The Fifth Horseman (novel)

The Fifth Horseman

Company type	Novel
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1980
Founder	Larry Collins, Dominique Lapierre
Products	Techno-thriller novel
Parent	Simon & Schuster

The Fifth Horseman is a 1980 techno-thriller novel authored by American writer Larry Collins alongside French author Dominique Lapierre. The narrative revolves around terrorists supported by Libya who take New York City hostage through the threat of a concealed nuclear device.

A companion work by the same authors, titled Is New York Burning?, revisits a comparable situation set in 2005, substituting the original President and Muammar Gaddafi with George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden respectively.

Plot

Kamal Dajani, a terrorist affiliated with Libyan interests, arrives in New York City carrying a formidable bomb engineered by his brother Whalid, a nuclear physicist. Together with their sister Laila, they serve under the directive of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, driven by vengeance for their father's demise and the loss of their family home in the West Bank. Laila delivers a written ultimatum from Gaddafi to the White House, which includes instructions to collect bomb schematics from an airport locker. The U.S. President—unnamed but clearly inspired by Jimmy Carter—and his advisors are informed by the Department of Energy that the weapon is a three-megaton hydrogen bomb.

The Nuclear Emergency Support Team is mobilized but faces challenges due to technological constraints and terrorists releasing radioactive pigeons to mislead detection efforts. Meanwhile, the NYPD and FBI, featuring Detective Angelo Rocchia and Agent Mike Rand, pursue concurrent investigations.

The Mayor of New York City receives notification about the threat; however, evacuation is rejected by Gaddafi and considered impractical due to potential casualties reaching up to eight million and radioactive fallout extending into New England. Concurrently, Israel prepares for airstrikes against Libya but cancels them after receiving warnings about Soviet nuclear retaliation—a deterrent reportedly encouraged by the U.S. President to restrain Israeli action. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin refuses to evacuate West Bank settlements, cautioning about possible military insubordination.

Rand and Rocchia identify Whalid and Kamal; with support from French intelligence agencies, they apprehend terrorist Nabil Suleiman, who agrees to testify. Frustrated by FBI secrecy, Rocchia arranges for his daughter's evacuation to ensure her safety.

As tensions escalate, the President contemplates military responses but is comforted by assurances regarding Israel's strategic cooperation. A critical deadline passes without the bomb detonating.

Whalid discloses that his intention was not to annihilate New York but to enhance Libya’s nuclear prestige; he had tampered with the bomb’s computer system and supplied false detonation protocols. Following a confrontation, Kamal kills Whalid, seizes the authentic detonation instructions, and proceeds with Laila toward activating the bomb.

The President commands two U.S. Navy submarines to target Libya with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), authorized to fire unless the bomb is neutralized or Gaddafi extends his deadline. Gaddafi grows suspicious of American delay tactics.

Rand and Rocchia trace Kamal to the bomb’s location. After being shot, Rocchia pretends to be dead; Kamal kills Rand, but Rocchia retaliates by killing Kamal. The NEST team disables the bomb’s microprocessor using ultraviolet radiation, preventing catastrophe and halting SLBM launches.

Laila attempts to escape toward Canada but crashes on icy roads and dies in the accident.

With the crisis defused, some U.S. officials advocate for retaliation; however, the President chooses restraint and sends Gaddafi a Quranic message: "Whoever ye shall be, death will overtake you, even though ye reside in lofty towers."

Development

In 1980, the books were released by Michael Korda under the Simon & Schuster imprint. The authors, Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, both seasoned journalists with backgrounds at Newsweek and Paris Match, contributed their professional insights. Michael Korda recounted that Charles Bluhdorn, the founder of Gulf + Western—which owned Simon & Schuster and Paramount at the time—was deeply intrigued by the book’s subject matter. He convened meetings to caution financial executives about the depicted dangers and sought to develop a film adaptation, attempting to involve Barry Diller, then head of Paramount. Eventually, Diller and Korda convinced Bluhdorn to discontinue the initiative. The literary agent representing the book was Irving Paul Lazar.

French version

The French translation, titled Le cinquième cavalier, retains the core storyline but diverges with an alternate conclusion. Unlike its English counterpart, Gaddafi does not receive the Quranic telegram. The resolution of the Israeli crisis occurs through a discreet invitation extended by the President to both Gaddafi and Begin at Camp David, aiming to advance peace efforts in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The closing scene depicts Rocchia contemplating the irrationality of endangering millions of lives for such an outcome. Moreover, Laila survives in this version but is apprehended and sentenced to life imprisonment, contrasting with her death in a car accident in the original.