SHELL GAME, A Review By Carolyn Baker

Like any good story, Shell Game is not linear but rather unfolds in a spiral of intrigue that culminates in a second 9/11-this time a nuclear one occurring in Los Angeles. But first and second 9/11’s are not the principal focus of Alten’s captivating novel. He has painstakingly clarified the corruption, greed, and power-driven madness that makes such catastrophes possible in the twenty-first century and intertwines these with the reality of a planet in the throes of unprecedented resource depletion. One is tempted to ask, “With all we actually know, how could this happen?” until Ace Futrell in Shell Game is rudely awakened by a conversation with Kelli’s cousin, Jennifer.

This fictional dialog could not be more timely than in the non-fiction election year of 2008, and Jennifer, a former campaign strategist trained under Karl Rove, enlightens Ace regarding the duplicity of the mainstream political process. Insisting that Jennifer explain why in the face of all of the evidence regarding climate change and energy depletion, Congress essentially takes no meaningful action, he asks:

“So, despite all the evidence of climate changes, despite rising gas prices, despite air pollution and respiratory problems…despite the fact that the world is running out of oil and we’re ill prepared for what will happen next-nothing will change?”

CarolynBaker.net