Show Page 14 The Utah Statesman Wednesday March 11 19SI n itiwi Hi Drury's latest: dead better than reed STILL by Joseph Buclcridge Political historical adventure novels have hit their stride over the past few years but with few harkening back to what may well have been their toots: Allen Drury’s Advise and Consent the 1961 Puli tier Prize winner for Action and the first book by the former HIRING! People interested in becoming a part of The L tah Statesman now have their chance to get involved with the advent of a new editorial administration Applications are being accepted this week for positions which begin spring quarter Positions available Managing Editor Copy Editor L'meerstty Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Copy Editor Design Dtrttlor Photo Dim tor iters and Photographers Any students interested in these positions are encouraged to become involved by applying in person See last Monday’s ad on page 1 1 for details M All appluants should lonlavt John Ward at SC Room 315 between 11 30 and 1:30 daily Washington reporter Now Drury in his 18th book The HtU of Summer has begun what he claims will be the first in a series of at least two (The Advise and Consent series consisted of six novels) However as Drury writes as he sees the world I’m not at all sure any of us will be around for the planned sequel The Roads of Earth You see The HiU of Summer is subtitled “A Novel of The Soviet Conquest” and Drury leaves little doubt that is what he expects will eventuate if the United States does not gel with his program Although there is much to support Drury’s thesis of the Soviet intent to conquer to world he nevertheless is guilty of some paranoia He has in effect become trapped by his own hyperbole and that of his characters Most of the dialogue is just a little too ridiculous to be brlirvrd and some of the characterizations which in past Drury efforts have been quite strong beg for some dimension liz anon There are a few leftovers from previous novels such as Mark Coffin and Anna Hastings but the ubiquitous newsman Walter Dobius is the only carryover from the Advise and Consent series Drury disdains plotting gimmicks for the sake of his message uses no subtlety at all and readability suffers because of it There are no kidnappings mistresses of presidents and that ilk of spice just straightforward reactionary writing “Bugaboos” used several times during the story tome around a lot But all in all it’s basically scare-tactwriting Whether it’s justifiable is just alxnit anybody’s word Drury begins each chapter with a quote or two from Soviet leaders or Praeda or some other Communist source dealing with the “final battle” Then he weaves his story of the demise of the United States leaving no doubt as to where he ic feels the blame lies It seems in his estimation th the culprits are as follows: the liberal press anybody from California and weak presidents the weakest of whoa W feels is ”J Carter” No fewer than seven times does a phrase appear suck ’’Comrades we are able to accomplish this stunning ricioq over the imperialist capitalist racist due to dt computers that the American president J Carter so rmiiwdi sold us” The catchwords for the situation in which the creeping Soviet menace was able to creep close enough to do Know war-monge- harm to the US are “We cannot believe" The press Congress and all of the others who are just cannot believe that those Tovariches would want to hurt us That the US has been made the villain of the earth ia tk eyes of much of the rest of the world is an inescapable (act but how that has occurred is an exercise in This is all so hilarious to the Soviet leaders who can’t believe that we could be so stupid so obliging and so masochistic Drury has put forth the well-worprrmisr that unwitting well as witting Sov iet agents and sympathizers have pul the Soviet Union in its current and Actionally-futurposition of lota dominance over the US The fact that the United Soots is not strong enough to withstand a Soviet assault pafticubri after those nasty Rusxkies have overrrun most of the mo of the world is what leads us to the precipice "You fools" the Soviet leader srrrams “you cannot do n e anything to us" But we must have faith those of us who cower aI the possibility of living under Moscow’s thumb If we rebuild r offensive and defensive arsenals get rid of pinko media ptofk and pray for the earthquake that will decimate that hedotwtx state of California we will be able to thwart the Soviet Union's plans for world domination and facilitate the purposes of Drury’s novel which is incidentally dedicated the United States of America and the confounding of her enemies” don’t expect to see If we don’t do this however of Earth The is f §ff£li3 DCG 'man ©jqs ®? somca l Odd o 0°v 0vO Stib in ik Jwf wJULs--o! Friday 'Mach 13 ULwO vfco LJZZa C3rC SGffiDO GGDGGDo rjflGG C'--- ’ — — Tula) 0 ho 1 O U OQ O Red o o0Q o°j& ' |