Avoid this 'Conflict'

One True Conflict," the first novel by IU graduate Austin Driscall, is a dismal attempt to draw more international intrigue into the Middle Eastern conflict. I ordinarily read new authors with an open mind. However, after about 50 pages of this disastrous excuse for a novel, I could hardly force myself to finish it. Not only does the plot borrow liberally from the skillfully executed Tom Clancy novel "Executive Orders," but it is also rife with blatant grammatical and structural errors. An apparent lack of research went into the military intrigue of the book, and the unrealistic characterization made the characters static and unsympathetic. If this hasn't turned you off to "One True Conflict," read on; I'm sure you won't dare to pick up this catastrophe of a book afterwards. \nThis disaster begins by introducing the readers to four college roommates. All are exaggerated, cartoon-like characters with no ability to draw the reader's rapport or sympathy. There's Jack Teller, the remote genius, Linny Thompson, the arrogant scientist, Butch Campbell, the patriotic military man, and Frank Osborne, the dumb jock turned reporter. All are combative with one another; it is difficult to believe that they shared a house in college, let alone maintained close ties after graduation. \nAs the world took the characters along different paths, it brings them back together after Jack makes a horrifying discovery: the atmosphere will become unbreathable if there are any nuclear detonations.\nThis is a problem for the United States, whose entire missile defense system is based on hyper-accurate nuclear weapons designed by Linny. Butch is in charge of a large portion of the military, and Frank is a journalist who discovered parts of an international plot to destroy Israel.\nI know, I know. A little far-fetched to begin with, but it gets even worse. The book reveals an international plot for the demise of Israel ten years in the making. An American who feels wronged by the U.S., a Russian mobster, a Chinese general, and a Syrian government official have been plotting for years in to destroy Israel and bring the United States to its knees. The four roommates discover the plot and try to prevent global destruction and world war. They are successful after a trying few months of intrigue, and the United States emerges as a stronger and more powerful nation.\nThis book proved to be a painful exercise. Not only did poor characterization and editing take away from what could have been a serviceable story, it is a story that has been done before. Not only has the story been done before, but it has been done before much better. \n"One True Conflict" is a book that plays shamelessly on the fears Americans have concerning Arab nations, as well as reinforcing negative stereotypes about Russians and Chinese. It is unfair to classify all Russians as corrupt mobsters and Chinese military men as warmongers who are willing to be at the beck and call of money. I strongly advise everybody to avoid "One True Conflict" at all costs. There is no reason to punish yourself by reading this book.