Gordon Alexander's page

The son of a US ambassador, Gordon grew up living all over the world. Groomed to be a statesman, he enjoyed the best schools during the day and private tutors in the evenings to learn the local languages. While his father pushed education and polish, his mother, a high school and college athlete, pushed his physical training. The result was a well-educated and fit young man that had spent little time around kids of his own age, and thus was slightly socially awkward outside his inner circles and area of expertise. His only regret was never learning to play a musical instrument.

At age 12 he lived in China and while mastering the local Mandarin dialect he also learned an opened hand form of martial arts called Sanshou that was taught at a local monastery. This focused on quick strikes, acrobatics, and ambush. He developed a discipline through this study that has stuck with him into adulthood and a day seldom passes that Gordon does not perform his katas. He also gained his interest in mysticism here. But it was in Egypt at age 14 that he became fascinated with what would later become his vocation: Archeology.

Accepted into the University of California-Berkley at the age of 17 he quickly earned a BS and MS degree in archeology while minoring in linguistics. While there he managed to earn another masters in ancient languages, which seemed to come easy to him. His father was not totally happy with Gordon’s choice of study but could not help but be pleased with his academic achievements. He was accepted into Princeton where he earned PhDs in both archeology and ancient languages, and also learned he loved to teach. His college high point was a semester back in Egypt working at a new dig site where he distinguished himself for both hard work and the ability to live in remote and uncomfortable surroundings. This is where his environment dictated that he learn survival.

After his graduation it was the most natural thing in the world for Gordon to stay in academia. Accepted as a professor of Archeology at Columbia University he soon was well published, a favorite lecturer, and tenured. Shortly after he started to follow the work and theories of Mr. Diamond.

Dr. Alexander is perhaps the most accomplished scholar of ancient civilizations of his age. He demonstrates an uncanny ability to make leaps in logic that are not linear to most and continues to be on the forefront of archeological discovery and advancement. And as he learned to survive and thrive in the politically charged world of modern academics he learned both to be diplomatic and to buff when needed, and to understand the innuendo and read sincerity in others.

Are you kidding me? As a scholar, leading archeologist and linguist, Dr. Alexander wants to be in charge of the investigation of the lost city and resent's both his late invite and the government's heavy hand in all this. They just need to back off and let the professionals do their jobs.

This a a dream come true and once in a lifetime opportunity for someone like Gordon Alexander. And he believes his skill set will be critical in unlocking the secrets of the city.

Mr. Diamond requested Dr. Alexander's attention on this expedition personally, convincing Dr. Alexander's dean to release him for a full semester. Dr. Alexander's reputation as a scholar of ancient history and languages along with his knowledge of archeology has made him quite well known in certain small circles.

As a scientist, and skeptic in general, Dr. Alexander is not fully on board with any theory and needs scientific proof. Having survived in the academic world for close to 20 years he knows better than to openly criticize his sponsor's theory. While he expects to find roots in the city linking it to Mesopotamia or perhaps some Phoenician or pre-Carthian civilization something deep within him hopes that Mr. Diamond is right.

This is not the first wild theory Mr. Diamond has espoused. Dr. Alexander has followed much of the man's career and marveled at the number of times Mr. Diamond's crazy theories have been proven right, or at least close enough to be of value. Gordon knows the man professionally and has even debated him a couple of times, always taking the more conservative side of an position. Gordon has to admit the man is bright and his jumps in deduction are extraordinary. Gordon likes Mr. Diamond more than he admires him, in truth, and sees him as too much of a rogue, even for the young Mr. Gordon's generation. That said Gordon is flattered that he was chosen for this assignment and is extremely grateful to the man.