New York City - The Central Park Zoo was the very appropriate setting for the launch party for James Gardner's new novel "The Lion Killer" on Wednesday, September 30. A life-long passion for Africa that started with his first safari visit in 1968 has inspired Gardner to pen what he calls his "The Dark Continent Chronicles," of which the "The Lion Killer" is book one.

The fete was first class with a full bar, exquisite hors d'oeuvres, perfect ambiance and very smart conversation in concert with the rhythmic beat of an on-site African drummer. Located in the central courtyard of the zoo and adjacent to the sea lion den, guests were treated to an evening feeding display and performance by the aquatic residents.

The evening's host, William E. Flaherty.

Hosted by William E. Flaherty, former Fortune 500 President and CEO of Horsehead Industries and longtime friend of the author, the tented party was a gathering of Manhattan's literary, business, arts and social notables. Among the almost 200 guests were Wendy Diamond, Maria Cooper Janis, Lynwood Sawyer, Sharon Bush, Ian Craig, Jean Shafiroff, Tina Louise, Gordon Stevenson, Ira and Jackie Neimark, Frances Scaife, Tom McCarter, Jo Hallingby, Michael Takiff, Amy Winarski, Helmut Huber and Susan Lucci to name but a few.

Flaherty's decision to stage the celebration in the unique location of the Central Park Zoo is actually a natural choice, as he explained, "I am on the board of the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoos, so I have a connection with wildlife and wild landscapes. Jim and I have visited what I would call wild landscapes many times together. For example, in Zimbabwe there is Hwange National Park which is 129 square miles and they can hardly keep it up because there is no income left."

More than a book party, the event could be considered a fundraiser, as explained to me by host Flaherty, "All proceeds from the sale of book will be donated to the children of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe - 100 per cent of the profits - it was Jim's idea. There is a very large population of orphans, many due to AIDS, and there is no system to deliver these children out of poverty. They just wander the streets and our friends in Victoria Falls deliver meals to them about three times a week."

"The Lion Killer" is a brilliantly written thriller in which the author has created a protagonist in the character of Rigby Croxford that is heroic yet opportunistic, romantic yet cynical. Imagine John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart and Harrison Ford rolled into a single character with a passion for a continent which he loves, but in truth can no longer really call his own in the present political and social climate. The novel is filled with action, intrigue, romance and plot twists that will have readers racing through the pages like a cheetah in pursuit of an antelope on the African plains.

The launch party for James Gardner's book "The Lion Killer" at the Central Park Zoo.

Although fiction, Gardner has incorporated into the novel both the experience of his 25 visits to Africa and his personal outrage regarding the condition of a continent destroyed by years of European colonialism, American ambivalence and African self-manifested ethnic and tribal intolerance and genocide. During Gardner's speech to the attendees he referenced the long economic and social devastation that Zimbabwe in particular has suffered under the regime of President Robert Mugabe. He noted the high Zimbabwean literacy rate of 87 percent, but yet there is a life expectancy of 37 years and an unemployment rate of 96 percent, due in large part to the corruption that has destroyed the country's economy, agriculture and infrastructure. Gardner flatly stated with disgust, "Robert Mugabe has been a plague on the country."

I spoke with the author about his novel prior to his speech, "There will be a series of three books called 'The Dark Continent Chronicles.' This is the first book of three, I have finished two and the third one is almost finished, so each will be coming out about every eight months, all about modern Africa."

Gardner's passion for Africa is palpable and he has written a book that he clearly hopes will change his reader's view of Africa and motivate his own government to play a more active role in the salvation of a continent that he believes holds the future of humanity, "I hope that the United States will take a stand one time and try and turn it around and make it a better place. I think we can do that in Zimbabwe. It is about the size of New York, it is a small country and I think there is a chance there to turn it around." I asked Gardner if he thought the righting of Zimbabwe might serve as a domino catalyst for the salvation of the rest of Africa, "Absolutely!"

The concept of fiction as a vehicle for social change and moral re-evaluation can be traced back to Sophocles, but when it can manifest itself in the form of a highly readable and entertaining piece of contemporary literature in the uber-responsive, electronic media universe the effect may indeed be profound. The media play on "The Lion Killer" is already substantial, as literary agent Marianne Strong stated, "This book is going through the roof. The Washington Post and the Washington Times are both already reviewing it. I think this book will be a bestseller. He has two more in the trilogy and one is so frightening that I don't know if I can bear to be the agent for it."

"The Lion Killer" is an extraordinary read on an extraordinary mission. For those that actually consider the future of Africa, it may very well change their perspective. For those that have not yet contemplated the future of Africa with its natural resources, its ethnic diversity and the strife created by it, its poverty and political corruption, this novel will be a primer. It is the continent of our earliest ancestors; it is the nest of our Darwinian evolution. James Gardner's novel is that rare read of fiction that changes the reality of our perspective and changes it for the better.

For more information go to: www.darkcontinentchronicles.com