What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shell Game
From the Publisher The events of September 11th, 2001,the invasion of Iraq,the threat of radical Islam,an impending showdown with Iran. What do these situations have in common? Oil. And the world is running out. The SHELL GAME is far more than a thriller, it is a MUST-READ cautionary tale that exposes the next 9/11 event a deception that will lead to a retaliatory chemical weapons strike on Iran and the terrorist elements the regime supports. Though the novel is written as fiction, it is filled with all-too-real details provided by insiders in the oil industry, military, and Middle Eastern affairs that extrapolates real events from the past and present that will lead us down a path of self-destruction.Unless we stop the insanity now! Product Description The story opens in 2007 when two CIA spooks meet with an American Colonel in military intelligence. The war is going badly, and President Bush, who steadfastly refuses to back down, remains unchallenged at home as Democrats and Republicans continue to toss verbal grenades positioning themselves for the 2008 elections. Meanwhile, Iran s pursuit of nuclear energy will yield enriched uranium within five years, uranium that can be used to manufacture suitcase nukes. The United States military is too drained to invade Iran, and a preemptive strike is out of the question,unless a nuclear detonation were to occur in an American city, the enriched uranium traced back to Iran. A U.S. reprisal would strike a death-blow against radical Islam, quell the insurgent violence in Iraq,and yield more oil. Yes, the cost is unthinkable but if we sit back and do nothing then one day a dozen suitcase bombs could go off in a dozen American cities bringing with it anarchy and the collapse of Western civilization. December 2011: Ashley Ace Futrell is an oil expert working for PetroConsultants, married to Kelli Doyle, a former National Security Advisor and one of the CIA spooks from the opening scene. When Kelli threatens to expose the plot, Ace finds his existence hurtling down a rabbit s hole of deceit where the orchestrated lies of the powerful few could lead to the darkest days of human existence, and the death knell for billions.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2007
About the author
Steve Alten
62 books1,366 followersSteve Alten grew up in Philadelphia, earning his Bachelors degree in Physical Education at Penn State University, a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Delaware, and a Doctorate of Education at Temple University. Struggling to support his family of five, he decided to pen a novel he had been thinking about for years. Working late nights and on weekends, he eventually finished MEG; A Novel of Deep Terror. Steve sold his car to pay for editing fees. On September (Friday) the 13th, 1996, Steve lost his general manager’s job at a wholesale meat plant. Four days later his agent had a two-book, seven figure deal with Bantam Doubleday.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
December 28, 2007
I had the good fortune to recieve an ARC (advanced reader copy) for The Shell Game and provided a blurb for the book's cover (though I have no idea if it will be there when the book comes out in January).
This book is eye opening as it is exciting to read--as unnerving as it is thrilling. It takes a look at the brewing oil crisis in a way that has never, to my knowledge, been done before. This is fiction, but I have a strong feeling it's going to be one of those novels that people look back at in twenty years and say, "Holy crap, how did that author peg the future so accurately?" It's an amazing cautionary tale that I think just about any reader will enjoy...especially those that aren't fans of our current president. :)
I'm really looking forward to the bee's nest this book stirs when it comes out. From what I've heard, Steve will be hitting slews of talk shows including Jon Stewart, so it should be quite the ride. I'm thrilled to have read it already and am glad to spread the word. Buy this book, you won't regret it!
-- Jeremy Robinson, author of Antarktos Rising, Raising the Past and The Didymus Contingency
This book is eye opening as it is exciting to read--as unnerving as it is thrilling. It takes a look at the brewing oil crisis in a way that has never, to my knowledge, been done before. This is fiction, but I have a strong feeling it's going to be one of those novels that people look back at in twenty years and say, "Holy crap, how did that author peg the future so accurately?" It's an amazing cautionary tale that I think just about any reader will enjoy...especially those that aren't fans of our current president. :)
I'm really looking forward to the bee's nest this book stirs when it comes out. From what I've heard, Steve will be hitting slews of talk shows including Jon Stewart, so it should be quite the ride. I'm thrilled to have read it already and am glad to spread the word. Buy this book, you won't regret it!
-- Jeremy Robinson, author of Antarktos Rising, Raising the Past and The Didymus Contingency
September 4, 2022
There is a famous meme of Charlie Day standing in front of a conspiracy wall, looking crazed with a mess of conspiratorial ramblings and red-string connections behind him. Steve Alten saw that meme while going down a 9-11 nutjob rabbit hole one late night at 2 AM and thought, "There's my next novel!"
It's not that this book is bad; it's that this book defies any ability to classify or review it. Each page is a fever-dream inducing descent into absolute ridiculousness. You can actually feel your mind slipping away into madness with each turn of the page. Plot? I think it's about oil, and our reliance on oil, and how the oil is running out (or maybe has already run out? Or is being lied about running out?). I think it's also about how Cheney did 9/11 with his "neoconservative" buddies. But, Bush did 9/11, too. Both Bushes. But also, the Middle East did 9/11, too. All the Middle East. This book doesn't seem to know the differences among all the various peoples and groups of the Middle East, nor does it seem to care because...OIL DID 9/11 AND WE MUST WAKE UP!
At one point, someone gives Obama a stroke and Biden becomes the acting President. Maybe it was the NeoCons, or Cheney, or someone Muslim, but it wasn't a natural stroke. He gets marginally better and later attends a Chicago Bears game where he almost gets incinerated by a nuclear suitcase bomb.
The "main character" gets imprisoned in Saudi Arabia where he is tortured. While this is going on, the Green Party candidate for President gives a stirring speech about needing alternative energy sources. He later wins the election because OIL DID 9/11!!!
If any of the above sounds like a coherent plotline to you, congratulations. You have cracked the Shell Game code!
The dialogue is stirring. Just check out this exchange between two Muslim men:
"Good morning, dog."
"What did you call me?"
"Dog. Among men of color it is a term of endearment."
"It is an insult coming from the mouth of a Sunni. Do not address me in this manner again." (175)
What an endearing buddy adventure! Then, one of these gentlemen falls in love with a white yoga instructor and then he gets murdered after delivering the suitcase bombs...murdered by our government because Cheney IS EVIL AND EVERYWHERE!!!!
At one point the "main character" is in Alaska looking for someone and observes an Inuit town, thinking: "But there are other native Americans in Hopedale who are not so preoccupied with chores. A few lay on stoops, passed out drunk, while others congregate in small groups, drinking and smoking...They gaze at him with vacant eyes...lost souls." (285) Ah, the drunken Native American stereotype needed to be shoehorned in because the Muslim stereotypes weren't pervasive enough I guess!
This goes on for 515 PAGES. It's actually boggling that this exists in print. It is, hands down, the strangest, longest, most bonkers thing I've ever read. And, I don't even disagree that Big Oil and the Government tend toward kind of evil in their dealings. But, this was just too much. There are entire pages of just a single paragraph that deliver never-ending diatribes about something or other. This needed a stiff editing pen. And you'll need a stiff drink to survive it.
It needed more Jurassic-era megalodons eating people, I think. Cheney versus Meg...now there's an idea for the sequel!
It's not that this book is bad; it's that this book defies any ability to classify or review it. Each page is a fever-dream inducing descent into absolute ridiculousness. You can actually feel your mind slipping away into madness with each turn of the page. Plot? I think it's about oil, and our reliance on oil, and how the oil is running out (or maybe has already run out? Or is being lied about running out?). I think it's also about how Cheney did 9/11 with his "neoconservative" buddies. But, Bush did 9/11, too. Both Bushes. But also, the Middle East did 9/11, too. All the Middle East. This book doesn't seem to know the differences among all the various peoples and groups of the Middle East, nor does it seem to care because...OIL DID 9/11 AND WE MUST WAKE UP!
At one point, someone gives Obama a stroke and Biden becomes the acting President. Maybe it was the NeoCons, or Cheney, or someone Muslim, but it wasn't a natural stroke. He gets marginally better and later attends a Chicago Bears game where he almost gets incinerated by a nuclear suitcase bomb.
The "main character" gets imprisoned in Saudi Arabia where he is tortured. While this is going on, the Green Party candidate for President gives a stirring speech about needing alternative energy sources. He later wins the election because OIL DID 9/11!!!
If any of the above sounds like a coherent plotline to you, congratulations. You have cracked the Shell Game code!
The dialogue is stirring. Just check out this exchange between two Muslim men:
"Good morning, dog."
"What did you call me?"
"Dog. Among men of color it is a term of endearment."
"It is an insult coming from the mouth of a Sunni. Do not address me in this manner again." (175)
What an endearing buddy adventure! Then, one of these gentlemen falls in love with a white yoga instructor and then he gets murdered after delivering the suitcase bombs...murdered by our government because Cheney IS EVIL AND EVERYWHERE!!!!
At one point the "main character" is in Alaska looking for someone and observes an Inuit town, thinking: "But there are other native Americans in Hopedale who are not so preoccupied with chores. A few lay on stoops, passed out drunk, while others congregate in small groups, drinking and smoking...They gaze at him with vacant eyes...lost souls." (285) Ah, the drunken Native American stereotype needed to be shoehorned in because the Muslim stereotypes weren't pervasive enough I guess!
This goes on for 515 PAGES. It's actually boggling that this exists in print. It is, hands down, the strangest, longest, most bonkers thing I've ever read. And, I don't even disagree that Big Oil and the Government tend toward kind of evil in their dealings. But, this was just too much. There are entire pages of just a single paragraph that deliver never-ending diatribes about something or other. This needed a stiff editing pen. And you'll need a stiff drink to survive it.
It needed more Jurassic-era megalodons eating people, I think. Cheney versus Meg...now there's an idea for the sequel!
March 26, 2022
I chose this book since i enjoy the novels of Steve Alten. This novel scared the bejesus out of me. I tried to take spells from it but I was quickly drawn back. It will indeed not only keep your attention but will cause much after thought.
September 25, 2015
This was a decent thriller--I think Steve Alten is incapable of writing a truly bad book. It's an odd experience reading the book now, in 2015, since it was published in 2007, but set in the, then, near future. So some things that seemed terrifyingly possible in 2007 have not actually come to pass. The Republicans didn't win the White House in either 2008 or 2012, for instance. That is not to say that the entire book is implausible; it's just oddly out of synch in places. There's some standard 911 conspiracy material in here, but it's well integrated and works in the context of this book. Alten does provide some suggestions for further reading and cites sources for some of the more unbelievable tidbits. This is definitely more overtly political than the rest of his work, or at least what I've read of it. This is not my favorite book of his--that would be Meg--but it's definitely worth reading. I did notice a few more typos than one would expect from a major hardcover release: either Alten or his editor seems unaware of the difference between "regiment" and "regimen" or "affect" and "effect" for instance. This definitely marred my enjoyment of the book, and I hope there will be less of that in the future.
March 19, 2008
Ugh, what a horrible book. This guy can't write to save his life. Someone should tell him he is writing a story, not a dump of information. There's lots of technical talk about oil, and so forth, but it comes in great gobs of boring prose 2-3 pages long. Yuck! The lead character, Ace Futrell (or something like that) testifies to Congress, then heads back to NY, meets his wife who is apparently struck with cancer. Before you can say Ace, she is shot to death in Central Park, and our hero is all at sea.
I couldn't take it any more. Mr. Alten seems to write in a state of delirium. His sentences are spasmodic, with phrases broken by dashes, swerving this way and that. By the time I had read about 60 pages, I was already into Chapter 10. This is not breathless pace, this is writing at its worst!
I gave him one star just for kicks.
I couldn't take it any more. Mr. Alten seems to write in a state of delirium. His sentences are spasmodic, with phrases broken by dashes, swerving this way and that. By the time I had read about 60 pages, I was already into Chapter 10. This is not breathless pace, this is writing at its worst!
I gave him one star just for kicks.
Read
August 9, 2011I read this 450 page very quickly. It was that compelling to me.
As others have said, not great in terms of its thriller writing – there are a lot of characters, the protagonist’s story is rather simple, and there’s a question of what he does with computers even being plausable.
But Alten’s main aim is to discuss and bring attention to various topics, sort of like what Michael Chrichton did in his fiction like State of Fear. Alten has a list of sources he used for information. Much of it is from the books “House of Saud,” “Crossing the Rubicon” and the documentary “Obsession.”
Shell Game goes into great detail on the same topic of the movie“Syriana” - that an addiction to fossil fuels influences America’s military and politics, but in Alten’s opinion that relationship is intentional and much more direct. He also tries to make the case that the Bush administation knew that 9/11 would occur and did not take steps to prevent it, and that under a misguided presidential administration, something like that could happen again.
A lot of Shell Game is speculative – even obviously leaning toward conspiracy theory, but even if half of it is true, the author raises valid questions of how the U.S. government has manipulated other countries and its own people. And he articulates these issues and the viewpoints of his characters well.
Though he mentions Obama, it seems Alten guessed that John McCain would win the 2008 election and has a thinly-veiled version of him (McKuin) as president – describing him as republican though not a neocon, yet not particularly effective. Even though there’s a different president, nearly all the elements he describes are still in play.
As others have said, not great in terms of its thriller writing – there are a lot of characters, the protagonist’s story is rather simple, and there’s a question of what he does with computers even being plausable.
But Alten’s main aim is to discuss and bring attention to various topics, sort of like what Michael Chrichton did in his fiction like State of Fear. Alten has a list of sources he used for information. Much of it is from the books “House of Saud,” “Crossing the Rubicon” and the documentary “Obsession.”
Shell Game goes into great detail on the same topic of the movie“Syriana” - that an addiction to fossil fuels influences America’s military and politics, but in Alten’s opinion that relationship is intentional and much more direct. He also tries to make the case that the Bush administation knew that 9/11 would occur and did not take steps to prevent it, and that under a misguided presidential administration, something like that could happen again.
A lot of Shell Game is speculative – even obviously leaning toward conspiracy theory, but even if half of it is true, the author raises valid questions of how the U.S. government has manipulated other countries and its own people. And he articulates these issues and the viewpoints of his characters well.
Though he mentions Obama, it seems Alten guessed that John McCain would win the 2008 election and has a thinly-veiled version of him (McKuin) as president – describing him as republican though not a neocon, yet not particularly effective. Even though there’s a different president, nearly all the elements he describes are still in play.
July 20, 2012
This book was a covert ops/political/mystery book but it is scarily eerie as it coincides so closely with current events. At the time of this review (3/27/12) it has been about 3 years since I read the book but it struck such a chord in me that I have recommended it to many friends (both those who read avidly and those who don't). SPOILER ALERT: This book is about the limitations of fossil fuels, particularly oil, and America's dependence upon foreign oil. It shows the possibility that the people in power (regardless of political party affiliation) will keep secrets regarding the amount of fossil fuels remaining and the lengths that they will go to to keep that knowledge from the public. I was riveted by the story and couldn't put the book down. This story was a great departure from Steve Alten's other books (the MEG series and the Domain series) and it was both enjoyable and terrifying at the same time. I would recommend it to anyone who likes the works of James Rollins, Steve Berry, David Lynn Golemon, etc.
November 17, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is definitely a worse case scenario kind of book, but it is interesting to see what the possibilities are based on the decisions America and the rest of the world are making right NOW. Anyone interested in today's politics and the end of oil would find this a good entertaining read. (Republicans beware: your panties may get stuck in a wad. This author is very obviously the dreaded "L" word! haha)
April 3, 2022
Quienes me conocen, saben que en el fondo me interesan los libros que tocan temas de política, corrupción, desastres ambientales y tecnología. Bueno, Al borde del infierno tiene TODO eso y yo estaba así 😍😍⠀
⠀
La lectura se hace un poco densa si no estás acostumbrado a este estilo de libros, muchos datos, muchos personajes, todos son sospechosos, nadie está limpio, tiene conceptos tecnológicos de programación y de armamento. ⠀
⠀
Tuve el agrado de leer a Alten con anterioridad, en Goliat, por lo que estaba "acostumbrada" a la cantidad de información que pone este hombre en los libros jajaja. ⠀
⠀
Básicamente desglosa muchas cosas de la política mundial, de todos los colores: cómo se manejan los hilos, lo que se llega a hacer en la búsqueda del poder, el calentamiento global y las reservas de petróleo (TODO en este libro está relacionado al petróleo). Tiene mucho contenido relacionado a la historia de los árabes, la explotación petrolera, sus pueblos y las guerras.⠀
⠀
Definitivamente haciendo un balance lo considero un libro bastante denso, yo lo tuve aproximadamente dos años en la biblioteca porque me daba miedo qué tanto podía encontrar 😅😂 hasta hoy. ⠀
⠀
¿Si me gustó? Me encantó, cada paso te dejaba como: no. puede. ser. ⠀
⠀
Creo que Steve muestra bastante bien las perversidades que cometen las personas con tal de lograr poder y control.⠀
⠀
Fascinada.⠀
⠀
La lectura se hace un poco densa si no estás acostumbrado a este estilo de libros, muchos datos, muchos personajes, todos son sospechosos, nadie está limpio, tiene conceptos tecnológicos de programación y de armamento. ⠀
⠀
Tuve el agrado de leer a Alten con anterioridad, en Goliat, por lo que estaba "acostumbrada" a la cantidad de información que pone este hombre en los libros jajaja. ⠀
⠀
Básicamente desglosa muchas cosas de la política mundial, de todos los colores: cómo se manejan los hilos, lo que se llega a hacer en la búsqueda del poder, el calentamiento global y las reservas de petróleo (TODO en este libro está relacionado al petróleo). Tiene mucho contenido relacionado a la historia de los árabes, la explotación petrolera, sus pueblos y las guerras.⠀
⠀
Definitivamente haciendo un balance lo considero un libro bastante denso, yo lo tuve aproximadamente dos años en la biblioteca porque me daba miedo qué tanto podía encontrar 😅😂 hasta hoy. ⠀
⠀
¿Si me gustó? Me encantó, cada paso te dejaba como: no. puede. ser. ⠀
⠀
Creo que Steve muestra bastante bien las perversidades que cometen las personas con tal de lograr poder y control.⠀
⠀
Fascinada.⠀
December 19, 2017
Great story, as well as an excellent collection of facts and quotes from buried places most people never hear about. Definitely a great RedPill Read.
The story itself is a journey through the behind-the-scenes world of peak-oil, international powerplay, and control by force and deception. It's clear Alten fell down the rabbit hole while researching and, like most, can't help but try to tell about the absolutely crazy crap that goes on in the world which is rarely ever heard about or reported on. The fact that he tied it into an exciting story just makes it all the more interesting. The ending seems a bit of a far-fetched dream, but, the sad part is that it really shouldn't be that far fetched at all.
The story itself is a journey through the behind-the-scenes world of peak-oil, international powerplay, and control by force and deception. It's clear Alten fell down the rabbit hole while researching and, like most, can't help but try to tell about the absolutely crazy crap that goes on in the world which is rarely ever heard about or reported on. The fact that he tied it into an exciting story just makes it all the more interesting. The ending seems a bit of a far-fetched dream, but, the sad part is that it really shouldn't be that far fetched at all.
April 1, 2023
The Shell Game and the end of oil and gas
A jolly good read that was ruined by excessive quotes and headlines before each chapter. What he should have done was just use the book excerpts from the woman - what's her name kelli and leave it at that and another thing - the world does not revolve around the United States and the oil and gas industries !!!
A jolly good read that was ruined by excessive quotes and headlines before each chapter. What he should have done was just use the book excerpts from the woman - what's her name kelli and leave it at that and another thing - the world does not revolve around the United States and the oil and gas industries !!!
October 13, 2018
Big oil, corrupt politicians and terrorists. What can possibly go wrong? Although a work of fiction, this book has enough truth to scare the bejesus out of me! A disturbing read which caused me to want to dig a bit deeper into some of the real life facts from this novel.
May 3, 2019
Terrifying, because it too real.
September 8, 2019
Great book, just too much politics to my liking. I love the author beyond words though
March 31, 2022
I never read political dramas, and I probably want again. They are too realistic and scare the tweet out of me.
May 5, 2024
Wanted to like this more than I did... Took conspiracy theories too far I thought
May 19, 2024
Beginning started off slow and hard to get into, by the end I couldn't put it down. Makes you think about a lot of things
January 9, 2025
Really a must read book! Quite horrifying and prophetic!
January 11, 2013
THE SHELL GAME is yet another entry in the rapidly expanding library of Steve Alten "message" novels. All the familiar tropes are in place: evil neocons, global destruction caused by scientists, John Lennon, Kabala, cold-hearted American soldiers, etc, etc. This time around, the focus is mostly on the neocons, and Alten postulates every conspiracy theory imaginable in order to demonstrate how Republicans are more or less responsible for every terrible thing that's happened in the world since JFK was shot. 9/11? An inside job cooked up by Bush and Cheney. Muslim extremists? Republicans' fault. The actions of Bin Laden, Hussein, and Ahmadinejad? Republicans. Weak border control? Republicans. The presidential elections of 2000 and 2004? Stolen by republicans. Global Warming? Republicans. JERSEY SHORE? Republicans. In the novel, republicans poison Obama to get him out of office while Dick Cheney arranges to have a nuclear weapon detonated in Los Angeles in order to create a "false flag" event that would allow America to invade Iran in order to secretly steal their oil. But the Democrats don't get off scot free, either, as, in one chapter, Alten explains how the attack on Pearl Harbor was actually an inside job perpetrated by FDR in similar fashion to 9/11.
If you haven't already guessed, THE SHELL GAME makes FAHRENHEIT 9/11 seem positively tame. Like Dan Brown before him, Alten weaves together a tapestry of truth, half-truths, and blatant lies in order to make readers feel as though they are being let in on some colossal secret. But Alten's assertions don't hold up to reality. Even his non-controversial information is wrong. No, Enron didn't fight against the implementation of higher environmental standards, but rather supported them in order to put smaller companies who couldn't afford to comply out of business. And, no, global warming is not increasing (at least not noticeably); there's been an overall cooling trend for quite some time now (or is that simply due to the effects of global warming? Hmmmm.). Luckily for Alten, any time he gets something wrong, he has the "out" that his book is simply a work of fiction--or, "faction," as he calls it. But, as a novel, THE SHELL GAME falls short, too. There's hardly any story for the entire first half of the book--just a whole lot of ranting and info-dumping about politics, over-population, and the status of world oil reserves. Finally, in the second half, we are treated to a couple of pretty harrowing torture scenes and a few other moments of genuine tension and excitement, which is why the extra star in my rating. But, for a 500+ page novel, that's not nearly enough--especially when Alten's prose is so mediocre, if not downright amateurish. I’m certain that everyone who gave this book a four- or five- star rating did so because they agreed with the message, not because they liked the writing. Michael Moore may be full of crap, but at least he knows how to be engaging. Alten alternates between way too many characters, and it doesn't help that some of them are real people, making the book feel hopelessly outdated even though it was recently revised for the paperback version. (For example, in the book, Obama isn't able to run for a second term after being poisoned, so Hillary Clinton gets put on the 2012 presidential ticket in his place. Wow, it’s like Alten can see into the future!)
Normally I'm offended when authors play this fast and loose with real people and events, but THE SHELL GAME is silly to the point that I can't really be bothered to care. Although, personally, I think Dick Cheney should sue Steve Alten for slander in insinuating that he (Cheney) would willingly kill millions of American citizens by helping smuggle a nuke into the country. I know this is fiction, but c'mon. At least, for the updated version, I noticed that Alten removed a sentence or two comparing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Ann Coulter. Apparently, even he felt he went too far on that one. Who knows what else he changed...
On a final note, I'd like to mention that I downloaded this book off Amazon.com to read on my Kindle, and it's the most typo-ridden ebook I've ever had to pay money for. I'm sure the typos would average out to more than one per page. Yeah, the book was only $4, but still...Alten and Co. really need to get their act together.
If you haven't already guessed, THE SHELL GAME makes FAHRENHEIT 9/11 seem positively tame. Like Dan Brown before him, Alten weaves together a tapestry of truth, half-truths, and blatant lies in order to make readers feel as though they are being let in on some colossal secret. But Alten's assertions don't hold up to reality. Even his non-controversial information is wrong. No, Enron didn't fight against the implementation of higher environmental standards, but rather supported them in order to put smaller companies who couldn't afford to comply out of business. And, no, global warming is not increasing (at least not noticeably); there's been an overall cooling trend for quite some time now (or is that simply due to the effects of global warming? Hmmmm.). Luckily for Alten, any time he gets something wrong, he has the "out" that his book is simply a work of fiction--or, "faction," as he calls it. But, as a novel, THE SHELL GAME falls short, too. There's hardly any story for the entire first half of the book--just a whole lot of ranting and info-dumping about politics, over-population, and the status of world oil reserves. Finally, in the second half, we are treated to a couple of pretty harrowing torture scenes and a few other moments of genuine tension and excitement, which is why the extra star in my rating. But, for a 500+ page novel, that's not nearly enough--especially when Alten's prose is so mediocre, if not downright amateurish. I’m certain that everyone who gave this book a four- or five- star rating did so because they agreed with the message, not because they liked the writing. Michael Moore may be full of crap, but at least he knows how to be engaging. Alten alternates between way too many characters, and it doesn't help that some of them are real people, making the book feel hopelessly outdated even though it was recently revised for the paperback version. (For example, in the book, Obama isn't able to run for a second term after being poisoned, so Hillary Clinton gets put on the 2012 presidential ticket in his place. Wow, it’s like Alten can see into the future!)
Normally I'm offended when authors play this fast and loose with real people and events, but THE SHELL GAME is silly to the point that I can't really be bothered to care. Although, personally, I think Dick Cheney should sue Steve Alten for slander in insinuating that he (Cheney) would willingly kill millions of American citizens by helping smuggle a nuke into the country. I know this is fiction, but c'mon. At least, for the updated version, I noticed that Alten removed a sentence or two comparing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Ann Coulter. Apparently, even he felt he went too far on that one. Who knows what else he changed...
On a final note, I'd like to mention that I downloaded this book off Amazon.com to read on my Kindle, and it's the most typo-ridden ebook I've ever had to pay money for. I'm sure the typos would average out to more than one per page. Yeah, the book was only $4, but still...Alten and Co. really need to get their act together.
February 25, 2017
My Review: 2.0 Stars
The Shell Game written by Steve Alten is a novel based around Ashley "Ace" Futrell, an oil expert and the events leading up to and after the terrorist attack of September 11th. This book is in no way a history book. It is full of alternative thoughts and conspiracy theories. It does make reference to a lot of facts found in actual documents from investigations into the September 11th attack. Which leads a person to rethink the event of September 11th.
Steve Alten has an weird style of writing. Then again having said that I have never read any of Mr. Alten's previous books. So with that knowledge I can't say with 100% honesty if this book truly shows Steve Alten's actual writing style or if this is the writing style he chose to use while writing this book.
As for Keith Szarabajka. He has a great voice for audio books. His tone changes from character to character which is always great. Personally I could listen to Keith Szarabajka read a very boring textbook on a very dry subject and would probably not get frustrated from listening to him.
Now for the reason I only gave this book 2.0 stars. In my personal opinion, Steve Alten used to many references for this book. There are points where that's all you hear. Which is very annoying when you're trying to listen to a work of fiction. In places it feels like Alten himself got lost in the references and goes completely off track of the story-line. While trying to jump right back into the original plot which caused me to lose the progression of the main character Ace Futrell. I found myself replaying parts over and over again because the references kept getting in the way of the story. Blackstone Audio did a good job at producing this book. Personally I feel like The Shell Game itself is very distracting and does not make for a good audio book. The points and opinions approached in this book can be interesting. If you're interested in reading this book take my advice and get a digital or physical copy. Do not listen to the audio version. The audio version of The Shell Game will leave you disappointed and more confused then you were before you started the book.
The Shell Game written by Steve Alten is a novel based around Ashley "Ace" Futrell, an oil expert and the events leading up to and after the terrorist attack of September 11th. This book is in no way a history book. It is full of alternative thoughts and conspiracy theories. It does make reference to a lot of facts found in actual documents from investigations into the September 11th attack. Which leads a person to rethink the event of September 11th.
Steve Alten has an weird style of writing. Then again having said that I have never read any of Mr. Alten's previous books. So with that knowledge I can't say with 100% honesty if this book truly shows Steve Alten's actual writing style or if this is the writing style he chose to use while writing this book.
As for Keith Szarabajka. He has a great voice for audio books. His tone changes from character to character which is always great. Personally I could listen to Keith Szarabajka read a very boring textbook on a very dry subject and would probably not get frustrated from listening to him.
Now for the reason I only gave this book 2.0 stars. In my personal opinion, Steve Alten used to many references for this book. There are points where that's all you hear. Which is very annoying when you're trying to listen to a work of fiction. In places it feels like Alten himself got lost in the references and goes completely off track of the story-line. While trying to jump right back into the original plot which caused me to lose the progression of the main character Ace Futrell. I found myself replaying parts over and over again because the references kept getting in the way of the story. Blackstone Audio did a good job at producing this book. Personally I feel like The Shell Game itself is very distracting and does not make for a good audio book. The points and opinions approached in this book can be interesting. If you're interested in reading this book take my advice and get a digital or physical copy. Do not listen to the audio version. The audio version of The Shell Game will leave you disappointed and more confused then you were before you started the book.
October 12, 2016
Conspiracy minded. Long. Tedious at times. So much information given that it makes it difficult to read as a novel. It took so long to get to the major plot point.
September 6, 2012
Anybody who has read Steve Alten's previous books will know that he likes to intersperse his stories with his own religious and political ideals but I doubt anybody would have expected him to write a book as politically motivated as The Shell Game. To put it bluntly, it's essentially a 9/11 conspiracy theory book with a fictional story running through as a more entertaining way to put across the various "facts" that Alten believes in.
I am not naive enough to believe that everything released in the official 9/11 report is through, especially considering the Americans less than perfect track record, but I also don't believe everything the conspiracy nuts say either. That being said, this review is about Alten's book and not a critique on the truths behind 9/11. It's basically a book of two halves, the first being an almost non-sensible mess full of political and ideological ramblings, quotes and facts that contain almost zero plot towards the story that's supposed to be being told. This isn't to say that it's totally dis-interesting as there are some thought provoking issues raised but as a fictional plot it doesn't work.
The second half is a different story though when Alten focuses more on characters and plot devices than making a political point. The book turns into a very entertaining political thriller with plenty of action and twists to go along with the intriguing 9/11 issues raised. If Alten could have made the first half of the book as entertaining as the second then he would have really been onto a winner hear but I can't help but think that the sole purpose of The Shell Game was for Alten to get his ideals behind the 9/ll plot out into the open.
It's certainly an interesting and thought provoking book but one that lacks entertainment to recommend to everyone.
I am not naive enough to believe that everything released in the official 9/11 report is through, especially considering the Americans less than perfect track record, but I also don't believe everything the conspiracy nuts say either. That being said, this review is about Alten's book and not a critique on the truths behind 9/11. It's basically a book of two halves, the first being an almost non-sensible mess full of political and ideological ramblings, quotes and facts that contain almost zero plot towards the story that's supposed to be being told. This isn't to say that it's totally dis-interesting as there are some thought provoking issues raised but as a fictional plot it doesn't work.
The second half is a different story though when Alten focuses more on characters and plot devices than making a political point. The book turns into a very entertaining political thriller with plenty of action and twists to go along with the intriguing 9/11 issues raised. If Alten could have made the first half of the book as entertaining as the second then he would have really been onto a winner hear but I can't help but think that the sole purpose of The Shell Game was for Alten to get his ideals behind the 9/ll plot out into the open.
It's certainly an interesting and thought provoking book but one that lacks entertainment to recommend to everyone.
July 16, 2010
The Shell Game is fiction but supported by a fact-based account of the corruption of the oil-money-power triad. Information that has been released since 9/11 has cast suspicion on the Bush regime for many years, but as a cynical Australian, I had not kept up the every detail that had slowly been forthcoming. Steve Alten's writing style certainly had me flipping back and forth to remind myself about certain characters, and then reading the factual excerpts contained in the prologue, which made for a bit of a stilted reading experience. However, the story kept my attention to the end, with several audible gasps of shock and outrage coming me as I absorbed all the factual data about the true account of the oil reserves, the Carlyle Group, the MU chips, the activity on the stock exchange on 8/11, the anthrax packages,the deaths of 19 scientists involved in the development and cure of viruses, and the behavious of the likes of Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush both before and after 9/11. I had been aware of the US scandal of their involvement in Nicuagara, the Iran-Contra affair, and their less than subtle manner of swapping one supprssive reginme for another, but this story, even just the factual accounts have made me want to pack up and live int he aoutback with some horses and gow my own!
September 17, 2016
I did not finish the book! So make what you want of my review.
I have read Alten before, and liked his stories of giant sharks or pre-Aztec aliens. I assumed this would be another pseudo science/science fiction story.
It's not.
I understand that an author is not their book. A person can write about a cult and not be a cult member or even think of being in a cult. But when the preface of the book is a word from the author and they are talking about their belief in a crazy governmental conspiracy theory and then this book is an expansion of that, then you need to start putting the two together.
That is not to say I won't read things from people who have beliefs and who's books are centered on those beliefs that I do not agree with. But when their belief centers around a somewhat recent event and one that is still affecting thousands of people and their belief sort of spits on them, then yeah I'm not reading it.
As a very super awesomely good friend of mine told me, why are you reading that trash when you haven't read "The Great Gatsby" or "She's Come Undone" and she is right.
So in place of this book I will be reading She's Come Undone.
I have read Alten before, and liked his stories of giant sharks or pre-Aztec aliens. I assumed this would be another pseudo science/science fiction story.
It's not.
I understand that an author is not their book. A person can write about a cult and not be a cult member or even think of being in a cult. But when the preface of the book is a word from the author and they are talking about their belief in a crazy governmental conspiracy theory and then this book is an expansion of that, then you need to start putting the two together.
That is not to say I won't read things from people who have beliefs and who's books are centered on those beliefs that I do not agree with. But when their belief centers around a somewhat recent event and one that is still affecting thousands of people and their belief sort of spits on them, then yeah I'm not reading it.
As a very super awesomely good friend of mine told me, why are you reading that trash when you haven't read "The Great Gatsby" or "She's Come Undone" and she is right.
So in place of this book I will be reading She's Come Undone.
May 24, 2011
I didn't honestly know what to think of this book. It has a running fiction narrative about an oil executive and his wife who works for the CIA. At the beginning of new chapters there are real quotes from varies players in the political world; namely from the second Bush Administration regarding 9/11. There are also quotes from John Lennon and The Bible. The story revolves around America's dependency on oil and how it propels America's direction. The writing isn't terrible and remains in the genre format of a thriller. The story predicts another 9/11 of sorts but with deadlier ramifications. It is over 400 pages and gives references at the end for additional books to read. The character writing is weak, there is no sexual interaction between any of the characters and I really didn't care what happened to the characters. It uses real names of politicians which is odd in a work of fiction. If you are already leery of how government works and hides situations this won't make you feel any better because some of it has happened.
April 3, 2008
For starters, the only reason this got 5 stars was because I'm glad Steve Alten wrote it. I agree with the message the book is sending. But I had trouble with it because of some of the writing in the book. Something about Steve's writing just throws me off a bit. I don't want to say it's not good, but some of it could be improved I feel.
But I think we need more books like this so I'm going to support it as much as possible. It's definitely not the typical political thriller that I'm or anyone is used to reading. Hence the problems with getting it published. Is there irony in the publisher being in Texas? You tell me.
Anyway it's worth the read because of the material it covers and Steve did a good job compiling everything. I just wish some of the writing was less 'action movie' or 'typical political novel' or...something. I'm not sure how to describe it.
Anyway, just read the book.
But I think we need more books like this so I'm going to support it as much as possible. It's definitely not the typical political thriller that I'm or anyone is used to reading. Hence the problems with getting it published. Is there irony in the publisher being in Texas? You tell me.
Anyway it's worth the read because of the material it covers and Steve did a good job compiling everything. I just wish some of the writing was less 'action movie' or 'typical political novel' or...something. I'm not sure how to describe it.
Anyway, just read the book.
April 30, 2008
This book is a great way to spark discussion about our recent history, regarding the war on Iraq and 9/11. The author blends real quotes from the administration and others at the beginning of each chapter with a fictional story of espionage, false flags and future war and terror events.
The story is especially gripping for those who have read some of the alternatives to mainstream media concerning the 9/11 attack and the disputed claims of WMD in Iraq. While the author is not a great novelist and there are some glaring misused words, the story is involving and not entirely predictable. It would be a good read for Tom Clancy style fans even without the undeniable subtext of exposure of conspiracies, past and,(scarily)future. My hope is that this will get people thinking and be a cautionary tale that prods people to learn more and really pay attention to what might lie behind the government and media "stories" we are fed every day!
The story is especially gripping for those who have read some of the alternatives to mainstream media concerning the 9/11 attack and the disputed claims of WMD in Iraq. While the author is not a great novelist and there are some glaring misused words, the story is involving and not entirely predictable. It would be a good read for Tom Clancy style fans even without the undeniable subtext of exposure of conspiracies, past and,(scarily)future. My hope is that this will get people thinking and be a cautionary tale that prods people to learn more and really pay attention to what might lie behind the government and media "stories" we are fed every day!
January 16, 2015
Un perturbador Steve Alten nos muestra en su obra un posible futuro inmediato en el que el petroleo está a punto de desaparecer y los poderes en la sombra deciden tomar acción para atajar el problema. Es una novela que te engancha desde el principio, la mezcla de la fantasía de la historia con el respaldo de recortes de prensa reales y declaraciones de políticos hace del texto una historia muy creíble. Jugando con paralelismos con los atentados 11 de Septiembre da credibilidad a su historia. Al final la parte aventurera de la novela eclipsa un poco el trabajo de investigación y presentación de su escenario económico político, pero no lo suficiente como para no dejar un buen sabor de boca.
Al borde del infierno: Intrigas políticas muy interesantes para los amantes del genero.
Nota: 7.5
Al borde del infierno: Intrigas políticas muy interesantes para los amantes del genero.
Nota: 7.5
September 25, 2015
This should have earned four stars, but the publisher, Sweetwater Books, cost it one. Plot development is great, and the action is at fever pitch throughout. The story effectively uses a lot of existing conspiracy theory about 9/11 to project a world with neoconservatives in power and out of control. The problem, as I say, is that the publisher pretty well ruined the reading experience. This book needed a competent editor, someone to do more than run it through a spell-check. The use of homonyms and wrong but similar words became a distraction that threatened to overwhelm all enjoyment of the work. These samples from the first 100 of 700 pages:
- "new break pads"
- "peaked out the window"
- training/exercise "regiment"
- "cartoons" for "cartons"
- "accommodation" for "commendation"
It did not stop: a stray apostrophe in a plural showed up very near the end.
- "new break pads"
- "peaked out the window"
- training/exercise "regiment"
- "cartoons" for "cartons"
- "accommodation" for "commendation"
It did not stop: a stray apostrophe in a plural showed up very near the end.
April 25, 2012
One of the best books I've read this year. It was very fast paced, and action packed like all Steve Alten books. This one was quite frightening though, in that it could very easily happen with the road our government is on. This book was written back in 2007 or 2008 and some of the stuff that he wrote about is coming true. The most disturbing part of it is the actual quotes at the beginning of each chapter that actual real government officials have said. The book is a work of fiction, but is also based on a lot of fact. Take it as a cautionary tale of what could happen if we keep on the road that we are on, with corrupt politcians and corporations that have their own interests at hand instead of the good of the country and planet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews