The next “Da Vinci Code”? That is Steve Alten’s goal.

With his new book, the author is looking to impact the presidential election and, he says, “change the world.”

Alten figures if his political novel “The Shell Game” is a success, he’ll accomplish both of those goals.

Some familiar real-life characters dot his fictional tale, which centers on the effect that U.S. dependence on Mideast oil has on terrorism and domestic policy.

Alten’s story is less than complimentary of figures such as Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, President George W. Bush and former president George H.W. Bush.

“The Shell Game” suggests U.S. governmental culpability in the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and warns that if we don’t move away from oil and explore “greener” fuels, another catastrophy is inevitable.

Certainly, the themes of “The Shell Game” are timely – right out of today’s headlines, with a few twists.

“These are things people don’t want you to talk about,” Alten said from his Florida base. “But I provide resources so people can choose. It’s fiction. But it runs with lines of fact throughout and people can draw their own conclusions.”

Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton appears in the novel, which is set in 2012. But most of the characters are fictional, and racing against time to avoid a tragedy.

“I couldn’t have written and published this book in 2004,” said Alten, a Penn State graduate and a native of Delaware.

“At that time, you couldn’t say anything against the (Bush) administration or the war. But people’s attitudes have changed. Americans want out of Iraq. They don’t want to go into Iran. They don’t trust the White House and they don’t trust Congress. This book shines a light on some of the reasons for this distrust.”

His resources include Michael C. Ruppert’s controversial 2004 work “Crossing the Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil.”

The notion of “peak oil” – the moment when the world’s oil supply hits and then passes maximum production – is another central theme of “The Shell Game.” Those who believe in “peak oil” argue that if consumption is not reduced, prices will explode beyond where they are now – with severe political, economic and even military results.

“I had been thinking about writing a political thriller, and I came across an article about peak oil,” he said. “I really thought about what that article said – our society is not ready for the end of oil.

“You can tell more in a fictional thriller than in a nonfiction book,” Alten said. “You can project from current events to what would or could happen.”

Calling his book “a cautionary tale,” Alten said he hopes some people will be moved to push their political leaders to explore alternative fuels, or to vote for candidates who would like to reduce U.S. involvement with oil-controlling nations such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran.

That would include individuals seeking the White House in 2008.

“It was intended that way,” he said. “There are important issues that should affect the election that we’re not look-ing at.”

Alten is a veteran writer, and “The Shell Game” is his eighth novel. But he says he couldn’t sell the project to a major publishing house.

He eventually hooked up with Sweetwater Books, which Alten called a Mormon-run company in Utah with a conservative political lean. Titles available through Sweetwater’s Web site (www.cedarfort.com) include “The Book of Mormon Made Easier,” “Putting on the Armor of God” and “Conquering Your Own Goliaths.” The fiction offerings are mostly family oriented.

“I couldn’t sell it to a major publishing house,” he said. “They didn’t want to touch it. But (Sweetwater Books) understood the message that it transcends politics. They’re taking a risk, too.”

Copies of the book were sent to media outlets in late 2007. A book trailer can be seen on YouTube and information is available on Alten’s Web site – www.stevealten.com.

“The Shell Game” is headed to bookstores now. Alten is eager to see what happens next.

“This is, for me, a book with a higher purpose,” Alten said. “It didn’t start out that way. But the more I got involved, I realized, ‘You’re dealing with life and death.’

“My goals are set high,” he added. “I hope it becomes another ‘Da Vinci Code.’ Not for me personally, but because of the importance of the subject and the people involved in it.”



Chip Minemyer is the editor of The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5091.