Customer Reviews

The X President

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This novel is more thriller than sci-fi, but the science fiction elements (time travel, cool futuristic technologies) are lots of fun. The X President is also a hilarious political satire that somehow manages to please Clinton-lovers and Clinton-haters at the same time. I'm an admirer of Clinton, but a friend of mine who hates Clinton was roaring with laughter when I read him the great scene involving the interactive virtual reality of the "White House coffee" event. Baruth's characterization of the ancient BC is so good you'll want those scenes to keep rolling. Incredibly, the portrait of young BC (yBC) is, if anything, even better.

Baruth's novel combines edge-of-the-seat action scenes with brilliant vintage historical moments (Cassius Clay, for example, is featured) and laugh-out-loud funny dialogue.

So, why should you get this book? First, it's guaranteed to crack you up. Second, the time travel adventure is exciting (well-plotted and full of moments that make you go "Wow!" and "Oh no!" and "Ah-ha!"). The third reason is that the Clinton stuff is just a blast. Baruth has read everything about the man, perspectives across the spectrum, and has selected the juiciest, tastiest morsels for the reader to chew on. As a bonus, the writing is stylistically fine, a real pleasure for us literary types, and yet not stuffy; so the effect is a stylish but wild ride rather than either a merely stylish ride (think Updike) or a wild ride in a racer that is actually rusting out and about to crumble but you can overlook that because the ride (i.e., the story) is so much fun (think Grisham or Clancy). Enjoy!

This is a remarkable book that seamlessly combines science fiction, Clinton-era political commentary, literary theory and trenchant observation on the ethos of politics and pool.

Bill Clinton is beautifully rendered (in nearly every sense of the term). This richly imagined book also works as a compelling piece of science fiction, a knowing comment on the nature of biography, and a primer on the norms and nuances of bar room billiards.

It is Heinlein without the messianic overtones (or the breast fixation); Primary Colors where anonymity and identity ultimately prove to be fungible; Billy Phelan's Greatest Game for the 21st Century.

Baruth's portrait of Clinton evokes the inexplicable "fullness" of an incomplete man (Wolfe's Charlie Croker) and, at times, the near majesty of the ultimate political animal in command of very considerable powers of persuasion and appeal. The yBC character (Clinton as a boy) is near perfect -- a mixture of promise and promiscuity that just feels right.

Over and over, Baruth nails the details from the shape of Clinton's hands to Carville's nearly freakish power of recall (which is hilariously and ingeniously "explained"). Baruth understands both the people who shape political change and those charged with telling and thereby shaping their stories.

The X-President is an enormously entertaining book that, like one of its central characters, ultimately questions what is is.

Baruth here calls and pockets a difficult bank shot. His readers prove to be the winners.

I bought this book after reading the enticing review in the NYTimes. I wasn't disappointed. There aren't many good, intelligent adventure stories out there that have an interesting woman as a main character. I have to confess that I've always found George Stephanopoulos sexy, so his part worked great for me, too. This is a very funny book, but I think what kept me going was the quirky, surprising plot (and the nostalgia trips). Mr. Baruth knows how to ask great "what if" questions, and his answers are really brilliant (often scary) alternate realities. It kind of reminded me of Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, which is another fast-moving fantasy adventure I would recommend. They're both kind of brainy books, but page-turners at the same time.

History wrapped in what might be called sci-fi, but really isn't. Baruth has done a marvelous job on this comedy, mystery, sci-fi, thriller. The United States of the late 21st Century faces a crisis that can be resolved only if former President Bill Clinton, then 109 years old, does things a bit differently ---- 60 years earlier.
Clinton's hand-picked biographer is dragooned into a time travel adventure that is marvelously inventive and informative to boot. Yes, the novel has a political cast, but as one blurb writer said, even if you hated Bill Clinton, it's still an enjoyable story.
And it truly is. For a leisure time read, put this one on your list.

Jerry

More than any other president in recent history, Bill Clinton would probably like to change his legacy. Rather than being remembered for the economic growth of his tenure of the remarkably stable foreign affairs, he will likely be remembered for Monica Lewinsky and wasting his considerable political charms.

In this book Mr. Baruth posits that time travel has become a reality (but only for a select few, with government approval). In the Year 2055, the United States is on the verge of losing a war, based upon political decisions involving litigation against cigarette manufacturers. The lead character, Sal Hayden, Bill Clinton's biographer is chosen as part of a team to meet with Clinton and try to change his political decision. Fascinating premise.

Mr. Baruth did a nice job of telling this tale. His writing is clean and crisp. The characters are plausible, and you can almost feel Bill Clinton aching for a second chance.

My friends say I'm a political junkie and I guess it's true. I loved this book! I was at the bookstore waiting for my girlfriend to finish shopping and I just picked this off the rack because of the cover. After about ten pages I got into it and actually had to buy the book! I was still reading it in bed but had to control my laughter not to wake my girlfriend. I finished the book during breakfast. Anyway, all of this is to point out not only do I have a girlfriend(!) but this book is great if you're into politics and also have a sense of humor. I'm glad to see there are others here who liked it. The professional reviews posted here seem accurate to me, except the point about the "vague ending." If you know American politics, you won't consider the ending vague but very pointed and an attack against the pundits who act like they can predict the future.

By 2055, Bill Clinton, known as BC, remains healthy though he is over a hundred years old and has outlived Hilary and Chelsea. However, history has devastated BC's two terms in office as the beginning of the end of the American dynasty. Surprisingly two particular acts that not only had nothing to do with the zipper, but also seemed reasonable and valid in the last decade of the previous century have haunted the United States and BC's standing in the halls of history. The expansion of NATO into the former Eastern Bloc and the signing of the Anti-Tobacco accord did not turn out as expected. Instead the world has been devastated by World War III, commonly known as the Cigarette Wars and a lack of privacy led by the intrusive government.

BC wants a second chance to rewrite history so he hires biographer Sal Hayden to spin his definitive biography. Instead his former crew (James, George and the Virginia National Security Team) abduct Sal. The group takes a trip first back to 1963 and then to 1995 to revise history at it source.

Though the ending seems too vague, THE X PRESIDENT is a great political science fiction satire. The story line works on several levels but mostly because of how cleverly Philip E. Baruth releases tidbits that hook the audience into wanting more. The key players Bill, James and George are captured brilliantly so that they seem to have rolled off the TV screen into the crossfire of the story line. Sal is the perfect acerbic companion whom rounds out a powerful tale. Perhaps next up could be in the year 2525 the Bush Dynasty is still alive.

Harriet Klausner

Time travel to go back in time and change history. It's not the first time the idea has received literary attention, but the X-President might be the first time has ever written a story about time travel that features Bill Clinton and James Carville.

The end result with this book is that it is entertaining although just too over the top to maintain its credibility. Luckily enough the dialogue from the James Carville character makes it extremely entertaining when it isn't considering the world tobacco wars. Also the action when the main characters actually travel back in time keeps your attention.

The problem is the set up before the action when the main character a Clinton biographer meets with a 109-year old Clinton at his Presidential Library to author his biography. Unfortunately the biographer's character isn't all that sympathetic nor believable. Part of the problem is that the author of this book is male while the main protagonist in the book is female. Even the biggest fan of this book will have to admit there is a credibility gap. It often reads like a man pretending to be a woman and just like in an internet chat room or like Gore Vidal with Kalki, it seems way too fake.

Once the preliminaries are over and the actual plot moves forward, it's an easier book to like. Overall, I give the book high marks for creativity - it's a great idea, but it could have been so much better.

This is a hilarious book, heavy on the politics, for those of you who like that sort of thing. I do, and the humor combined with the political history and satire proved irresistible. I alternated between this and Franken's Lying Liars and the combination was perfect. (Which is a hint -- if you don't like Franken's politics, this might not be your thing.)

Philip Baruth has written a hilarious novel that takes you on a great ride from 2055 to 1995 with a stop in 1963. There are many great characters in the book but my favorite is the raging cajun James Carville. I read in 2 days and it earned a 5 stars from me(I would have given 6, if I had the chance)