Supercomputers, Power Politics, and Moral Deception in the Autumn of the Cold War
On 18 June 2026, my novel The Dollar Compass will be released internationally as an e-book, printed book, and audiobook. It is the second volume in the series The Henrik Bertelsen Saga — a story about ambition, technology, power, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.
At its core, the series follows Henrik Bertelsen, a Danish baby boomer from provincial Aalborg in Denmark, who grows up in a time when globalisation, technological innovation, and rising prosperity seem to open unlimited possibilities. Like many of his generation, Henrik is keen to explore the world and build a successful career. But he also wants a family life, friendships, and the creative freedom he finds as a musician. Balancing these worlds turns out to be far more complicated than he imagined.
The Dollar Compass takes place in the mid-1980s, during the final decade of the Cold War — a time when political tensions, economic competition, and technological breakthroughs were reshaping the global order.
A career opportunity — and a dangerous mission
When the story begins, in July 1985, Henrik is working for an American technology company struggling to survive in a rapidly evolving computer industry. Only a few years earlier, his career had taken off spectacularly. After leaving a position in the Danish Ministry of Labour, he joined the company as a sales trainee and quickly rose through the ranks.
By the early 1980s, he had become one of the company’s top salespeople worldwide and was eventually promoted to sales manager, responsible for private-sector business. His success brought prestige, money, and influence.
But success can be fragile.
The company’s leadership fails to recognise the technological changes sweeping the computer market. Their products lose their competitive edge, and the once-successful business begins to struggle financially. As Henrik faces the prospect of missing ambitious sales targets, he begins to question whether to stay loyal to the company or pursue new opportunities.
Then a new and extraordinary opportunity appears.
Henrik is asked to lead a major project in the Soviet Union — a potential billion-dollar deal involving large computer systems for state institutions. If successful, the project could help rescue his employer from its financial crisis.
The assignment promises adventure, influence, and substantial rewards. But it also places him in a world where the rules of business and politics are very different from what he knows.
Moscow, corruption, and Cold War intrigue
When Henrik arrives in the Soviet Union, he quickly discovers that securing the contract will require navigating a maze of bureaucracy, political power struggles, and corruption.
Government officials expect expensive study trips to the United States. Rival suppliers are willing to bend rules and offer favours. Behind the scenes, different factions compete for influence over the project.
At the same time, the KGB begins to take an interest in Henrik.
One encounter in particular places him in a dangerous situation. A hotel employee asks for his help to escape the Soviet Union, but the request turns out to be part of a blackmail-and-corruption trap. If he refuses to cooperate, he risks losing the entire project — and possibly, his career.
If he agrees, he risks becoming entangled in something far more dangerous.
Henrik must constantly weigh ethics against ambition, seeking a path that protects both his integrity and his future.
Life at home — and the pull of music
While Henrik is dealing with political intrigue abroad, life at home in Denmark is equally demanding.
He and his wife, Sammy, live in a co-housing community in Hillerød with their two children. Both have demanding careers, and Henrik’s constant travel places an increasing strain on family life.
At the same time, he is pursuing a long-held dream: playing in a rock band.
The band has become increasingly popular, and weekend performances often stretch into the early hours of the morning. What began as a youthful passion is now another commitment competing for his time and energy.
For Henrik, success in business, dedication to family, and the joy of music form three powerful forces pulling in different directions.
A story set against history
The events of The Dollar Compass unfold during a pivotal moment in world history.
In the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the policies of glasnost and perestroika. In the United States, the Reagan administration pursued a new strategic approach to the Cold War. The political climate was changing, but the old systems of secrecy and power remained deeply entrenched.
The story reaches its dramatic climax during a visit to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, where Henrik and a small group of foreign guests are present shortly before the catastrophic accident that becomes the worst nuclear disaster in history.
In the aftermath, Henrik is forced to confront the deeper consequences of corruption, secrecy, and abuse of power — not just for individuals, but for entire world.
The deeper question
Although The Dollar Compass contains elements of a Cold War thriller, the novel is ultimately about something far more personal.
Throughout the story, Henrik faces a question many people encounter at some point in their lives:
What should guide our decisions?
Money is an easy compass to follow. It offers clear signals: higher salary, bigger deals, better titles, and more recognition. When you follow that compass, the direction always seems obvious.
But the problem with a dollar compass is that it rarely points to what actually matters.
At first, the compromises are small. A decision that feels practical today. A shortcut that seems harmless. A choice that promises opportunity.
Over time, those choices accumulate.
You may achieve the success you were aiming for. You may earn the money and recognition you once dreamed about. But somewhere along the way, the direction has shifted.
Because when money becomes the north star, it slowly begins to pull your decisions away from your values, your relationships, and the life you originally wanted to build.
That is the idea behind The Dollar Compass. A compass guided by money can help you make a fortune. But it will not help you find your way to a meaningful life.
About the series
The Dollar Compass is the second novel in the Henrik Bertelsen series, which follows the life of a Danish entrepreneur navigating the opportunities and challenges of a world transformed by technology and globalisation.
The books draw on the cultural and social environment of the Nordic countries, where strong public institutions and social security systems allow individuals to take risks and pursue their ambitions without fearing total failure.
Coming June 2026
The Dollar Compass will be published on 18 June 2026 by BOOX fiXion ApS and will be available worldwide as: Paperback and hardcover editions, e-book, and audiobook
I look forward to sharing Henrik’s story with readers around the world.
Because the path to success is not guided by a map or by money, but by something much simpler.
Book 1: Tumult in Mecca
