Father's Day: A Novel [Paperback]

John Calvin Batchelor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1996

Temporarily transferring power to the vice president while on disability in the year 2003, President Ted Jay is shocked when the vice president refuses to relinquish command five months later, an action that threatens to tear the nation in two. Reprint. PW.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in the early years of the 21st century, Batchelor's political thriller concerns a Vice-President who seeks to force the resignation of an unpopular President.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

According to the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the vice president can challenge a president who, having temporarily turned over the reins of state, wishes to resume command. If the challenge is sustained, the vice president can block the incumbent's return. Batchelor, who is credited with foretelling the Falklands War in The Birth of the People's Republic of Antarctica (LJ 6/1/83), combines this scenario with sexual juiciness, military adventurism, and naked ambition. The vice president not only challenges the return of the president but also springs a secret trap to assassinate him. In a clever and effective twist, the usurper thinks almost entirely in baseball metaphors, a touch that makes this novel seem like the World Series of constitutional crises. Trusting the reader to follow through some convoluted plot turns, Batchelor nonetheless marshals strong characters. His dialog is crisp, authentic, and plentiful. A sure bet for all political fiction collections.
--Barbara Conaty, Library of Congress
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 483 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Mass Market Paper (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312958587
• ISBN-13: 978-0312958589
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,566,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read!, June 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Father's Day (Bookcassette(r) Edition) (Audio Cassette)

While the premise of the book my seem unbelieveable, the very fact that the 25th Amendment makes this scenario possible makes this book very chilling. I found it to be very entertaining and very hard to put down. I highly recommend it for an political junkies looking to get lost in something other than the current events in Washington!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars run, run very far away, December 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Father's Day: A Novel (Paperback)

I was sick with the flu this week and this book was all I could find. Kinda makes the whole concept of a benevolent god hard to swallow. Please don't bother to buy the book. The author is trying desperately to be Tom Clancy and he's failing miserably. Not only is the whole premise unbelivable everything about it rings false. The Governor of Maine disappers for a few days and no one says a word? Just believe me and ignore it. If you're aleady half way through it and don't want to read the rest I'll be happy to tell you the ending.

5.0 out of 5 stars History Repeats, December 31, 2011

By 

Harrisburg - See all my reviews

This review is from: Father's Day: A Novel (Paperback)

Those who ignore the past are bound to relive -- politics, greed and righteousness -- so what is difference with our current Congress and the folks who walk the halls. Entertaining, fast reading and leaving one for a sequel. Real life is about tomorrow's accomplishments and no one can predict. Excellent read -- foreshadow of tomorrow? Maybe..................