Art of Storm

Art of Storm follows a coastal community through the 1900 Galveston hurricane — the deadliest natural disaster in American history — in twelve chapters framed by the words of Sun Tzu. Each chapter opens with a line from The Art of War, read against the record of a storm that arrived on a city with no warning system, no seawall, and no memory of what the Gulf could do. A closing chapter gathers the strategist’s own words.

1. Chapter 1 — The Fallen Neighbor
   “To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands.” — Sun Tzu

2. Chapter 2 — The Unfortified Position
   “The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally; but a power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces of victory, and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and distances…” — Sun Tzu

3. Chapter 3 — The General’s Declaration
   “He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.” — Sun Tzu

4. Chapter 4 — Foreknowledge
   “Knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions can only be obtained from other men.” — Sun Tzu

5. Chapter 5 — The Prosperous Camp
   “He will win who, well prepared, lies in wait for an enemy not well prepared.” — Sun Tzu

6. Chapter 6 — The First Signal
   “Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.” — Sun Tzu

7. Chapter 7 — Narrow Passes
   “The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.” — Sun Tzu

8. Chapter 8 — Desperate Ground
   “Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows.” — Sun Tzu

9. Chapter 9 — Under Siege
   “The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.” — Sun Tzu

10. Chapter 10 — The Soldiers
    “In death ground, fight.” — Sun Tzu

11. Chapter 11 — The Weakest Point
    “Regard your soldiers as your children.” — Sun Tzu

12. Chapter 12 — After the Battle
    “A kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.” — Sun Tzu

13. Sun Tzu
    “Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.” — Sun Tzu