
At the August 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Republican delegates are in open mutiny against their party's own nominee, and many of the pledged delegates are refusing to vote for Mitt Romney on the first ballot, because of three important reasons: 1) they don't feel he adequately represents their conservative views, 2) they feel that a dull gazillionaire has no real chance in November, 3) they'd rather work at an old folks home cleaning underwear by chewing it. Then Dr. Bayle Brazenydol, political guru deluxe and extreme, presents them with an alternative ... their dream candidate ... a man who is perfectly what they want except for three little problems: 1) The candidate has already had two terms as president 2) The candidate happens to be very, very dead 3) Dr. Brazenydol himself is secretly controlled by a monstrous alien bent on taking over the Earth and devouring every living thing. Will Brazenydol's scheme bring the Mitt Mutiny to fruition, denying the world's dullest rich dork in a suit a chance to complete a really great résumé? Or will the convention perceive in time that it is better to be dull than evil? And what of the forces trying to stop him? Joe and Aura are both nice young political activists, friends united by a love of cats, pizza, and a good argument – and that's a good thing because he's a hustling young Tea Party activist and she's a passionate Occupier. Can family values, old-fashioned courtship, and affection defeat politics, media, the internet, and the forces of evil? Can true love find a way through evil space bats, a zombie Reagan, a tricky Rosicrucian, the arms of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum in a cheap wig, a gigantic moose-grinder, and vast amounts of pink slime? Can Joe and Aura do all that with only the help of a stressed out grad student, two complacent cats, and a first-rate waiter? Or is it going to take divine intervention? The clock is ticking. But then, they do that, you know. If you wind them. They tick. To take your mind off that clock, you might want to read this book.
Author

John Barnes (born 1957) is an American science fiction author, whose stories often explore questions of individual moral responsibility within a larger social context. Social criticism is woven throughout his plots. The four novels in his Thousand Cultures series pose serious questions about the effects of globalization on isolated societies. Barnes holds a doctorate in theatre and for several years taught in Colorado, where he still lives. See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John\_Bar...