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The curious title of Ray Palla’s latest novel "H:Infidels of Oil" isn’t so curious once you get into the story. Things heat up early in the narrative as a group of terrorists sets off a H-bomb in a Middle Eastern oilfield. Meanwhile, back in the United States we are introduced to some colourful characters, their language and their habits. They are roughnecks who stumble upon another group of terrorists, related to their brothers in the Middle East, who are hell bent on igniting not only the local oil fields but the global war which they hope will follow. Also riding along are some Mexican illegals including some women hoping to make it to the delights of Las Vegas. It’s an interesting mix. The motley crew of cussin�, cursin� sun-hardened oilmen decide to take on the terrorists. And the result is explosive.

I had a little difficulty getting into the story. With characters named Foot, Pad, Wichita and Weasel I wondered if I’d happened upon a nursery rhyme. Then there’s the dialogue. What’s going on? But soon the mist cleared and I could see the road ahead. Of course oilmen would talk like that and they’d all have weird nicknames. Once I settled into the story it grew on me. A considerable amount of research on many subjects must have been carried out for "H:Infidels of Oil." The dialogue, certainly that of the American characters, sounds realistic and Ray Palla paints a picture with his words so it is easy to visualise every scene. But there is room for improvement. I wondered about the Middle Eastern dialogue. Of course it is translated into English but it is difficult to imagine a Farsi speaker saying “my good man� as an English gentleman might, or “at your pleasure, sir.� Even with the English speakers, not enough use is made of contractions to make the dialogue sound more realistic. In this era of the Internet and Google it isn’t necessary to explain in brackets various terms, even technical ones. That, plus an overuse of commas, can give the text a staccato-like effect. The tension in the story might have been beefed up a little to make it more of a page-turner if there were more scenes involving the Middle Eastern characters and less of the mundane day to day conversation of the English speakers. Those peccadillos aside, the story itself is imaginative, a real Boy’s Own adventure and well worth a read.