". . . they [the majority of Americans] shall come to realize what I now realize: that the 9/11 Truth Movement are the real patriots in 21st century America!"
-- Steve Alten, New York Times Best Selling Novelist (author of "The Shell Game")
Commercial fiction and 9/11 truth have formed a strange marriage, and a mutually beneficial relationship. The original 40,000 book print run of "The Shell Game" is almost sold out even before the book has even hit the bookstores. A big part of that success may be from the growing support of the 9/11 truth community who has come to largely enthusiastically realize, although for a few some times begrudgingly, that "The Shell Game" will, in the end, help draw a much larger audience to the 9/11 truth movement.
Using fiction to fight for factual truth, was a stretch for some 9/11 activists, but the tide is quickly changing. For example, within one day, one prominent 9/11 truth activist went from condemning use of "The Shell Game" as a 9/11 truth spreading tool, . . . to wholly and enthusiastically endorsing it to help open the public mind to 9/11 truth. This is a growing pattern. The more 9/11 truth activists learn about this upcoming blockbuster book, the more excited they become.
"I'm changing my vote to Thumbs Up on Shell Game . . ." said the above activist.
What had changed his mind was that when he'd only read clips of the novel he saw a neo-con demonization- of-Arabs perspective that he feared because it fell into line with the corporate media propaganda that has deceived Americans into two illegal wars.
HOWEVER, as he learned more about "The Shell Game," he realized that the author begins the novel from the neo-con perspective, and from the perspective of the average citizen spoon fed a distorted reality by corporate media daily. THEN, the novel proceeds to dis-assemble that "reality" taking the reader on a journey that shows the ugly underbelly of false flag terrorism, diminishing civil and human rights, and the lies that led into past wars, and portend to lead us all into future wars.
Yet, even more brilliant is that the novel is peppered with REAL 9/11 truth research used as chapter introductions, leaving the action fiction reader educated as well as entertained.
Dr. Robert Bowman (rtd. Air Force Colonel), and Director of ThePatriot.us a 9/11 truth seeking organization, was an early advocate of "The Shell Game," as was renowned 9/11 researcher and author, David Ray Griffin, and Kevin Ryan (a UL NIST report whistleblower) , and many other major voices for 9/11 truth. But, there was resistance in some activists of using "fiction" to push "truth."
So some early 9/11 truth supporters of "The Shell Game," are now enjoying a breath of relief as the activists out there, are now seeing the potential of "The Shell Game," and embracing its success as a possibility to dramatically expand 9/11 truth. Robert Bowman, after seeing such activists turn around, wrote:
"Glad to see a turn-around. Fortunately, I started at the beginning and read through the whole book carefully. It is a riveting page- turner, with characters you can really care about, and plenty of plot twists. Along the way, it educates the reader on all sorts of issues related to the neocon danger to our republic and our people. (9/11 is just one of them.) I wholeheartedly endorse this book. Read it ... and start at the beginning. You'll be glad you did."
Dr. Bowman gained 9/11 truth notoriety early on, when he analyzed the US Air Force behavior on 9/11 and as a former fighter pilot knew that if standard procedures would have been followed on 9/11 the 2nd WTC tower, the Pentagon, and likely even the first WTC tower would never have been taken down. Dr. Bowman spoke out with a soul force as he said, "Some call it treason!"
In the last week, the ad hoc coalition of 9/11 truth seekers advocating "The Shell Game" has grown more, adding Professor Steven Jones (whose research found the official story of the WTC collapses defies the laws of physics), Pilots for 9/11 Truth, and Visibility911 have also joined into the growing coalition for this edu-tainment novel, and its value to expand the 9/11 truth movement's audience.
With the original print run of "The Shell Game," almost sold out already, nearly three weeks before official release . . . the 9/11 truth movement may take a well deserved bow for doing what they could to expand "The Shell Game" out into the public eye. There is more to do. Our sights should be set on "The Shell Game" breaking as many sales records as possible, thereby making it impossible for the corporate media to ignore the novel, its author, or the book's website which will provide links to 9/11 truth seeking organizations and information.
2008 is beginning to look like a very hopeful year. Thanks to the 9/11 truth movement leaders with the vision to see that a work of fiction could be a jet fuel to in the long run launch facts into the public mind over time, and to Steve Alten, the courageous successful author who laid his career on the line, when he produced, "The Shell Game," because he cared about truth and justice.
By William E. Douglas, Jr., who is author of "The Amateur Parent ?A Book on Life, Death, War & Peace, and Everything Else in the Universe." Bill has been a guest columnist for the Kansas City Star, The Business Journal, and other media worldwide. His past essays include, "Exposing the 9/11 Conspiracy Wingnuts," "The Explosion of the 9-11 Truth Movement -- US Media's Dirty Little Secret," "Good Night, and Good Luck - WMD, NIST, Popular Mechanics, 9/11 and Media Crimes"