maude heads a group of anthropologists and their families who reach a remote Polynesian island to study the culture and traditions of the so called islanders. Here they reach a veritable paradise with beautiful scenery and amazing life. Here they comes across the islanders who are sexually liberated and unshackled. Sex is no longer taboo in this community of 200 odd people. Here you have husbands having frigid wives visiting sex huts, free necking and sex escapes on the beach.
So the anthropologists coming across such a free society question their own outlook on life and love. Soon many form their own agendas in their mind. Some join the natives, some try to convert them and some are just fascinated by a new study given to them. One of the daughters of the anthropologist fall in love with one of the island boys, another's son succumb to temptation and some marriages are ruined. Many indulge in their own fantasies and show the bored natives the western way of life. But these contacts bring about the ruin of the island paradise similar to the serpent which wrought the destruction of Eden.
Irving Wallace can be said as the pioneer in analyzing the sexuality reports, like the Kinsey reports for the development of his plots. But I feel that his over the top narration of the sexual interludes almost borders on porn. The book about the rights of the natives gets mired in the sexual content and conquests. It looks like a teens fantasy novel and I would not like to recommend for a mature individual. It is a western fantasy about the life described by a commune living 60's flower child. Not a shade on his other novels.

The Prize (published in 1962) - written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents, Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had Emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book 'Sins of Peter Fleming' did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies.
The Prize published in 1962 presents the lives of six Nobel laureates who receive the most coveted prize in the history of man kind i.e the Nobel prize. All six of them receive the all important telegram and their past and intertwining lives changes their world all together, for ever. This book was adapted in to a book by Paul Newman which was not much of a success as the novel.



The six characters whose pioneering works get them the Nobel prize reach Stockholm with their loved ones and the demons from the past. Max Stratman, an venerable physicist has battled the Nazi camps and death of loved ones. He retains his humanity and is very concerned for his niece Emily who has secrets of her own. She battles terrifying memories about the concentration camps and have problems in trust and building relationships.
The Marceau's are the husband and wife duo whose work gets them the prize in chemistry. They have been partners in life as well as in the lab. But the husband's infidelity has developed cracks in their marriage and the wife gets her revenge by cozying up with a lab assistant. Will their seemingly perfect union survive?
Andrew Craig in the major character who wins it for literature. It is said that Andrew's life was a fantasy of Wallace's. But Andrew's literary graph has plummeted with his wife's accident. He feels guilty her death and drowns his sorrow in alcohol and women. His sister in law takes care of him and tries to have a relationship, but does she succeed in her manipulations? Andrew has various sexual conquests in Stockholm and his love for Emily redeems him.
Doctor John Garrett, the winner for medicine has to share it with Carlo Farelli, his arch rival who completely eclipses him in the press. John with his reclusive ways is overshadowed by Farelli and is seethes with jealousy. But his compassion and skills win him the last round and he combines forces with his arch rival to save a life.
It is said that Wallace took 15 years to pen this book and it is worth the effort. You get the golden nuggets of information about the Nobel Prize winners and the intrigue and processes by which the selection is done. Just go for the book, it worth time and money.

The Seventh Secret (Published in 1985) - Authored by Irving Wallace - What if Hitler was still alive ?

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace, who had Emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book “Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was abest seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
Seventh Secret is a book on the Nazi past and present with a question mark over the death of Hitler. A well written action thriller, it presents the scenario where Hitler is alive and still heading the SS. Dr. Harrison Ashcroft, a well known historian travels to Germany to excavate the bunker where Hitler has committed suicide. He gets a phone call which informs him that Hitler is alive and well in Germany waiting for the winds to change. But he is killed before he can complete his work. His daughter Emily Ashcroft travels to Germany determined to complete her fathers assignment. She is joined by Rex Foster a dashing Architect, Tovah Levine, a beautiful Mossad agent and Nicholas Kirvov, curator of the Hermitage of Leningrad.



Emily is dogged by unknown assassins as soon as she lands up in Germany and is gallantly saved by Rex Foster. Here Wallace deviates from the plot with the attraction subplot between Emily and Rex. This sexed up encounter take the sheen out of the story. Emily soon in search for clues meets up with Hitler's dentist who gives her information about a lucky charm worn by Hitler and his latest dental caps which not found by the Russians. Soon with the help of Levine, Kirvov and Foster she comes to the conclusion that Hitler had survived the War and used the death of his double to blind fold the world.
Soon the plot unravels with the disappearance of Emily who seems to have been kidnapped. Foster looking for clues in the sixth bunker comes across a thin crack which on further investigation reveals to be the opening to the seventh bunker. There he finds Emily who informs him that it leads to a cafe run by Evelyn Hoffman. Foster drugs Evelyn who spills the truth that she in fact is Eva Brown, the wife of the German despot. Hitler did survive the war and was waiting for the opportune moment to assume power and unite Germany. He died on the same year as JFK and Evelyn has assumed the command of the Nazi's. The story further throws in astonishing details of Hitler's child who leads a peaceful life. Well all this digging for truth is useless because, the entire bunker detonates and Eva and her child escape. So with the proof gone Emily and Rex have only each other to cling to.
The story is loosely written with lot of loopholes fort the reader to latch on. The premise is good but the details are jarring. It is difficult to accept that the proof uncovered by the protagonists are not found by the leading investigative agencies. But still worth your free time if you have a lots of it.

The Man (published in 1964) - the turmoil when a Black Man becomes President of the United States

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had Emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book “Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies.
As you read The man, you just feel that Wallace is holding a mirror to the society which has to prove itself in accepting people who we ourself prove to be different. Today the Barack Obama presidency rolls on you just cant be amazed by the events of the 60's where a racially charged America forced to accept a black president comes up to our expectation to truly prove its secular and equality credentials.



A quirky accident, kills the American president, vice president and the pro term speaker which throws up the question of succession. Douglas Dilman, the President Pro Tempore, largely a ceremonial position, is thrust in to the limelight to succeed the slain president. The ultimate question remains in the book lingering, will America boiling in the race cauldron accept a black president. The book follows the ethical and moral questions about race discrimination which emotionally scars and almost overwhelms a capable man.
Douglas has to maintains a distance with everybody. He cannot encourage any black friends for the fear of alienating white constituents. His family itself is torn between his son who enjoys being the beacon of black power to the daughter who has given up on her race. His relationship with his secretary, Edna Foster is very cautious one which involves a no close door policy. The other senators and right wing newspapers pillory his every stance right on domestic policies and international relations. The author portrays each cruel barb with such force that the reader feels enraged by the tactics of the villains. The portrayal of Eaton and Zeke Miller as ambitious upwardly mobile whites in a racially vitiated atmosphere is real.
But Douglas Dilman is no remote controlled mannequin. He slowly comes on his own confident in his abilities and truth which makes his opponents desperate. So the motion is set in to remove the president, the motion of impeachment. Soon character assassinations, threats and bogus impediments are laid down which actually befuddle the public. But will the truth survive, will the senate be blinded by color believe the lies of Miller and Co or uphold the constitution which says “ All Men Are Equal” and will Douglas Dilman win the trust of his children, lady love and the public to be true inspiration and commander in chief?
These burning questions remain and shades of Harper Lee's “try to kill a mocking bird also emerges”. A true inspirational story which will resonate through generations.