Written by John Batchelor
Read by Bill Weideman
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 128 Kbps
Unabridged

According to the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the vice president can challenge a president who, having temporarily turned over the reins of state, wishes to resume command. If the challenge is sustained, the vice president can block the incumbent's return. Batchelor, who is credited with foretelling the Falklands War in The Birth of the People's Republic of Antarctica (LJ 6/1/83), combines this scenario with sexual juiciness, military adventurism, and naked ambition. The vice president not only challenges the return of the president but also springs a secret trap to assassinate him. In a clever and effective twist, the usurper thinks almost entirely in baseball metaphors, a touch that makes this novel seem like the World Series of constitutional crises. Trusting the reader to follow through some convoluted plot turns, Batchelor nonetheless marshals strong characters. His dialog is crisp, authentic, and plentiful. A sure bet for all political fiction collections.