A great read...but read BETWEEN the lines and learn the truth about current events..the is more to this story than a novel of the future..recent history is on display here for those who can see. Buy many copies - give them to your friends and family - let's get this made into a movie NOW!

I'm half-way through this exciting book now and look forward to each reading session. With this author, twists are at every turn. This is a talent with which not all authors are blessed and makes for a pleasurable read. The author has researched his topic well. I've learned facts I would probably never known on this subject. I'm not a reader of novels usually but this is such a thriller and so immediately relevant to our political reality, I am impressed. Highly recommended!

I am a person who always reads non-fiction but in this case, I took exception and decided to indulge myself in this work- my first in many many years. Simply WOW! I read the entire book in a matter of a day. I could not put it down. I needed to know what would happen next after each chapter. Even though it is a work of fiction whether or not you are a conspiracy theorist, it draws your attention. I'd suggest anyone who reads this, see it as a work of fiction and not view it as a reference based in reality. It's mere entertainment- and I loved it!!! If you want something that is more comprehensive and is non-fiction read other books related to peak oil, 9/11, Iran, and/or terrorism. Having stated that, I must admit though while reading, it made me think about certain issues related to the War on Terrorism and oil. You can take certain "facts" from the book and based them in reality but it is far from being comprehensive. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves political thrillers.

A technically rich thriller that escalates oil as the catalyst to political treachery. Alten pulls out all the stops and delivers an engaging read. If you're looking for villains and good guys thrown into a web of perilous world events, you won't be disappointed.

In a personal note at the beginning, Alten disputes being "far from liberal, and the Democrats feel my wrath in the story as well as the Republicans." He spins a story, though, that buys wholeheartedly into every post 9-11 conspiracy, casting Republican administrations as instigators, organizers, and suppressors of the 9-11 attacks. If you think that way, you'll delight in the permutations of "The Shell Game." If you prefer balanced thought, you won't find a lot of that here. In the world of "The Shell Game," the heroes all buy into the conspiracy theory. It's probably just a coincidence of time and place that they all happen to be liberal-leaning Democrats. The villains include Islamic extremists among, without giving away the plot of the game, co-conspirators that go all the way to the top of the U.S. administration--who happen to be Republicans. The cause celeb is environmentalism, with nods to global warming and diminishing oil supplies.

In what seems to be the thematic diatribe, a critic lambastes: "There wouldn't be any Islamic extremists if we weren't addicted to oil, there wouldn't be an Al-Quaeda if we hadn't funded an Afghanistan resistance against the Soviets, Saddam would have never been a threat if we hadn't armed him, or Iran, or the other puppet regimes the CIA set up so our administrations could pull the strings." Such a summation does as little justice to history stretching back thousands of years before America came along to be the villain of the Islamic world. Of all the fighting that has never ceased in the Islamic sand pile, being able to blame U.S. policy is a historically recent, convenient target.

Alten has plenty of opportunity in his well-researched novel to voice arguments against his premise, to find faults in logic, and show conspiracies on both sides of complex struggles. But the author seems too engaged in a one-sided diatribe, so that he misses opportunities to weave a tapestry of deceit that could have doubled the peril factor and intrigue of the book far beyond the story Alten seemed so intent to tell.

This book is equivalant to a 9/11 "DaVinci Code" it exposes much of what our government has done in the past all wrapped around a story about what they could do in the future... I read it in like 4 days... very good read.

The Shell Game The Shell Game in a very intertaining fiction book with an interestingly large amount of non-fiction facts woven throughout including current events. It is amazing the amount of research that this author has done to create this novel. If you are wondering what is going on with the fuel prices today and how politics are related, this is a must read.

One of the "professional" reviews is by Publishers Weekly who is owned by Reed Elsevier, who, until last year, participated in arms fairs where items such as Cluster Bombs are offered for sale.
How can this be an objective review?

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Buy this book now!!! The 911 Truth movement is having Truth Week and promoting the sale of this book with the goal of getting it into the top ten. PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!! Buy a couple or a few copies and give them to friends and family.

911 WAS AN INSIDE JOB AND A PRETEXT FOR WAR IN IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN.

Support of this book and in getting it into the top ten will shed light on the 911 Truth movement in a major way!!!

-Joshua Smith

Any body with a brain has understood for now that there are strange dark areas about 911. And has noticed that the press does not do her job about that. This very good book is a fiction but makes the reader ask himself the right questions.

I don't read much modern popular fiction, and I was first drawn to this book due to the author's brave and possibly career jeopardising stance on current political issues, including the war of terror on the American people. With my cards on the table, here is my brief review.

I thought that Mr Alten had all the mechanics of a thriller down pat. He doesn't spend much time at first focusing on the exposition of the rather complex underlying themes, rather he weaves them into the narrative. When background information is needed he used the device of Kelli Doyle's exposé of her time in the White House. I preferred this device to the incredibly long "conversations" that Dan Brown used in "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons". The factual quotes at the head of each chapter were well chosen and apropos.

I found the main characters fairly well sketched out, but there were necessarily many peripheral characters who were not described in detail. The pace of the book followed the usual thriller model where the pace and excitement build to the end.

I would like to think that the scenario that Mr Alten presents for a new 9/11-type event is incredible, but I fear that something like what he presents is only too possible. The scenario in the book is actually less complicated and involves fewer people than the first 9/11 obviously did. The only thing that would make it less likely is for the American public to wake up and educate themselves on the first 9/11 and other false flag events that have been used to sway public opinion in favour of wars. The unfolding of events at the end of The Shell Game suggest that the public can be awakened at least to some degree, but in this case it was only after a cataclysmic event. Maybe if enough people read The Shell Game and follow up on Mr Alten's suggested reading, the regime of the day will be afraid to try to fool the American public again.

This is just one great story. Using current events, peak oil ( do a Google ), and man's greed and love of money ( it is the "root of all evil" now isn't it ? ), to show a possible future, frightening as it is.
Even if you are not a "conspiracy theorist", you will love this book. I would advise you to use the 'Net to look up some of the info in the book as you go along, as it will make it even more immediate and pertinent. The part fescribing the history of Saudi Arabia and its corrupt government and why we are in bed with them, was very well done. Don't miss it !!

Larry

I sat down to write a review, only to discover that someone else had written (more or less) exactly what I was going to write. So please read the review below by Scott Meredith "SeeOtter" It's spot-on.

The Shell Game is an overwhelmingly well crafted novel. It deals with a government sponsered false-flag attack on U.S. soil to justify a massive bombing campaign of Iran. There is much factial information presented in the novel, with lengthy quotations, about 9-11 and other government conspiracies. These are hard truths and may be more palatable for Americans when delivered through a medium of fiction. The book's protaganist, Ace Futrel, is a man who works for a company who's job it is to evaluate the remaining world oil reserves against the backdrop of Peak Oil. After his wife, a CIA agent, is mysteriously murdered, he gets drawn into an adventure who's mission becomes to save the world. Other topics The Shell Game exposes are: manufactored bird flu; dead microbiologists; peak oil; war games on September 11th; survelience society; election fraud, and much more. Anyone who wants to understand what is happening in our world needs to read The Shell Game.

Steve Alten's latest book, THE SHELL GAME, was very costly for me, even though one of my daughter's sent it to me as a gift. It cost me sleep, and also cost me time that I should have been working on my latest book. Steve owes me and he knows it, because it was that way with his other books, Meg, The Domain Series, and The Goliath Series.
I first heard Steve's name about two years ago while researching sharks. I needed one for a story I was asked to write for a magazine; knowing that I was hauling in lobsters (and `other things') from the Bahamas and Caribbean for several years, the editor figured I'd seen many sharks.
True! I had...the two-legged land variety and many of the aquatic species, but nothing like the star of MEG...thank God. A shark the size of a locomotive with an appetite that is never satisfied? C'mon Steve. A little digging and there she was. Megalodon Carcharodon ruled the oceans for a long time; and maybe. . .?
That's when Steve became my latest favorite author. I finished The Shell Game during this morning's early hours, Wednesday 9 April 2008...when I shoulda been working on a difficult chapter in my book. That's okay, it was worth it.
I can tell you a little about the book and not spoil it for you, because the characters and scenes that Steve creates in The Shell Game will keep you turning pages, and you'll forget all about what I tell you here.
I'm also a Vince Flynn fan, and honestly didn't think any current author would be able to build tension and characters that could keep me from working on my latest novel, like him. Wrong! I put down The Shell Game several times, thinking, I've gotta get some sleep. CLICK, light off. (ten minutes later) What's he gonna do if...CLICK, light on. Splash a little cold mountain water on my face, nuke a cup of coffee, and back to The Shell Game.

We all know that one day we're going to be forced to make changes in our energy source, because fossil fuel, primarily oil, is not endless. If we know it, then they know it. They! Who? The people who own it and the people who control it; both making fortunes from it. "Control the world's oil and control the world." I don't recall where I read that, years ago or who said it, but they certainly understood mankind's basic motivation. "Get rid of one of my cars? Replace my twin outboard engines for one smaller engine? Don't run my air conditioner year round? This is Florida, man, are you crazy?"
As you progress through this novel you'll begin to understand more about the consequences of allowing our lives to become dominated by oil; the fossil fuel source that dictates how modern 21st century humans will fare in a world soon to lose that source.
Steve is a master at creating characters that we love and become attached to and understand what their role in the changing plots will be, AND characters that we despise and can't wait for them to `get theirs', AND then he shakes the bag and dumps them all out on the page...and they're not at all as we had pictured them in our mind.

I have enjoyed reading a book by many good authors who disappointed me by not adequately wrapping everything up as my eyes approached THE END.
Steve has done a brilliant job of bringing everything to a great conclusion in all of his books, and doesn't fail his readers this time either.
I closed this terrific novel with only one question. How is he gonna top this one?

Rick Magers
Author: DARK CARIBBEAN
Amazon.com

Why do all Americans care zip about the rest of the world? Because they only care about themselves, and what causes this is a vast ignorance of what their governments have done to others. I am proud to be an American but feel ashamed of all the harm they've done abroad, its citizens totally in the dark of dirty policies their leaders have put into practice for many years. That's why "The Shell Game" very well describes what the rest of the world think very probable (filth and bullying others), but the Americans don't want to see: THE TRUTH.
Enter Steve Alten's great talent for creating his "cautionary tale." Let's see if Americans finally awake and demand a return to true and clean democracy.
If it does happen, Steve and those of us brave enough to face the truth can finally see a good and healthy U.S.A. Don't be mislead or misguided by what the powers that be say or by the fear they're constantly distilling into our country. It's extremely easy to do what you want as President when you create fear. But... We are not children anymore. And Steve will have guided us to the Truth. Buy this product, as the truth makes you free.
STEVE, KEEP ON OPENING OUR EYES WITH ALL THE BRAVERY YOU'VE SHOWN US.

Since so many others here have written synopses of the novel, I'm not going to do so.

Note: The word usage errors noted by others are very likely dictation/transcription errors. Alten has Parkinson's Disease and the errors are usually homynyms.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Alten writes a good thriller with better characterizations than most of the major bestsellers in this genre. Despite naysayers who debunk so-called 9/11 conspiracies (only so-called conspiracies because the debunkers haven't done their research), Alten's book is plausible and unsettling. He did do his research. It is not just the concept of the US engaging in false flag operations that is plausible and scary. It's the sense one gets of the damage to us all. Alten does not spare his hero or his readers.

Wake up America.

I was very impressed with this book. I've read Steve Alten's other works so I knew that it would be well written. What I didn't know was how scary it would be. There is more truth here than I really want to face and I suspect there is a lot more fact than fiction to this book.

With a fast and deep story line, and a fairly clear seperation between fact and fiction, the author balances the task of educating the reader and entertaining them.

As one reviewer pointed out, there are alot of errors but they aren't typos, as he said. They are just the wrong words! He gives some examples. I personally kept a record of the ones I found, and they eventually number 19! I don't know what to think. Did the author make these grammatical errors and no one caught them? or ??? When you see these kinds of errors, like using roll for role, break pads for brake pads? You have to wonder. It took away from an otherwise pretty good book.

This is a fictional tale set in the year 2012 about a man who looses his wife to cancer and the secret life she was leading as a CIA agent. The interesting thing about this book is that it lays out the building blocks of the 911 Truth Movement without being too preachy while projecting a cautionary vision of the prospects of life without enlightenment. This is a real page turner / action-adventure book that lags a bit at the end. Four Stars ****

This is another good read from Steve Alten, although I'm sure he will be catching some 'crude' from both sides of the issue. It's faction folks. Get over it. Anyone who really believes the Bush Administration allowed an attack on 9/11 needs to see a good shrink.

You have to admire Mr. Alten's guts. To come out with this book this particularly important election year makes me (and many other people) more hopeful that the tide will turn. To my knowledge, "The Shell Game" is the first novel of note to deal with the issue of false flag operations as they directly relate to September Eleven. I don't see how anyone who reads your book would look at 9/11 without the highest suspicion that the official story is simply not true. Allegorizing 9/11 into the sphere of near-future political deception, you make a very persuasive case for the total complicity of the Bush administration in perpetrating the biggest tragedy on American soil since the Native American Holocaust. Naturally, one cannot look at 9/11 from the perspective of the United States alone. Two preemptive wars under false pretenses, over a million civilian deaths in the Middle East, thousands of dead American troops, record suicide rates among the Iraq veterans, the demise of the Bill of Rights - coupled with solidifying dictatorial powers in the hands of a rogue, unelected President under the aegis of the Machiavellian mind of his Vice President - all this is stranger-than-fiction reality of today's world. It is "The Shell Game's" greatest achievement to raise these issues so openly and offer an all-too-plausible scenario for a future self-inflicted attack that would tip the world into an irreversible direction of global chaos.
Lastly, I would like to commend Mr. Alten for focusing so much attention on the ecological issues, specifically on finding renewable, alternative sources of energy that would permanently wean us off the oil spigot.
Jarek Kupsc, writer/director, "The Reflecting Pool."

That tricky Steve Alten has given us a fast paced geo-political thriller that takes the present turmoil and thrusts us forward to 2012. The story has it all: war, torture, espionage, as well as some great contemporary quotes and bible verses to bolster the impending... The real kicker, of course ,is our oil relations in Central Asia and that 9-11 was an inside job. Will there be another state sponsored false flag terrorist event that will lead to war with Iran? Or worse, World War III.
Apocalypse now or later? You decide.

The Shell Game is a good read which I recommend to everyone. Its precise classification may be a matter of importance for potential readers drawn from the so-called 9/11 Truth Community. Not quite a roman a clef, not quite a fictionalized `people's history' in the tradition of Uncle Tom's Cabin and Max Havilaar, The Shell Game is more ambitious; it attempts to present a theory of history and the future in the tradition of Ann Rand's Atlas Shrugged and George Orwell's 1984.

The Shell Game's temporal scope is the first dozen years of the 21st century, whose centerpiece is the series of attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. The "now" of the novel includes the presidential campaign of 2012; the climax of the novel (I won't tell you how it turns out) is a patsy-executed, government-orchestrated, plan to launch a nuclear attack on Los Angeles and Chicago as prelude to declaration of martial law, cancellation of the 2012 elections, and the end of America-as-we-know-it.

Read exclusively for its references to and treatment of the historical events of 9/11, The Shell Game becomes merely a roman a clef, meaning that its value derives less from the roman than the clef--the real-life events to which the novel is supposed to provide the "key". But such a reading misses an important point. It implies, quite narrowly, that fiction has no place in serious discourse about 9/11, which ought to be exclusively about "scientific truth" with respect to the buildings, the planes (or their phantoms), the passengers, the alleged hijackers, the intelligence failures, the cover-up, and the suspected perpetrators in the government or the shadow government. This raises a serious question about where "the truth about 9/11" rightfully belongs in the universe of discourse. Does "truth" imply only science? Or can we see into the sun with an understanding, like D. H. Lawrence, that it is more than a ball of flaming gases?

The Shell Game places this question in sharp relief. As a work of fiction, its first imperative is to tell a coherent story. But as everyone knows, the 9/11 Truth Movement presents not a single, coherent narrative, but a range of probable ones. This leaves only two possible paths open to authors hoping to succeed in the genre of fiction about the central event of contemporary history: they must either select a coherent sub-set of narratives from among the many that are currently bubbling up out of the 9/11 Truth Movement; or they must create their own. Steve Alten has chosen the former path. He leans heavily on Michael Ruppert's approach, which is distinguished for its de-emphasis on "what happened" forensically on 9/11, and for its corresponding emphasis on the motive (Peak Oil hypothesis) and the post-event cover-up, relying largely on public records. Likewise The Shell Game draws on public records which powerfully enable the reader to imagine the possibility that 9/11 was an inside job; that the perpetrators acted consistently for a variety of motives; and that they did it mostly in the open. Some of the most riveting parts of the novel are direct quotes from Bush, Cheney, and newspaper accounts from 2001, appearing before any politicized "official" narrative had taken hold in the public's collective imagination.

As a fiction writer, Alten is answerable to (and cannot escape from, on pain of failure as a writer) a combination of restricting and empowering literary values. How does one evaluate the literary value of a work? In part, by its success! If everyone reading The Shell Game enjoys it and recommends it to family and friends, then everyone will be exposed to the possibility that 9/11 was an inside job. Those who do not believe that 9/11 was an inside job can pass it on to others who do; after all, it is "just" fiction. This story cannot be dismissed as "conspiracy theory"--because it is not a theory but a work of fiction. A page turner. A good read.

This book was a fast paced thriller. It is a must read for anyone who enjoys politics. This book presents a scary hypothetical situation in the near future. This book is perfect for anyone who beleives that the government is lying about the events on 9/11. Overall, a tense and nerve-racking book. I would recommend this to anyone who cares about our future. A+ for The Shell Game.

"The Shell Game" by Steve Alten is a very scary scenario about where our world is heading as a result of the Neocon agenda, hawkish American politicians and "security" agencies, and the tumultuous oil economy of the Middle East. Alten also does a fine job of explaining the politics of Saudi Arabia and its long-time linkage with the Bush family. All this in a rip-roaring quasi-fictional story in which the machinations of competing agencies lead to the destruction of a great American city. While Alten might be criticized for creating one-dimensional villains, the real-life people they stand for are, themselves, one dimensional. An excellent read that should awaken anyone who remains complacent in these anxiety-ridden times.

The lady (Publishers Weekly Review listed above) doth protest too much.
My question would be, "Who owns Publishers Weekly Review?"

Great book. Will open some Americans' eyes to the massive cover-up of 9/11. And until this is exposed via a new, REAL criminal investigation, we will have endless war as the right wing think tank, Project for a New American Century (PNAC) has designed in a race to capture the world's resources first. Google PNAC. Should we make the U.S. "stronger" at the rest of the world's expense? (Not forgetting our lost blood & treasure, too.) An empire-esque strategy is doomed to fail. It always has.

Be a true U.S. patriot, and do the research . . . Stand up for your country and not let the current corrupt leaders who have sold out our country, and what it stands for, and its citizens.

"We the people" can take our country back when this ugly truth is exposed. And not until then.

Read the book; you should understand quickly what this is about if this is news to you.

Betsy

Excellent, excellent book. Very unique in that it incorporates history, facts and politics in a thrilling and frighteningly real work of semi-fiction. Every American needs to read this to grasp the reality of the true agenda being carried out behind closed doors. A real eye opener that you won't want to believe but have no choice as every sickening allegation is backed up with actual events and cross references. Truth really is much stranger - and scarier - than fiction. The characters feel like they could be your next door neighbor, and probably are. Best work of "fiction" I ever read.

See storyline above.
While reading The Shell Game I went through a range of emotions, from fear to anger. I know this is speculative fiction but it sure makes one think. Highly researched and well written, Steve Alten writes one heck of a story. No matter which way you lean, you'll find the suspense palpable and the facts eye opening.
Highly recommended!

This book was amazing. It's a little slow off the bat because of all the history that is incorporated into politics but really picks up about half way through. This book will make you think. The author uses actual quotes before each chapter that will make you think about the current political system we live in today. The tough thing about this book is that right now it looks like we might be heading down that path already. Great book that should be read by a lot of people. I already bought another copy for my friend and if you like the book as well pick up a copy for a friend as a gift and lets spread the word of this book.

The best fiction based on truth book I've ever read. I had a hard time putting it down. The facts in this book are right on, and the story wrapped around them intriguing.

This book on the surface an fabulous political thriller, great action, well-written with characters you care about. When you really start to get the novel and realize that it is "real"- that's when it gets scary. This novel made me think, and learn lots of new things I never knew- what more can you ask for in a novel. An AWESOME novel- simply amazing.

I've been a fan of Steve's work since his first book, "Meg" was released in 1997. In retrospect I was not too kind when I mentioned that it was not the best book I've read, but when "The Trench" (his second book in the Meg series) was released I was moved to write a great review describing how vastly superior this story was when compared to "Meg", and how he was now on my "favorite" author's list.

Let me tell you that with the release of his latest book, "The Shell Game" Steve has shown just how much he has matured as a top notch writer and he has won the top honor as favorite all time author for me!!!

I was so taken by the Shell Game and so engrossed in the story, that I finished it in record time..and not to mention that I missed my train station on more than one occasion! What an amazing book! I ran out and purchased a copy for my partner and 4 other books to give as upcoming birthday presents. My partner took to it right away and just finished it last night. Believe me, he does NOT like to read, but he was not able to put your book down...Absolutely amazing from start to the finish (his words!)

This is a book that needs to be read by EVERYONE who resides on this fragile planet of ours...forget partisinship, red states, blue states, far right, far left, moderate....we all share this world and for those
of us who live in this great country it is of even greater importance
that this book be read and shared with as many people as possible.

It is every bit as entertaining as it is a call to arms about the direction we are going and how to best avoid going over the precipice
that greedy corporations and politicians have led us into.

Best Wishes,

GusThe TrenchMeg: A Novel of Deep Terror

This is so much more than an enjoyable political/military/techno action thriller. When I picked it up, that is all I thought it was and I was not disappointed..it is a great, great read in that category.

But it is so, so, much more. Before reading this book, I frankly laughed off the 9-11, house of saud and house of bush, big oil, energy shortage, etc. crisis and conspiracy articles and commentaries. Well, they now have my attention, in a big way. I am amazed that this book has not received more attention in the news commentary area especially given how things in the present presidential campaign seem to be tracking. Definitely worth the read..and action!

An interesting aspect of this book is that it is extremely hard to figure out what is fact and what is fiction..pretty amazing..I hope a lot of it turns out to be fiction!

This is an incredible novel, Steve Alten has done it again. This book tell you many things that are happening right know in the United States government, the war on oil is everyday more evident, conspiracy has been always a part of the intelligence agencies.
This book will take you inside of what is going to happen real soon in a very realistic way, its a nail bitting kind of novel that you can't put it down, I highly recomended it.

If you want to read a heart stopping and prophetic thriller, then "The Shell Game" is definately for you!! The cover alone, gives me chills. As close to reality as this novel is, it has that "ripped from the headlines" feel. Government intrigue, high level espionage, patriotic fervor,devious treason, and perceptive thoughts about how our society functions and the pros and cons of it all..this novel will keep you up way past your bedtime!! Facts are deftly woven into the narrative, with sources and a Bibliography to check out. (They are definately worth it!!)
Even if you don't agree with his suppositions/opinions, you can't ignore the facts. And if some of you disagree with my word "supposition", please know that this novel does not have a lot of opinions...But lots of ignored, and little known facts. I urge you to get this book...you won't be disappointed!!!

I just finished reading The Shell Game. It was not only a gripping, nail-biting, well written and well researched novel, but it sent shills up my spine as I compared the main story line to recent news from DC. One of the themes of the book includes a plot involving an attack on a US city, which was internally orchestrated to provide an excuse for the US to bomb Iran. A couple weeks ago, Michael Chertoff, head of Homeland Security, essentially told reporters that he fears the next 9/11, which could be a suitcase nuke. On February 14th, in threatening to veto a waterboarding ban, President Bush said, "terrorists are planning new attacks on our country... that will make Sept. 11 pale by comparison." These `predictions' by the Administration are almost straight out of The Shell Game. The Shell Game's plot is happening as we speak.

The news of oil's imminent drop in production needs to be told. The Shell Game does just that and more. It's a fast paced, thrilling book. I tried to do the same with my novel, Sunset on Ghawar: tell a realistic tale of what might happen as the oil tank drops below the ½ way mark. Kudos to Steve Alten for taking on such an important story.
Chad Sands
Author, Sunset on Ghawar

It's difficult to categorize but this book definitely captivates you since it is annotated with citations to factual events yet fills in a plot to involve the reader personally with its characters. It educates and entertains and leaves the reader wanting more.

Steve Alten has written another "hot topic" book. This was scary - even more than his famous MEG books. I have followed this author for several years and found that he does correspond with his readers, and for that alone he gets five *****. Not too many authors do that today.
I read this book as a work of fiction, and yet found myself thinking about the truths behind it. Fossil fuels running out? In my lifetime? I recommend this as an excellent read. It may keep you up at night. Actually - read all of his books. Being a character is really cool. My kids and the local librarians were very impressed.
:)

a lot of study, on mr. altens part, was put in this book to create such a suspensful thriller. it makes me think that would my own government sacrifice so much in order to keep and get what we need in order to survive. the novel was a page turner, i couldn't put it down. steve alten deserves another thumbs up for this riviting book.

aka Connie Cook Smith


Here's why I urge everyone to buy "The Shell Game," to support it, immediately.

Here also are my responses to fellow 9/11 Truth activists who are suspicious and critical of the author's motives.

One in particular articulates an objection to supporting the book on the basis of its "artificial constructs of peak oil, global warming, and Islamic terrorists." I think that's an intelligent phrase, "artificial constructs." But the 9/11 Truth worker admits she did not read all of the book, as haven't others who are critical.

Please allow me to share my reasoning to heartily support it, based on having read all of it and taken meticulous notes.

Background: My own work on 9/11 research (link at the bottom) came about almost immediately -- because I simply could not believe Muslims would do a one-day attack on America and therefore "justify" invasions of their lands! Seemed to me like a frame-up right from the get-go, especially since early reports from Mohammed Atta's neighbors in Florida made it clear that he and gang (their wild life-style) was NOT that of "Muslim fundamentalists."

And indeed, for all who have looked into it, that's how the evidence has played out. Also, seeing how egregiously and murderously Muslims are being treated, it therefore has been hard for me to see any fault on their part, on the geopolitical scene.

However -- first, just regarding human nature -- I've reluctantly learned over my lifetime that there are good guys and bad guys in every faction on Earth. There ARE wholesome and spiritually minded soldiers in the American military, from the grunts to the generals And there ARE outright murderers/rapists/evildoers. There ARE wise and kind and peace-working Muslims in each sect. And there ARE aggressive and theocratic blowback people who are bent on doing great harm.

What I like about Alten's book is that -- well, frankly, some Americans would call him a traitor because of how thoroughly he exposes American evil-doing (and warns of more to come if we don't stop them)! And how sympathetically he tells the back-stories of the bomb-carriers from Iraq whose lives have been ripped apart by American aggression. (Totally unjustified since Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.)

The author also presents some Shi'a and Sunni dialogue that is highly educational on those particular differences, which even becomes amusing in a human-endearing sense. In others words -- if it were you, Dear Reader, you too might do what they've decided to do. Whereas most American literature demonizes Muslims, he humanizes them. I feel he has done a great service in this regard.

He even WELL presents the point-of-view of a grown-up child of Japanese extraction, now nuclear scientist, whose mom's family was vaporized at Nagasaki.

But Alten does not hold back when Muslims/Arabs do function or have functioned as outright terrorists, nor does he hold back when Americans (Christians, Jews, whoever) likewise function as criminals and terrorists. You do learn that the chief protagonist in the book (and his Valerie Plame-like wife) are Jewish, due to the mention of a rabbi conducting a family funeral. But in a very dramatic scene, this man does not hesitate to call an aide to Israeli-American Richard Perle "a maggot!"

True, Alten does not address any of Israel's specific machinations that many of us have discovered behind 9/11. But he certainly roughs up the neo-cons in America who are deeply politically connected to Israel. And as I have elsewhere emphasized, this book is not ABOUT all the facts of 9/11. It's about a 9/11-like-event in the near future -- a much worse one -- which in reality IS likely to happen -- and which the author desperately wants an educated public to help prevent.

This page-turner novel has no requirement to present "what really happened" -- especially not ALL that really happened -- on that September day in 2001. But it does provide DOZENS of factual news items and testimonies pertaining to 9/11 which most Americans don't know -- and which leave the reader with no doubt it was an inside job. The reader inevitably KNOWS: The powers-that-be did it once, and they are planning to do it again!

There is even a discourse, page 77, which NAMES NAMES regarding who exactly blocked the intel informing that 9/11 was about to occur! And who then -- were promoted!

This book is therefore incalculably valuable to the 9/11 Truth movement, and I agree with the author's current promos that there is an urgent need for it to be widely read and discussed NOW as a deterrent to the real plots probably in motion -- such as a martial law crackdown in the U.S. and the cancellation of a presidential election.

The problem with people who have not read the whole book is that they miss out on all the context which effectively educates on all the points of view. And therefore such reviewers/critics are not being fair to the author who has so conscientiously researched and addressed more than enough key elements in this compelling and extremely important story.

As for peak oil and global warming being artificial constructs, even though Steve Alten is deeply earnest and well-documented in his concerns on these fronts, and even though I was exposed throughout the book to his excellent problem/solution-oriented characters' dialogues and political speeches on these topics -- some speeches are quite visionary! -- I nevertheless have come away as yet unpersuaded about peak oil -- because of my own research into it.

However: this idea does dominate our world and drives our geopolitical policies. Thus it is a highly valid premise for the unfolding of Political Plots, past and present.

As for global warming, his sincerity about preserving this planet for our children is unimpeachable. And his passion for clean energy is inspiring and educational -- including his information about Dick Cheney deliberately derailing such efforts as far back as the 1970's. I feel that what Alten has to say on this topic is worth reading, regardless of our own as-yet-unformed, or even adamant point of view, to the contrary.

Regarding criticism of his promotional efforts on the book, now urgently going around -- what he's doing is a Paul-Revere type warning that the neo-cons are NO DOUBT plotting an attack on American soil again -- far worse ones. That this will indeed mean martial law upon all of us Truth-Workers, and All Citizens -- AND the cancellation of the upcoming election. (In the book, it's 2012 -- but in reality? I would say 2008!)

So! SORRY if Paul Revere galloping around and yelling about all the danger we're in is seen as some sort of author's self-serving prance through the park!

In my opinion, Alten has already done SO MUCH WORK -- yet now he feels further driven to continue to STRIVE and make sure the public GETS the warnings -- and GETS all of the educational insights behind them.

His well-laid-out plan to guide Truth-Workers on possibly how to do this, is also a service. We don't have to take time and ponder how to go about it. If we want to help with his urgent message to humanity, he's come up with some means for us to use, if we so choose. (Below.)

Such solution-oriented thinking (and providing!) is also a delightful factor in his book. It's not just a big fearful rant about what's happened to us and what worse is likely coming. The author is a Guide and a Teacher regarding what we can possibly do about it.

For all these reasons, I feel that author Steve Alten deserves enormous support and respect. And for the sake of all humanity, his book NEEDS to be a success.

Respectfully,
Connie Cook Smith
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website and trailers dramatizing "The Shell Game," available from amazon.com for $17

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how to rig an election through MESSAGE, "The Shell Game"s point exactly about our recent past, which leads to cancelling an election in our near future



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Alten's current urgent promo:
"Recently, Michael Chertoff, head of Homeland Security, essentially told reporters that he fears the next 9/11, which could be a suitcase nuke. Yesterday, in threatening to veto a waterboarding ban, Bush said, and I quote, 'terrorists are planning new attacks on our country... that will make Sept. 11 pale by comparison.'

"If this plot isn't straight out of The SHELL GAME then you haven't read the book.

"Now add this little tidbit: Executive Order 12919 would place the United States under total Martial Law and Military Dictatorship in the event of another attack. This Executive Order allows the President to declare a National Emergency at any time, and freeze everything...including a national election. Congress is powerless to prevent such an Executive Dictatorship, as long as the President advises Congress in a timely matter...

These are just the facts.

If you enjoyed The Davinci Code then you will be sure to enjoy The Shell Game. Both are filled with politics, conspiracy, and murder rolled into a fictional novel with educational historical accounts. Whereas The Davinci Code addressed religion, The Shell Game tackles the controversies behind global oil.

My biggest problem with this story was his use of present tense. That being said, he used it in such a way that it wasn't as annoying as I thought it would be, yet I still had some difficulty getting into the writing style. That was the only problem I had with the book.

The story is very interesting and thought provoking. If even half of his quotes are true, it makes you wonder what kind of democracy we really have in America. The chapters are all short and easy to read, the plot is not too far fetched, and there is plenty of excitement. This is quite a departure from his icky bug novels like Meg and The Loch, but it shows he's not limited to just one genre. Well done and if you are not already extremely paranoid or adverse to the present tense writing style, highly recommended.

The SHELLGAME delves deep into the "closed session" style of government that's become the norm after 9-11. It mixes reality with theory and asks some very sobering questions in the process. What are we going to do when the oil runs out? How much time do we have left? What depths would our government sink to for the last drop of oil? All things we don't like to think about. Alot of very good quotes are included as well that put the story into proper context. A must read for 9-11 truthers.

The Shell Game came out the same day that Stephen King's Duma Key came out. While Duma Key was a very good book, I have to say that Steve Alten's The Shell Game is scarier!!
Both authors know great character development but very few know how to torment and destroy a good character like SK and SA!!
While I might not agree with SA's politics in general, he certainly raises some obvious questions about the past and present events as well as our future.
He's taken very historically controversial issues and crafted them into a superb story. Great adrenaline rush!!!
Someone else tried to do that not too long ago, it was called The DaVinci Code. For the life of me I still can't figure out why so many copies of that dud of a book sold. 'limp predictable storyline'
Anyway, great book, I enjoyed The Shell Game very much, it kept me turning the pages into the early morning hours.
It deserves more attention and it deserves to be on the top selling lists!!
SA, you keep writing them and I'll keep buying and reading them!!!

Steve Alten's on-the-mark book on the coming (in our lifetime) global depletion of oil and the resulting population die-off from lack of transportation capability and fertilizers to maintain high global crop yields, focuses on THE main question: "why, with this civilization-ending event rapidly approaching, is not a single candidate for president (or the current or past presidents) not standing before us and presenting a plan for survival?"

Steve ties that question in with "why did our national security system fail to detect and prevent 9/11 but rapidly use it as an opportunity to take control of a major oil producing nation and build permanent military bases there without major public opposition?"

The oil situation is real and Steve deals with it in a totally researched manner. We are obviously in Iraq. Read this book quick while parts of it are still fiction.

All a presidential candidate has to do is stand before us and declare a major government effort to replace dependence on oil (all oil, not just Arab) and create major jobs and economic growth in our country, and yet not one candidate is doing that. Even the U.S. Geological survey says there is 42 years of oil left, and that is twice the estimate most international petroleum geologists. Google "Peak Oil" if you lack motivation to read this book.

It is said, taht truth is stranger than fiction, now go an mix the two together and you get something truly frightening. This book is awesome. The use of lots of real information in forming the story is good. A Lot of people reading this book can easily recognize the real information, and the use of different(and some hair-raising) quotations on things before each chapter was a great idea. I recommend this book to any and everyone that want to see what some of the possibilites for the future and fate of this world are.

I won't give away the plot ... suffice it to say that the ending is hopefully nothing but fiction.

But the beginning ... 9/11 ... is a different story. Without a doubt, 9/11 (in real life) was an inside job. Don't take my or anyone elses word for it - INVESTIGATE IT YOURSELF. Pools of Molten Steel. How ?