Ultimatum 2: a novel by Richard Rohmer

Cardboard characters, wooden dialogue** June 1, 2007

I recall reading Richard Rohmer's early novels many years ago such as Ultimatum(1973) and Separation(1976). His prose style has not improved over the intervening years. The cental plot of this novel revolves around the development of a plan to create an international nuclear waste disposal facility that could be used to permanently dispose of nuclear wastes from peaceful and military uses. The unlikely hero is a Dr. Rob Ross, nuclear physicist, who is appointed as Special Ambassador by the US President. He develops a proposal for a geological borehole in the Canadian Arctic. The US, Russia and the UK sign a protocol to establish this site and then present it to the Canadian PM as a fait accompli. When the Canadian PM says "No", the US says it will use military force if necessary to occupy the site and build the facility. The Canadian PM issues an order to the CDS to meet the US aircraft with all fighters at our disposal (ridiculous since the PM is Harper). Then in a surprising turn of events in a couple of pages, The US Vice-President dies from a heart attack, the President is killed in a helicopter crash and the Speaker of the House becomes President. She orders a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and Afghanistan and the deployment of a significant portion of those troops to police the US/Mexico border. When briefed on the Canadian situation, she decides to proceed but through negotiations rather than force.

This book is laughable. Don't waste your money.