I, Che Guevara

Che Guevara, the iconic guerrilla and revolutionary, is not dead. He was not killed in an ambush in the Bolivian mountains in 1967. Instead, after 32 years on the run in the Third World, he is back in Cuba leading a galvanizing new revolution against both communism and capitalism. Blackthorn (Sins of Our Fathers), a political figure on the international intelligence scene who writes under a pseudonym, has produced a gripping and unusual political thriller of contemporary Cuban politics and Cuban-U.S. relations. As the novel begins, a tired and aged Fidel Castro strikes a deal with the U.S.--he will step down and allow free elections in return for U.S. diplomatic recognition and removal of all embargoes and sanctions. The bargain is accepted and the Communist left and the Miami-based (and Mafia-backed) right square off for the presidential election. This is a bitter rivalry of political titans, but soon a new party, the True Republic, led by a white-haired and fiery Che, starts to gain popularity. Known only as Ernesto Blanco, the ex-guerrilla never admits he is Che, but the Cuban people cannot believe otherwise. The left, the right and the fumbling White House all panic at the spreading rumors that Guevara is back, and they try every dirty trick in the book to get rid of him--manipulation, treachery, threats, intimidation, bribery, media payoffs and even assassination. But despite desperate measures by the big boys, Che's grassroots drive for populist local self-determination gains unstoppable momentum. A savvy but worn-out TV anchorwoman, a na ve State Department analyst and even a hired killer are all spellbound by Che's simple message--govern yourself. Politics may be nothing more than bad theater, but Blackthorn's political drama is compelling and believable, written with style, clarity and conviction. Agent, Philippa Brophy at Sterling Lord Literistic. (Jan.)