Ultimatum by Matthew Glass...a very different political thriller

[Rabblevox]

This political thriller is unique. That works both to it's benefit and detriment.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimatum-Matthew-Glass/dp/0802118887

It's set 20 years in the future, when the problems of global warming, and relations with China are becoming catastrophic. The novel covers the first year of a liberal democratic administration, following another 12 years of republican disaster. There is no gunfire, sex, or conspiracy. It's just the story of men and women of varying degrees of intelligence and goodwill trying to do an almost impossible job.

This is really a diplomacy thriller rather than political thriller. It's all "behind the scenes" policy meetings, negotiation attempts,back-channel deals, speech-writing, and media manipulation.

It's incredibly "wonky" at times, and suffers from plot, pacing, and characterization problems that are common to both first-time novelists, and most novels of ideas.

It is also incredibly smart, unashamedly liberal, and (I think) pretty realistic about what we'll be facing in 20 years.

It's not a "great" novel, but it was an interesting and challenging one. And it was wonderful to see a novelist call out that our only possible solution is a seriously progressive, liberal government. I look forward to see what Glass does next.