The Rationing

In this not-so-far-fetched debut satire set just over a decade from now, when American political parties have been restructured and an independent president sits in the White House, the unexpected shortage of a vital medicine leads to national and global political jockeying. Framed as a nonfiction account by a scientist from the National Institutes of Health, this tale reconstructs the chain of events concerning the so-called Outbreak of a mysterious flu-like illness that’s often fatal and can only be treated by the miracle drug Dormigen. Unfortunately, through accident and negligence, America’s supply of Dormigen is unavailable. As the American government attempts to secure the drug from other countries while keeping the scope of the emergency under wraps, doctors and scientists, including the narrator, desperately look for the Outbreak’s cause and other options for treatment. Wheelan (Naked Economics), who teaches public policy and economics at Dartmouth, has a keen handle on political intricacies and maneuverings, focusing on the give-and-take among individuals and countries, the domino effect of minor factors, and the influence of globalism. However, his approach robs the story of intimacy and immediacy. The plot and characters are not especially unique, but readers looking to explore challenging contemporary topics with just a touch of speculative fiction’s distancing effect will find this well worth a look. [em]Agent: Tina Bennett, William Morris Endeavor. (May) [/em]