Finished Fr 6/3/11
This is the kind of novel that is nearly impossible to put down because the plot is fast-paced and compelling, and the narrative crackles with fresh ideas and insight. 2030 is not a Science Fiction thriller in that it is not really about 'the future', but an attempt to address moral problems which vex contemporary American society. And, each ethical position or principle which Mr. Brooks examines is a logical extrapolation of events and issues that have already happened, or very likely might occur.
Here are a few examples of the topics which Mr. Brooks addresses. America is spending far too many resources on the preservation of the oldest section of the population, and is this position ethically feasible? What would the country do if it was hit by an unprecedented natural disaster, and all other nations refused to bail America out? What happens when most Americans are forced into a financial position where they must assume levels of debt which would be impossible to repay.
The book is written in a style which introduces many characters and each one represents a conflicting force in a national dilemma. The chapters are short, and the storyline never lags. At the end of the novel, Mr. Brooks doesn't really make an attempt to 'solve' these issues, but, instead, presents a rational and easily acceptable response to the radically conflicting ideas.
I would most definitely be interesting in reading more by Albert Brooks. His movies have always been first rate, and now he can add 'novelist' to his list of remarkable achievements.
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