Book review by Charles Gardner — 
How do you solve the Middle East conflict? This is the theme of an intriguing new book, The Chandelier Maker (published by Saffron Planet), which is both quirky and revolutionary.
Steve Maltz, prolific author of more than 30 books often dealing with the controversial issue of how Christianity has lost its way through being cut off from its Jewish roots, now attempts something very different with a novel built around four ‘ordinary’ people thrashing out possible solutions to a problem that has evaded politicians for millennia – with the generous help of Artificial Intelligence and some other (yet to be invented) hi-tech applications. Science fiction of a kind, you might say, but with a genuine search for truth in mind.
As world leaders have made a mess of it, perhaps lesser mortals can make a difference by baring their souls in a closed environment away from prying eyes and ears (or so they think).
It is surprising what happens!
Perhaps reconciliation is possible if we hear each other out, lay our cards on the table and – most importantly of all – check out the facts, ensuring they are separated from fiction. And this is where AI comes in so handy.
The four main characters chosen to help solve the world’s longest-running crisis comprise a Jewess and a Palestinian male, both in their twenties, along with a ‘Christian Zionist’ (an evangelical supporter of Israel) and a feisty Marxist/atheist activist, both in their seventies.
Two odd couples indeed, and sparks do fly – for a time. But the gradual realization of truth, after Arty Intellect manages to sift out the fakery, lights something more akin to a warm glow of friendship and understanding. But I do not wish to spoil your experience, so get reading.
And as one who considers himself reasonably au fait with the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I have learnt quite a bit of useful (and challenging) new information.
In recent days, Steve has authored a couple of groundbreaking books¹ – Now Everything Changes, explaining the huge spike in antisemitism through the adventures of an initially naïve couple, followed by its sequel Who Am I? which takes us on a roller-coaster exploration through the bewildering maze of wokery now bedeviling our world.
I commend The Chandelier Maker, though you’ll have to read the book to fully understand the thinking behind the title. It’s not a new episode of Only Fools and Horses, which once featured the disastrous results of cockney market trader Del Boy’s attempts to gain acceptance in high society. It’s basically about being prepared to have someone else point out the plank in your eye (i.e. your skewed understanding of the way things are) by contrast to the speck of sawdust in theirs.
1 Both available from sppublishing.com – see also www.saltshakers.com
