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Ultimatum
November 2032. Joe Benton has just been elected the forty-eighth president of the United States. Only days after winning, Benton learns from his predecessor that previous estimates regarding the effect of global warming on rising sea levels have been grossly underestimated. With the world frighteningly close to catastrophe, Benton must save the United States from environmental devastation. He resumes secret bilateral negotiations with the Chinese--the world's worst polluter--and as the two superpowers lock horns, the ensuing battle of wits becomes a race against time. With tension escalating on almost every page and building to an astonishing climax, Matthew Glass's visionary and deeply unsettling thriller steers us into the dark heart of political intrigue and a future that is all too believable.
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
February 26, 2014
Well, this was both educational and depressing. Very much not for the faint hearted and for those interested in politics and the impact of carbon.
So this is a political thriller set some 30 years in the future. No Jack Ryans or steely eyed special forces types, this is a kind of West Wing drama but taken very seriously without the humour of the series. The world is in a bad place and especially the US where some of the population is having to be re-located because of flooding. Decades of ineffective Koyoto talks have resulted in carbon emissions having a serious impact and yet neither the US or China have taken any actions to reduce their output.
Here we have a new US President discovering just how bad the situation is and trying to negotiate with the Chinese for long term change. And the book is about the politics, the negotiations and the global impact as things get escalated.
Very hard to review, it is no ‘thriller’, it is political fiction set against a frighteningly real scenario, perhaps demonstrated by the current extensive flooding in the UK. If the subject matter hits your sweet spot you will probably enjoy this a great deal, if not you might find it hard going.
So this is a political thriller set some 30 years in the future. No Jack Ryans or steely eyed special forces types, this is a kind of West Wing drama but taken very seriously without the humour of the series. The world is in a bad place and especially the US where some of the population is having to be re-located because of flooding. Decades of ineffective Koyoto talks have resulted in carbon emissions having a serious impact and yet neither the US or China have taken any actions to reduce their output.
Here we have a new US President discovering just how bad the situation is and trying to negotiate with the Chinese for long term change. And the book is about the politics, the negotiations and the global impact as things get escalated.
Very hard to review, it is no ‘thriller’, it is political fiction set against a frighteningly real scenario, perhaps demonstrated by the current extensive flooding in the UK. If the subject matter hits your sweet spot you will probably enjoy this a great deal, if not you might find it hard going.
February 13, 2016
While the US government today tackles a problematic economy, nuclear proliferation, and conflicts in the Middle East, some of the problems looming on the horizon may dwarf those we find overwhelming today. Two in particular are brought to the fore in this stunning first novel by British author Matthew Glass. “Ultimatum” is a novel set 24 years into the future, when American President Joe Benton was just been elected to office.
Even before assuming the presidency (for which he has grand goals of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure and tackling the issue of relocation of thousands of Americans along the nation’s coastline), Benton learns that, in fact, the situation of global warming is far worse than anticipated. In addition, secret negotiations have been under way between the outgoing administration and China to deal with this pressing issue.
In fact, the book is an interesting look into life inside the White House: competing factions, pressure from the media, multilateral negotiations that go nowhere, and a lot of competing egos within the administration. Add to that, the negotiating style of China vs. American penchant for honesty, and you’ve got a fascinating book that tackles two looming issues. The primary issue is the lack of action on global warming that has lingered for years until it’s reached epic proportions, and the secondary is the rise of China, a nation whose political style is very different from the West’s, yet whose growth cannot be denied.
This political thriller is a combination world-catastrophe scenario with hints of “The West Wing.” It’s not a perfect book; its greatest fault probably lies with its overabundance of characters populating the political story, some of whom are only tangential to the storyline. There are more names being bandied about than any reader can keep track of. Yet even this seems to make a point that, unlike the Chinese who can keep the inner circle of decision makers small, the American side is besieged with players, all of whom want in on the action or have a point of view to espouse. Then, too, is the overdramatic ending, which might make for a great box office scenario at the movie, but defies some political belief even in spite of the stakes of the game.
Despite these qualifiers, however, there is much more of value within this novel. There’s intelligent writing, important issues to consider, and a plot that keeps twisting along the way.
What the book does best is highlight some key issues that Americans and the global community will eventually have to face. Whether it’s the ice shelf in Antarctica breaking off or a political thriller like “Ultimatum,” it’s clear that the issue of global warming can have drastic consequences if we don’t act soon. “Ultimatum” puts it all on the table and lets readers have a glimpse into a world where the hard choices are put off for another day, and the day of reckoning has come.
Merged review:
While the US government today tackles a problematic economy, nuclear proliferation, and conflicts in the Middle East, some of the problems looming on the horizon may dwarf those we find overwhelming today. Two in particular are brought to the fore in this stunning first novel by British author Matthew Glass. Ultimatum is a novel set 24 years into the future, when American President Joe Benton was just been elected to office.
Even before assuming the presidency (for which he has grand goals of rebuilding the nation's infrastructure and tackling the issue of relocation of thousands of Americans along the nation's coastline), Benton learns that, in fact, the situation of global warming is far worse than anticipated. In addition, secret negotiations have been under way between the outgoing administration and China to deal with this pressing issue.
In fact, the book is an interesting look into life inside the White House: competing factions, pressure from the media, multilateral negotiations that go nowhere, and a lot of competing egos within the administration. Add to that, the negotiating style of China vs. American penchant for honesty, and you've got a fascinating book that tackles two looming issues. The primary issue is the lack of action on global warming that has lingered for years until it's reached epic proportions, and the secondary is the rise of China, a nation whose political style is very different from the West's, yet whose growth cannot be denied.
This political thriller is a combination world-catastrophe scenario with hints of "The West Wing." It's not a perfect book; its greatest fault probably lies with its overabundance of characters populating the political story, some of whom are only tangential to the storyline. There are more names being bandied about than any reader can keep track of. Yet even this seems to make a point that, unlike the Chinese who can keep the inner circle of decision makers small, the American side is besieged with players, all of whom want in on the action or have a point of view to espouse. Then, too, is the overdramatic ending, which might make for a great box office scenario at the movie, but defies some political belief even in spite of the stakes of the game.
Despite these qualifiers, however, there is much more of value within this novel. There's intelligent writing, important issues to consider, and a plot that keeps twisting along the way.
What the book does best is highlight some key issues that Americans and the global community will eventually have to face. Whether it's the ice shelf in Antarctica breaking off or a political thriller like Ultimatum, it's clear that the issue of global warming can have drastic consequences if we don't act soon. Ultimatum puts it all on the table and lets readers have a glimpse into a world where the hard choices are put off for another day, and the day of reckoning has come.
Even before assuming the presidency (for which he has grand goals of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure and tackling the issue of relocation of thousands of Americans along the nation’s coastline), Benton learns that, in fact, the situation of global warming is far worse than anticipated. In addition, secret negotiations have been under way between the outgoing administration and China to deal with this pressing issue.
In fact, the book is an interesting look into life inside the White House: competing factions, pressure from the media, multilateral negotiations that go nowhere, and a lot of competing egos within the administration. Add to that, the negotiating style of China vs. American penchant for honesty, and you’ve got a fascinating book that tackles two looming issues. The primary issue is the lack of action on global warming that has lingered for years until it’s reached epic proportions, and the secondary is the rise of China, a nation whose political style is very different from the West’s, yet whose growth cannot be denied.
This political thriller is a combination world-catastrophe scenario with hints of “The West Wing.” It’s not a perfect book; its greatest fault probably lies with its overabundance of characters populating the political story, some of whom are only tangential to the storyline. There are more names being bandied about than any reader can keep track of. Yet even this seems to make a point that, unlike the Chinese who can keep the inner circle of decision makers small, the American side is besieged with players, all of whom want in on the action or have a point of view to espouse. Then, too, is the overdramatic ending, which might make for a great box office scenario at the movie, but defies some political belief even in spite of the stakes of the game.
Despite these qualifiers, however, there is much more of value within this novel. There’s intelligent writing, important issues to consider, and a plot that keeps twisting along the way.
What the book does best is highlight some key issues that Americans and the global community will eventually have to face. Whether it’s the ice shelf in Antarctica breaking off or a political thriller like “Ultimatum,” it’s clear that the issue of global warming can have drastic consequences if we don’t act soon. “Ultimatum” puts it all on the table and lets readers have a glimpse into a world where the hard choices are put off for another day, and the day of reckoning has come.
Merged review:
While the US government today tackles a problematic economy, nuclear proliferation, and conflicts in the Middle East, some of the problems looming on the horizon may dwarf those we find overwhelming today. Two in particular are brought to the fore in this stunning first novel by British author Matthew Glass. Ultimatum is a novel set 24 years into the future, when American President Joe Benton was just been elected to office.
Even before assuming the presidency (for which he has grand goals of rebuilding the nation's infrastructure and tackling the issue of relocation of thousands of Americans along the nation's coastline), Benton learns that, in fact, the situation of global warming is far worse than anticipated. In addition, secret negotiations have been under way between the outgoing administration and China to deal with this pressing issue.
In fact, the book is an interesting look into life inside the White House: competing factions, pressure from the media, multilateral negotiations that go nowhere, and a lot of competing egos within the administration. Add to that, the negotiating style of China vs. American penchant for honesty, and you've got a fascinating book that tackles two looming issues. The primary issue is the lack of action on global warming that has lingered for years until it's reached epic proportions, and the secondary is the rise of China, a nation whose political style is very different from the West's, yet whose growth cannot be denied.
This political thriller is a combination world-catastrophe scenario with hints of "The West Wing." It's not a perfect book; its greatest fault probably lies with its overabundance of characters populating the political story, some of whom are only tangential to the storyline. There are more names being bandied about than any reader can keep track of. Yet even this seems to make a point that, unlike the Chinese who can keep the inner circle of decision makers small, the American side is besieged with players, all of whom want in on the action or have a point of view to espouse. Then, too, is the overdramatic ending, which might make for a great box office scenario at the movie, but defies some political belief even in spite of the stakes of the game.
Despite these qualifiers, however, there is much more of value within this novel. There's intelligent writing, important issues to consider, and a plot that keeps twisting along the way.
What the book does best is highlight some key issues that Americans and the global community will eventually have to face. Whether it's the ice shelf in Antarctica breaking off or a political thriller like Ultimatum, it's clear that the issue of global warming can have drastic consequences if we don't act soon. Ultimatum puts it all on the table and lets readers have a glimpse into a world where the hard choices are put off for another day, and the day of reckoning has come.
May 15, 2025
Hmmmm.
Well first off it took getting 2/3 of the way through before I saw that this was published in 2009. So that cleared some things up. Second, I found this on a climate fiction list and it is climate fiction, but in the vein of “what would it take for our government to take seriously the threat of climate change and respond?” Third, this is focused on a U.S. President in 2032 and yet it seems to be a back door analysis of China. Pretty interesting. But somehow also a little off.
Well first off it took getting 2/3 of the way through before I saw that this was published in 2009. So that cleared some things up. Second, I found this on a climate fiction list and it is climate fiction, but in the vein of “what would it take for our government to take seriously the threat of climate change and respond?” Third, this is focused on a U.S. President in 2032 and yet it seems to be a back door analysis of China. Pretty interesting. But somehow also a little off.
July 21, 2009
I expected a lot from this book, touted by the Economist as a taut thriller about a hot topic. I was deeply disappointed.
DISCLAIMERS: I'll try not to give away too much, but there's some spoilers here. Also, I appear to be one of the few "climate change" agnostics left out there. So while I'm open to the discussion of epic destruction to come, I expect some evidence or reasoning to back it up.
The plot is pretty straightforward: President-elect Joe Benton is told of secret studies by the Navy revealing cataclysmic damage to come from climate change. He desperately tries to negotiate with the Chinese to reduce emissions and save civilization from untold suffering, but ends up pushing international relations to the brink of catastrophe. Unfortunately, this concept is executed so poorly that it ends up laughable rather than thrilling.
This book is not convincing. I don't expect scientific accuracy from a work of fiction (especially one set in the future), but Glass seems to have a mortal fear of science. He produces a top-secret "environmental surveillance" group (such a cliché) that supposedly has the magical ability to predict climate change with 99% accuracy. When asked why nobody else detected the disaster to come, our brilliant "scientist" can only prattle on about her research fleet and expect us to believe that her research will be validated a few years later. Yeah, sure. So does Benton want the research peer-reviewed? Does he expect corroborating studies? Nope. After the first 50 pages or so, there is no longer any attempt to explain things beyond vague insinuations about "feedback" and the occasional natural disaster. It's clear that Glass is catering to an audience already convinced of impending doom from global warming, and he does nothing to explain the situation's gravity. Sure, he has plenty of numbers (millions have to be evacuated!!!) and statistics (trillions of dollars!!!), but he never gets technical or detailed about how things will go so wrong.
This is a grave error. Near the end of the book, when the US is faced with a thermonuclear apocalypse, Pres. Benton keeps pressing for everyone else to sign on to his "Carbon Plan". It's supposed to be grave, but I literally burst out laughing. The positioning is so incongruous, it's funny. Glass gives us no reason to believe that his disaster is so terrible as to warrant so much suffering. Nor does he provide us with good reasons (beyond sympathy for wildfire victims) for Benton's desperation. Which leads to the next flaw...
The characters are pathetic. Glass has been compared to Tom Clancy, but Clancy's characters have exponentially more depth. And anyone who's read Clancy knows that his characters ain't all that deep. I'm not sure why Glass even bothers with dialogue after the first 100 pages - we can predict what they'll say word for word. Benton is relentlessly moral, and aside from occasional outbursts (which inevitably include "Hell's Bells!", a phrase you will grow to loathe as it is repeated over and over and over...) he's a straight arrow. His family dynamics are dull - though he has trouble with his son Greg, there's no explanation of why and Glass soon forgets about it altogether. The President's advisers are equally flimsy, with tough-guy Larry Olsen standing firm and sniveling Alan Ball constantly aiming to back down. China's President Wen, on whom so much depends, is mostly ignored for the critical part of the book. Don't expect any exploration of his psychology. The other characters are even more forgettable.
While it only took me a day to read Ultimatum, it must have taken Glass a lifetime to write it. He forgets about plot lines and leaves them lying around like confetti on January 1st in Times Square. A suspicious leak? It's all the rage for a few pages, but soon it fades away. The internal political dynamics in China, arguably the most interesting part of the book, are never explored in depth. We see one of the possible successors to the Chinese Presidency stepping forward from the crowd... but nothing comes of it. These are the themes that a good thriller will tie together at the end, but Glass leaves us with nothing but questions. Why did Wen do what he did? What dynamics back home in China prompted it? Why did the rest of the world line up on Benton's side? I don't know, and you probably won't either.
I give this book two stars because it is fairly engrossing and offers some interesting possibilities for the future (military intervention in Columbia, etc.). But if you're hoping for a real exploration of the climate change issue, don't buy this book. If you're hoping for interesting characters, don't buy this book. If you're hoping for the complex plot lines and intrigue of a thriller, don't buy this book. If you want a mediocre Clive Cussler look-a-like with lots of irritating dialogue and no plot evolution, be my guest. This is the book for you.
DISCLAIMERS: I'll try not to give away too much, but there's some spoilers here. Also, I appear to be one of the few "climate change" agnostics left out there. So while I'm open to the discussion of epic destruction to come, I expect some evidence or reasoning to back it up.
The plot is pretty straightforward: President-elect Joe Benton is told of secret studies by the Navy revealing cataclysmic damage to come from climate change. He desperately tries to negotiate with the Chinese to reduce emissions and save civilization from untold suffering, but ends up pushing international relations to the brink of catastrophe. Unfortunately, this concept is executed so poorly that it ends up laughable rather than thrilling.
This book is not convincing. I don't expect scientific accuracy from a work of fiction (especially one set in the future), but Glass seems to have a mortal fear of science. He produces a top-secret "environmental surveillance" group (such a cliché) that supposedly has the magical ability to predict climate change with 99% accuracy. When asked why nobody else detected the disaster to come, our brilliant "scientist" can only prattle on about her research fleet and expect us to believe that her research will be validated a few years later. Yeah, sure. So does Benton want the research peer-reviewed? Does he expect corroborating studies? Nope. After the first 50 pages or so, there is no longer any attempt to explain things beyond vague insinuations about "feedback" and the occasional natural disaster. It's clear that Glass is catering to an audience already convinced of impending doom from global warming, and he does nothing to explain the situation's gravity. Sure, he has plenty of numbers (millions have to be evacuated!!!) and statistics (trillions of dollars!!!), but he never gets technical or detailed about how things will go so wrong.
This is a grave error. Near the end of the book, when the US is faced with a thermonuclear apocalypse, Pres. Benton keeps pressing for everyone else to sign on to his "Carbon Plan". It's supposed to be grave, but I literally burst out laughing. The positioning is so incongruous, it's funny. Glass gives us no reason to believe that his disaster is so terrible as to warrant so much suffering. Nor does he provide us with good reasons (beyond sympathy for wildfire victims) for Benton's desperation. Which leads to the next flaw...
The characters are pathetic. Glass has been compared to Tom Clancy, but Clancy's characters have exponentially more depth. And anyone who's read Clancy knows that his characters ain't all that deep. I'm not sure why Glass even bothers with dialogue after the first 100 pages - we can predict what they'll say word for word. Benton is relentlessly moral, and aside from occasional outbursts (which inevitably include "Hell's Bells!", a phrase you will grow to loathe as it is repeated over and over and over...) he's a straight arrow. His family dynamics are dull - though he has trouble with his son Greg, there's no explanation of why and Glass soon forgets about it altogether. The President's advisers are equally flimsy, with tough-guy Larry Olsen standing firm and sniveling Alan Ball constantly aiming to back down. China's President Wen, on whom so much depends, is mostly ignored for the critical part of the book. Don't expect any exploration of his psychology. The other characters are even more forgettable.
While it only took me a day to read Ultimatum, it must have taken Glass a lifetime to write it. He forgets about plot lines and leaves them lying around like confetti on January 1st in Times Square. A suspicious leak? It's all the rage for a few pages, but soon it fades away. The internal political dynamics in China, arguably the most interesting part of the book, are never explored in depth. We see one of the possible successors to the Chinese Presidency stepping forward from the crowd... but nothing comes of it. These are the themes that a good thriller will tie together at the end, but Glass leaves us with nothing but questions. Why did Wen do what he did? What dynamics back home in China prompted it? Why did the rest of the world line up on Benton's side? I don't know, and you probably won't either.
I give this book two stars because it is fairly engrossing and offers some interesting possibilities for the future (military intervention in Columbia, etc.). But if you're hoping for a real exploration of the climate change issue, don't buy this book. If you're hoping for interesting characters, don't buy this book. If you're hoping for the complex plot lines and intrigue of a thriller, don't buy this book. If you want a mediocre Clive Cussler look-a-like with lots of irritating dialogue and no plot evolution, be my guest. This is the book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2010
Ultimatum by Matthew Glass
Matthew Glass has given us a thriller that is all too possible, drawing the reader in from page one. The book begins innocuously enough in the year 2032 in a mood of energy and optimism for rebuilding the nation’s basic foundation. The bright and popular newly-elected U.S. president has won his seat with an unprecedented majority on a platform of honesty, decisiveness, and trust. The excitement is contagious as the population celebrates their president-elect, but hidden clouds are on the horizon when he learns that the agreements he has inherited will challenge his government’s integrity..
Engrossing, tense, and tightly knit, Ultimatum is written with a strong sense of political process, heart-stopping decision-making, and intrigue. Although a work of fiction, it bestows a feeling of stark realism and drama as crises build. How these crises are approached by the president and the many people who form his government are quite fascinating to this Canadian reader. The characterizations are full-on, the plot development plausible, even perhaps ultimately probable. This book is a strong and shocking wake-up call involving the whole world.
Previous policies on global emissions have done nothing to prevent the looming disaster that had escalated to extreme proportions but the severity had been downplayed. This is where the president finds himself as he takes office. President Benton is a strong presence throughout the book and the author has smoothly if urgently demonstrated the transitions in rapid succession. His torment is felt as he wrestles to keep the honesty and trust promised in his platform. The world turns upside down and inside out within the first several days of his presidency as he becomes more aware of deals made by the previous government.
The story begins within the U.S. but the pace of global warming is overwhelming in its path of destruction. The horror is the speed and loss of land worldwide. Coastlines have disappeared and relocation of populations is in the millions.
Matthew Glass has set a momentum that does not let up but constantly accelerates. He definitely keeps the tension building. This novel is indeed a roller-coaster of a thriller. The action keeps the reader involved from start to finish, second-guessing outcomes, trying to predict responses, and what the final horror will be. This book will definitely bring some new thoughts on how much the world is really one; how things must be tackled worldwide, without parts played by arrogance and greed. Very spellbinding and thought-provoking. Great writing, Matthew, I really enjoyed my adventure into the world of politics.
Matthew Glass has given us a thriller that is all too possible, drawing the reader in from page one. The book begins innocuously enough in the year 2032 in a mood of energy and optimism for rebuilding the nation’s basic foundation. The bright and popular newly-elected U.S. president has won his seat with an unprecedented majority on a platform of honesty, decisiveness, and trust. The excitement is contagious as the population celebrates their president-elect, but hidden clouds are on the horizon when he learns that the agreements he has inherited will challenge his government’s integrity..
Engrossing, tense, and tightly knit, Ultimatum is written with a strong sense of political process, heart-stopping decision-making, and intrigue. Although a work of fiction, it bestows a feeling of stark realism and drama as crises build. How these crises are approached by the president and the many people who form his government are quite fascinating to this Canadian reader. The characterizations are full-on, the plot development plausible, even perhaps ultimately probable. This book is a strong and shocking wake-up call involving the whole world.
Previous policies on global emissions have done nothing to prevent the looming disaster that had escalated to extreme proportions but the severity had been downplayed. This is where the president finds himself as he takes office. President Benton is a strong presence throughout the book and the author has smoothly if urgently demonstrated the transitions in rapid succession. His torment is felt as he wrestles to keep the honesty and trust promised in his platform. The world turns upside down and inside out within the first several days of his presidency as he becomes more aware of deals made by the previous government.
The story begins within the U.S. but the pace of global warming is overwhelming in its path of destruction. The horror is the speed and loss of land worldwide. Coastlines have disappeared and relocation of populations is in the millions.
Matthew Glass has set a momentum that does not let up but constantly accelerates. He definitely keeps the tension building. This novel is indeed a roller-coaster of a thriller. The action keeps the reader involved from start to finish, second-guessing outcomes, trying to predict responses, and what the final horror will be. This book will definitely bring some new thoughts on how much the world is really one; how things must be tackled worldwide, without parts played by arrogance and greed. Very spellbinding and thought-provoking. Great writing, Matthew, I really enjoyed my adventure into the world of politics.
Currently reading
December 7, 2008Set in 2032 this novel is about the devastating effects of global warming. Joe Benton has just been elected president and finds out that the situation is much worse then previously thought. After successive Republican administrations that have ignored environmental issues, Benton now must address Relocation. Rising sea levels and hurricanes are forcing the government to Relocate millions of people from the gulf coast (and California may become a desert) so this sounds like a really great premise.
I am only a few pages into this novel - I was so excited to read it and so far it is good. The only problem is that I think maybe I'm exhausted with presidential politics right now having obsessively been checking poll numbers, politico, huffingtonpost, chris mathews, etc, etc. for the past 2 years that Obama has been running (really, I didn't even know what to do with myself for a few weeks in November :)
The writing style is very simple and straight forward, so Ultimatum is off to a good start.
I am only a few pages into this novel - I was so excited to read it and so far it is good. The only problem is that I think maybe I'm exhausted with presidential politics right now having obsessively been checking poll numbers, politico, huffingtonpost, chris mathews, etc, etc. for the past 2 years that Obama has been running (really, I didn't even know what to do with myself for a few weeks in November :)
The writing style is very simple and straight forward, so Ultimatum is off to a good start.
July 31, 2009
If you would like a taste of what it will be like to read the script of "West Wing," Season 37 (without the wit), then by all means try this book. Highly recommended by the Economist, it seemed like a no-brainer purchase, a thriller, set in the near future, dealing with real and pressing issues (emissions). By the end, the newly-elected US President realises that a catastrophe is probably a necessity for international agreement on a plan to effectively limit emissions, slow sea level rise and minimise the numbers of millions of people needed to be relocated.
Well, there is indeed a catastrophe. I wouldn't describe the book as one, but it's tempting. There really is no plot as such, the characters have no depth whatsoever, the dialogue is endless and often strained, and the story's path through the future one-dimensional - "thriller" it ain't. I left it on a train - perhaps its discoverer will form a less jaded view than mine. But I must remember to get a second opinion on Economist reviews......
Well, there is indeed a catastrophe. I wouldn't describe the book as one, but it's tempting. There really is no plot as such, the characters have no depth whatsoever, the dialogue is endless and often strained, and the story's path through the future one-dimensional - "thriller" it ain't. I left it on a train - perhaps its discoverer will form a less jaded view than mine. But I must remember to get a second opinion on Economist reviews......
January 4, 2015
Well, I guess that is one way things could happen. Often, when I consider the actions of the American political machine... the president, Congress... I find myself depressed by the small steps that are taken, the lack of pronounced change or action, the inches we gain in progress which are so often taken away. What was interesting to me about Ultimatum was the way the story described a different path, perhaps a more drastic one, then what I am used to seeing in the real world. A good read. A but slow and frustrating at the beginning, then I couldn't put it down. Believable? Maybe. It may also have taught me to be a bit more patient with the tedious nature of political change.
April 19, 2024
I shouldn't be giving this book any kind of stars, as it was incredibly poorly written. The characters are very one-dimensional (hell's bells!), almost the entire book is dialogue and poorly written at that, and it doesn't really resolve very convincingly. The extremely tall, white, conventionally handsome old senator turned president Joe Benton (sound familiar?) and his wife who didn't want to leave her day job (ahem) were more prophetic then maybe he intended. And having the "future" now only about 20 years from now made it feel a bit more contemporary than it was intended. But it helped that the author put extremely little effort into explaining how the future world was any different than today.
So why did I give this two stars?
I really like political drama and it was pretty full of that. Yes it was all in dialogue, yes it was all with one-dimensional characters, but it was still political drama between the US and China and all of their emissaries and that part was interesting.
So why did I give this two stars?
I really like political drama and it was pretty full of that. Yes it was all in dialogue, yes it was all with one-dimensional characters, but it was still political drama between the US and China and all of their emissaries and that part was interesting.
January 17, 2018
First environmental science fiction I've ever read and it was pretty solid! The first half felt a bit tedious cos of the constant back and forth negotiations between the two countries but the last 50 pages or so were so hectic, it almost made up for it.
It's also very disturbing how this could easily happen in the real world if we don't take real action against global warming and carbon emissions soon :/
It's also very disturbing how this could easily happen in the real world if we don't take real action against global warming and carbon emissions soon :/
December 2, 2019
This would have been a much better read when it was published back in 2009. The disconnect between what has happened since and what’s imagined in Ultimatum doesn’t reach (and isn’t meant to be) an alternative history so it’s just distracting. Also, I found the ending to be weak. Only my enjoyment of the geopolitical intrigue got it up to 3 stars.
November 11, 2020
Slow start and politics not my favourite subject especially without thrilling sequences that other similar books contain, however was thought provoking and interesting scenario especially as it was written nearly 10 years ago. Depressing as we see the worlds ecological problems growing and politicians acumen dwindling, future looks bleak according to this book, back to fantasy for me.
January 7, 2020
Complex and plausible. What's more interesting is to read this in 2020 in the knowledge that this was written in 2011 makes the scenarios and bumbling seem to be prescient. Excellent and look forward to reading other books by the mysterious author.
April 16, 2020
This is not a 5 star read, but is absolutely a 5 star prophesy written in 2009. Only one problem: Glass reckons that environmental catastrophe and huge trouble between the US and China come in 2032. How could he know that Donald Trump would be elected in 2016?
May 16, 2017
This is about the threat of global warming and the machinations of the president. It was much better than 2140.
November 26, 2021
the writing is good, but this book is just so long and not the kind of book i had the energy to read when i wasn’t doing school work.
November 19, 2013
I read two completely contradictory reviews of this environmental disaster thriller before I started it. The Economist reckoned it was an “engrossing work” that “leaves the reader thinking long after the last page is turned” .. sounds great, I thought. But the Guardian review dripped with scorn; “it’s as if the publisher of Hansard had been allowed to rewrite The War of the Worlds.” Oh dear. So I decided to try a couple of pages before I took it straight to the charity shop, and I was immediately hooked. Ignore the Guardian, this book is fantastic.
It’s 2032, and Straight Joe Benton has just been elected President of the USA. But before he’s even been sworn in, he’s called into a top secret meeting with his out-going rival, who reveals that global warming is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and that large parts of the world will soon be under water and millions of Americans will have to be relocated if global carbon emissions aren’t drastically reduced now, with catastrophic effect on the American economy. President Benton must agree a deal with the other super-polluters, the Chinese, then bring the rest of the world on board before it’s too late.
It’s The West Wing meets The Day After Tomorrow, but with the action cut out. There are no giant tidal waves here, just a lot of intricate political maneuvering, negotiations and international talks. Although it’s meant to be 2032, this isn’t really a book set in the future. Matthew Glass has expended no energy on inventing new technology, or even imaging a different world stage. Instead, this is a book about now – about the virtual impossibility of reaching an amicable emissions deal, and what the cost of one might truly be.
The book spends a lot of the time in the corridors of power, with much of the dialogue concerned with the ins and outs of political tactics. The characters go through their paces and not much more (the US president is straight as a die, the UK Prime Minister is posh and decent, the Chinese leader is inscrutable…), but not much more is needed. This is B-Movie territory, and it’s all good fun, if only skin-deep in terms of character. It’s all very believable, and the suspense really builds, as the Chinese remain intransigent and a deal seems further and further away. (It’s a reality check after all those Hollywood environmental disaster movies when the world leaders get together on giant video links and all nod in agreement as America outlines how it will save the day.)
The tension ramps up to a truly gripping (and unexpected, for me at least) ending, which had me sitting up late into the night to finish it. Highly recommended, just don’t expect people-freezing super-storms.
It’s 2032, and Straight Joe Benton has just been elected President of the USA. But before he’s even been sworn in, he’s called into a top secret meeting with his out-going rival, who reveals that global warming is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and that large parts of the world will soon be under water and millions of Americans will have to be relocated if global carbon emissions aren’t drastically reduced now, with catastrophic effect on the American economy. President Benton must agree a deal with the other super-polluters, the Chinese, then bring the rest of the world on board before it’s too late.
It’s The West Wing meets The Day After Tomorrow, but with the action cut out. There are no giant tidal waves here, just a lot of intricate political maneuvering, negotiations and international talks. Although it’s meant to be 2032, this isn’t really a book set in the future. Matthew Glass has expended no energy on inventing new technology, or even imaging a different world stage. Instead, this is a book about now – about the virtual impossibility of reaching an amicable emissions deal, and what the cost of one might truly be.
The book spends a lot of the time in the corridors of power, with much of the dialogue concerned with the ins and outs of political tactics. The characters go through their paces and not much more (the US president is straight as a die, the UK Prime Minister is posh and decent, the Chinese leader is inscrutable…), but not much more is needed. This is B-Movie territory, and it’s all good fun, if only skin-deep in terms of character. It’s all very believable, and the suspense really builds, as the Chinese remain intransigent and a deal seems further and further away. (It’s a reality check after all those Hollywood environmental disaster movies when the world leaders get together on giant video links and all nod in agreement as America outlines how it will save the day.)
The tension ramps up to a truly gripping (and unexpected, for me at least) ending, which had me sitting up late into the night to finish it. Highly recommended, just don’t expect people-freezing super-storms.
June 22, 2009
In 2032, Joe Benton is elected President of the United States. Due to global warming, coastal regions are underwater, or soon will be. The country is preparing for the relocation of coastal populations – approximately 25 million. The South suffers regular catastrophic hurricanes. The West is suffering from desertification.
Soon after the election, Benton learns that the projected effects of global warming have been severely underreported. The world is less than a generation from disaster. Three previous Kyoto treaties have failed due to a lack of commitment by all parties. Every country is suffering some kind of environmental catastrophe. The entire world needs to agree to emission cuts to avoid disaster. Without an agreement to serious cuts between the United States and China, the rest of the world will not agree to any plan. However, to China internal stability is the priority. Emission cuts will have serious economic consequences, and may lead to instability that will oust the Communist Party.
Despite being marketed as a thriller, Ultimatum becomes only a semi-thriller after Benton proposes a radical solution and severe economic sanctions for those countries that do not comply. China, the world’s largest polluter, refuses to cooperate and escalates “negotiations,” leading to a somewhat contrived, or forced, ending.
Glass creates realistic characters and dialogue. However, the story gets bogged down with the machinations of government and numerous bureaucrats. Glass covers in great detail strategy and the discernment of the motives of foreign leaders, but not the environmental problems. Too many characters are introduced, from possible Cabinet appointees to Congress members, and all the aids in between. At times, Ultimatum reads like a political science text or political biography.
While at times difficult to continue reading, Ultimatum is a provocative depiction of future environmental and political doom that is relevant today.
Soon after the election, Benton learns that the projected effects of global warming have been severely underreported. The world is less than a generation from disaster. Three previous Kyoto treaties have failed due to a lack of commitment by all parties. Every country is suffering some kind of environmental catastrophe. The entire world needs to agree to emission cuts to avoid disaster. Without an agreement to serious cuts between the United States and China, the rest of the world will not agree to any plan. However, to China internal stability is the priority. Emission cuts will have serious economic consequences, and may lead to instability that will oust the Communist Party.
Despite being marketed as a thriller, Ultimatum becomes only a semi-thriller after Benton proposes a radical solution and severe economic sanctions for those countries that do not comply. China, the world’s largest polluter, refuses to cooperate and escalates “negotiations,” leading to a somewhat contrived, or forced, ending.
Glass creates realistic characters and dialogue. However, the story gets bogged down with the machinations of government and numerous bureaucrats. Glass covers in great detail strategy and the discernment of the motives of foreign leaders, but not the environmental problems. Too many characters are introduced, from possible Cabinet appointees to Congress members, and all the aids in between. At times, Ultimatum reads like a political science text or political biography.
While at times difficult to continue reading, Ultimatum is a provocative depiction of future environmental and political doom that is relevant today.
May 28, 2009
I’ve had this book since the end of April and finally got to it. Since I knew it would be awhile I let my dad read it first and he loved it. He said it was totally believable, relevant to what is going on in the world and he did not want to stop reading.
For myself it took awhile to get into it and then I could not put it down. I will say the book did tick me off and I really wanted to smack a couple of the characters on the back of their heads after some of their actions. The way all the characters interact seems totally believable to me as to how our president, secretary of state, etc would really talk. It also again makes me realize it’s not surprising how little our government is really able to get done on big issues like the environment with all these factions squabbling. Olsen as secretary of state seemed to know what he was talking about in regards to China but seemed to have no real filter between his brain and mouth so he alienated those around him even if his basic ideas were sound. It was understandable to me that instead of responding in a logical manner Ball started to be defensive and argumentative in regards to anything Olsen said. In the end I did feel like because President Benton wasn’t fully willing to commit to Olsen’s plan he brought the final attacks upon the US. I think if he had made more of a stand earlier on we wouldn’t have gotten to that point.
I know others will disagree with my opinion and I think that is what is great about this book. It makes you think and everyone will probably have a slightly different take on who was right, who was wrong and could anything have been done differently. The premise of this book is a scary thing because the problems are realistic and it’s a matter of how the people all over the world respond to our environmental problems that will determine if we ever reach this point in reality.
For myself it took awhile to get into it and then I could not put it down. I will say the book did tick me off and I really wanted to smack a couple of the characters on the back of their heads after some of their actions. The way all the characters interact seems totally believable to me as to how our president, secretary of state, etc would really talk. It also again makes me realize it’s not surprising how little our government is really able to get done on big issues like the environment with all these factions squabbling. Olsen as secretary of state seemed to know what he was talking about in regards to China but seemed to have no real filter between his brain and mouth so he alienated those around him even if his basic ideas were sound. It was understandable to me that instead of responding in a logical manner Ball started to be defensive and argumentative in regards to anything Olsen said. In the end I did feel like because President Benton wasn’t fully willing to commit to Olsen’s plan he brought the final attacks upon the US. I think if he had made more of a stand earlier on we wouldn’t have gotten to that point.
I know others will disagree with my opinion and I think that is what is great about this book. It makes you think and everyone will probably have a slightly different take on who was right, who was wrong and could anything have been done differently. The premise of this book is a scary thing because the problems are realistic and it’s a matter of how the people all over the world respond to our environmental problems that will determine if we ever reach this point in reality.
June 12, 2009
I want to call this a political thriller, but it has no thrills. No hostages, wars, assassination attempts or chase scenes – just the hushed and hurried thoughts that normally pad out such a story in-between action. Ultimatum is about a hundred pages of a suspiciously naïve and unconnected candidate winning the presidency, and then several hundred more of drawn-out discussions that cover very little actual ground on global warming. The U.S. and China circle each other with a “No, you!” attitude that’s quite plausible except in how simple Glass lays out the conversations and manipulations. And given how much space is given to people thinking about and performing negotiations, they are remarkably shallow – we’re told the economy will suffer, but industries never chime in and not one sentence is devoted to how this will actually impact them. You will learn more about global warming and what is likely to happen to the planet on a random Wiki entry. Alternative energy and specific industry impacts are ignored and, strange for a book that is supposed to alarm us with global warming’s impacts, things don’t seem worse than they are now. Glass throws out a couple of wildfires, but you have to be ignorant to think that’s novel – we have terrible fires around the world today, and barely twenty pages touch on those Glass cooks up. We get a forecast of massive flooding in years ahead, but it is a vague idea of things to come, and honestly that speculative future sounds like a more interesting book idea than this novel, which is essentially hundreds of pages of shallow discussion on grave matters. The ending shows Glass’s talent for dramatic political and wartime storytelling, but comes too late and trivializes his points about global warming.
June 17, 2009
This is a book that starts out pretty slow and then gradually becomes more and more interesting. By the time I had passed the halfway point I was carrying it around with me so I could read it in any spare moment. For me it was a masterpiece of careful plotting and planning. This book is all about the slow, deliberate building of tension that is released in a shocking climax. It's also about the process of negotiation which is exposed in tremendous detail. And finally its about human failings. The problems that build throughout the book are due to people not listening to each other, worrying too much about looking strong, and getting too obsessed with goals while losing sight of the bigger picture. And I guess I could add that it's also about what happens when there is a crisis and the people in charge are not strong leaders.
But this is not a book full of memorable characters. Nor is it a screed about global climate change, though that is the theme that runs throughout the book. So if those are the kinds of books you prefer you might not like this one that much. On the other hand, if you love an intricate, well-thought-out plot and a lot of twists and turns, you're going to like this one.
There were three reasons I gave this book four stars instead of five. First, I really thought the characters could have been fleshed out a little more. Second, I don't agree with the author's own conclusions which he states in the very last pages. I won't say what those are so I don't spoil anything. Finally, some of the events are just too unbelievable for me. Yes, they COULD happen, but it's really very unlikely.
All in all, this is an immensely entertaining book and I highly recommend it.
But this is not a book full of memorable characters. Nor is it a screed about global climate change, though that is the theme that runs throughout the book. So if those are the kinds of books you prefer you might not like this one that much. On the other hand, if you love an intricate, well-thought-out plot and a lot of twists and turns, you're going to like this one.
There were three reasons I gave this book four stars instead of five. First, I really thought the characters could have been fleshed out a little more. Second, I don't agree with the author's own conclusions which he states in the very last pages. I won't say what those are so I don't spoil anything. Finally, some of the events are just too unbelievable for me. Yes, they COULD happen, but it's really very unlikely.
All in all, this is an immensely entertaining book and I highly recommend it.
February 17, 2010
WARNING! This is not a book for the feint of heart.
Although the stated time fame of the story is 25 years from now, this book reads (and I think the author MEANS for it to read) like it is today. In short, while futuristic at its foundation, it is NOT in any way, shape, or form; "science fiction."
This book stirred many emotions in me and brought to the forefront of my mind how nearly impossible it is to be a political leader in today's world. The choices we ask of our leadership are unfair, unrealistic, and often inhuman (and even inhumane in some instances.) And absolutely NONE of these leaders are mentally nor emotionally equipped to handle the jobs they so aggressively seek. This is not to say that world leaders are not smart (some/many are highly intellectual/educated). Nor do I mean to imply that they are psychologically unstable (although a few/some most assuredly ARE just that.) No, what I mean is that this world we all live in is just downright complex. And, for us to expect ANY leader to be adequately prepared to make the decisions they end up having to make, is unrealistic at best.
Despite my little outburst in the previous paragraph, this book is well worth reading. If you are an engaged reader, Glass' story will strike a chord with you on many levels, sometimes when you least expect it. While reading this book, I think I experienced every emotion possible except perhaps laughter. NOTHING about this book is funny, trust me.
In then end though, I would hope that you would put the book down after reading it and do the same two things I did; 1) be thankful for the little things that make up our lives, and 2) give some serious thought to how we can insure that the generations of the future can enjoy these same small wonders.
Although the stated time fame of the story is 25 years from now, this book reads (and I think the author MEANS for it to read) like it is today. In short, while futuristic at its foundation, it is NOT in any way, shape, or form; "science fiction."
This book stirred many emotions in me and brought to the forefront of my mind how nearly impossible it is to be a political leader in today's world. The choices we ask of our leadership are unfair, unrealistic, and often inhuman (and even inhumane in some instances.) And absolutely NONE of these leaders are mentally nor emotionally equipped to handle the jobs they so aggressively seek. This is not to say that world leaders are not smart (some/many are highly intellectual/educated). Nor do I mean to imply that they are psychologically unstable (although a few/some most assuredly ARE just that.) No, what I mean is that this world we all live in is just downright complex. And, for us to expect ANY leader to be adequately prepared to make the decisions they end up having to make, is unrealistic at best.
Despite my little outburst in the previous paragraph, this book is well worth reading. If you are an engaged reader, Glass' story will strike a chord with you on many levels, sometimes when you least expect it. While reading this book, I think I experienced every emotion possible except perhaps laughter. NOTHING about this book is funny, trust me.
In then end though, I would hope that you would put the book down after reading it and do the same two things I did; 1) be thankful for the little things that make up our lives, and 2) give some serious thought to how we can insure that the generations of the future can enjoy these same small wonders.
July 28, 2011
This is a political thriller. That may sound like a contradiction in terms, but I found that I kept turning the pages, even though nothing much happens for most of the novel. A newly elected U.S. president in 2032 has learned that the consequences of global warming are going to be much worse than anyone thought, and he has to take drastic action. But he can't do it alone; other countries need to join in, and four rounds of Kyoto talks have so far produced nothing. President Joe Benton decides to negotiate directly with China, the other big carbon dioxide emitter. Most of the novel consists of the behind-the-scenes strategizing and negotiating among the president and his advisors. The author gives what appears to be a good idea of what the high-stakes negotiations might be like, and the unpalatable choices that an American president faces, and the compromises he has to make. President Benton is the main character, and is not, to me, very likable. He waffles, he can't seem to make up his mind. He is not a strong character. But I think that's the point. There are no easy answers to what may turn out to be existential problems. The author does not have an ear for dialogue, in my opinion. Most of the characters are interchangeable; everybody sounds like everyone else (except for President Benton, who says, "Hell's bells!" a lot). The book jacket compares the author to Michael Crichton, and there are some similarities in the amount of technical detail. But Glass's novel has far less action than a typical Crichton work. It's mostly talking. And yet, I kept reading. It's better than it should be.
September 6, 2014
Deep politics, which I don't enjoy, but this was in a context of climate change and drastic measures. Some of the political dialogue was very confusing at times, with advisers and the President talking in circles, and it not always being clear who is taking what position in that discussion. The message is the key, however: if Nature and the changes we are already seeing in the climate, with severe storms and retreating coastlines and people having to move in order to survive, let alone thrive, then what will it really take to get the message across to people and their governments that talk is cheap (see: Kyoto) and meaningless, and action is imperative, even if uncomfortable? What, of the future, is being sacrificed for our present comfort and ease?
Also, it was nice to read a book that didn't just stop and wrap everything up as soon as it reached page 300. This book came out several years ago. Now, it seems like so many novelists just want to do the bare minimum and get it on the market, even if the story suffers. This is not one of those novels. The plotting, despite being grounded in so much politics, was superb. I can't imagine how long it took the author to get the sequence of details just right so that the narrative remained so plausible all the way through, with apparently no anachronisms within the story itself or mistaken cultural references to times before the novel's own time (2032-2033).
Also, it was nice to read a book that didn't just stop and wrap everything up as soon as it reached page 300. This book came out several years ago. Now, it seems like so many novelists just want to do the bare minimum and get it on the market, even if the story suffers. This is not one of those novels. The plotting, despite being grounded in so much politics, was superb. I can't imagine how long it took the author to get the sequence of details just right so that the narrative remained so plausible all the way through, with apparently no anachronisms within the story itself or mistaken cultural references to times before the novel's own time (2032-2033).
August 15, 2015
In this tightly-worded novel, Matthew Glass poses a future U.S. President confronted with the results of 30 years of deferred neglect of global warning. Now, the waters are indeed rising, the drought and fire and hurricanes are permanent. And, the outgoing president tells his successor that the studies weren't even close: the effects will mount exponentially unless something is done, and the Chinese, now the leading carbon emitter, are key to stopping it. Only they aren't budging.
This is all just in the opening pages, and it gets more ominous from there. This novel is a cautionary tale of one scenario, which in the author's hands becomes horribly plausible. He seems to know his environmental science, and how a Chinese government would act if pressured. It's a well-plotted story and a well-described setting that, in this book, is a thriller that builds and builds as it follows this president, as he tries, one last time, to push a balky world to hold back the waters.
This author seems to know all the right background material, has firm command of his narrative and his prose, and brings it all together here. Given more recent warnings by climate scientists, that global warming is not only worse than predicted, but approaching irreversibility, this book is timely. Rising seas are one problem. The political repercussions in, say, 2032, which this book rehearses, are going to be nasty.
Highly recommend.
This is all just in the opening pages, and it gets more ominous from there. This novel is a cautionary tale of one scenario, which in the author's hands becomes horribly plausible. He seems to know his environmental science, and how a Chinese government would act if pressured. It's a well-plotted story and a well-described setting that, in this book, is a thriller that builds and builds as it follows this president, as he tries, one last time, to push a balky world to hold back the waters.
This author seems to know all the right background material, has firm command of his narrative and his prose, and brings it all together here. Given more recent warnings by climate scientists, that global warming is not only worse than predicted, but approaching irreversibility, this book is timely. Rising seas are one problem. The political repercussions in, say, 2032, which this book rehearses, are going to be nasty.
Highly recommend.
August 9, 2011
This is a pretty unique book, and surely not one for everyone. It is a political thriller, in which we follow a newly elected american president, as he is forced to act on the enviromental and climate issues.
The book is unique in that it is completely and utterly realistic, and its dramatic turns are not choreographed in order to leave you with a final, clearcut face-off in the final chapter. You'll find reviews below that complain about the flat characters and the meandering plot - and if you want the sort of thriller where everything fits neatly together in the end, and no plotline is left unexplored, you need to go elsewhere, What this thriller offers is an exploration of how politics - especially foreign politics comes about, and quite possibly why the current politic climate in the US behaves as it does. The book more or less consists of american and chinese politicians meeting, negoting and second-guessing the motives of each other. As in real life there are no assasinations, and no last-minute miracles,oh, and no heroes.In short, it's is very little like Tom Clancy. But you'll read it just as fast, and gain an insight into a part of politics rarely explored.
I suspect, from some reviews below, that if you are a republican, or sceptical of the environmental issues, you will be annoyed by the fact that the environmental issue is taken for granted here.
The book is unique in that it is completely and utterly realistic, and its dramatic turns are not choreographed in order to leave you with a final, clearcut face-off in the final chapter. You'll find reviews below that complain about the flat characters and the meandering plot - and if you want the sort of thriller where everything fits neatly together in the end, and no plotline is left unexplored, you need to go elsewhere, What this thriller offers is an exploration of how politics - especially foreign politics comes about, and quite possibly why the current politic climate in the US behaves as it does. The book more or less consists of american and chinese politicians meeting, negoting and second-guessing the motives of each other. As in real life there are no assasinations, and no last-minute miracles,oh, and no heroes.In short, it's is very little like Tom Clancy. But you'll read it just as fast, and gain an insight into a part of politics rarely explored.
I suspect, from some reviews below, that if you are a republican, or sceptical of the environmental issues, you will be annoyed by the fact that the environmental issue is taken for granted here.
June 10, 2009
This novel of global warming-induced apocalypse is lauded in the June 8 issue of The Economist as making the consequences of global warming more real and immediate than the dry presentations of Al Gore could manage. Unfortunately, the book's premise is that man-made global warming is real and that catastrophe will result from our failure to correct our carbon emissions. That global warming is real is in doubt. That man is the cause of global warming, if it is happening, is also in doubt. Thousands of scientifically trained individuals have challenged the data purporting to show that global warming is occurring although you could never tell that by reading the mainstream media. So this book dramatically presents a nightmare scenario for the future. The Economist thinks people will be persuaded to act by this book, somewhat as 19th century people were revolted by the picture of slavery presented in Uncle Tom's Cabin. But, this book's future may be no more realistic than HG Well's War of the Worlds. It will be a shame if we act on the fear of global warming before the science is clear.
June 2, 2009
Democrat Joe Benton has just taken office after a Republican administration in the year 2032. Benton has promised domestic housekeeping by reforming education and health programs. What Benton does not know is that global warming is accelerating at a rate unpredicted. Relocation along the coastal areas will have to be massive.
Benton must now change his priorities and try to work with China at really reducing both their emissions. Each country views the other as an enemy and wants no change while the other country must change. Gradually talks disintegrate to the point of the threat of nuclear war.
Glass has written a wonderful political thriller. It is most interesting how the president works with his advisers and cabinet to try to resolve issues. The research that must have gone into this book is impressive and the analysis of the situation very in depth. The reader is made to be more 'eco' aware than ever before. What is scary is that it is such a probable scenario.
Benton must now change his priorities and try to work with China at really reducing both their emissions. Each country views the other as an enemy and wants no change while the other country must change. Gradually talks disintegrate to the point of the threat of nuclear war.
Glass has written a wonderful political thriller. It is most interesting how the president works with his advisers and cabinet to try to resolve issues. The research that must have gone into this book is impressive and the analysis of the situation very in depth. The reader is made to be more 'eco' aware than ever before. What is scary is that it is such a probable scenario.
Read
July 25, 2011Interesting and very realistic premise and storyline with one exception.
Remember in Beauty and the Beast where she hated him, hated him, hated him and then....magically, just one little change and voila - she loves him. No real reason for it, nothing really building - it just happened.
Not to give too much away but when Amy screams at her father and leaves ----- there's just nothing to back that up. Our understanding of their relationship to date, what he had to do -----even if she didn't agree with it, I seriously doubt that she'd up and leave and not talk to him or take his calls for months.
Anyway -----if you didn't notice or don't care about that plot turn, quite a good read - very in depth political debate and discussion about actions and their consequences, how to move your agenda forward when the other party's intentions are invisible to you at best.
Remember in Beauty and the Beast where she hated him, hated him, hated him and then....magically, just one little change and voila - she loves him. No real reason for it, nothing really building - it just happened.
Not to give too much away but when Amy screams at her father and leaves ----- there's just nothing to back that up. Our understanding of their relationship to date, what he had to do -----even if she didn't agree with it, I seriously doubt that she'd up and leave and not talk to him or take his calls for months.
Anyway -----if you didn't notice or don't care about that plot turn, quite a good read - very in depth political debate and discussion about actions and their consequences, how to move your agenda forward when the other party's intentions are invisible to you at best.
September 3, 2012
While I can't comment on this book's feel relative to "The West Wing", I can comment on its feel compared to the Economist: while it's obvious that its author (Glass) did a fair amount of research, I found myself unable to suspend disbelief many times. The story centered largely on a strained group constituting a future American administration fighting bilaterally with a small set of players in an otherwise opaque Chinese Politburo. The foil was carbon cuts, intended to stem the scope of an already massive relocation project resulting from climate change.
All Glass's "creative eggs" seemed placed in the Chinese administration's metaphorical basket--principally to provide drama or advance the plot. Thought placed in the American administration seemed confined entirely to character development--which occurred only superficially, despite devotion of seemingly a good two thirds of the book's 'front'.
I felt mostly aggravated throughout reading this book.
All Glass's "creative eggs" seemed placed in the Chinese administration's metaphorical basket--principally to provide drama or advance the plot. Thought placed in the American administration seemed confined entirely to character development--which occurred only superficially, despite devotion of seemingly a good two thirds of the book's 'front'.
I felt mostly aggravated throughout reading this book.
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