Good ideas abound.   The writing is professionally done.   Characters are well established, and most make sense within the context Sterling creates.   But Distraction fumbles on one of the most crucial parts of a novel: the plot.

America is in a State of Emergency in this book, with its economy left in shambles by an economic attack by China on our information economy.   A campaign manager, Oscar, who just won a Senate campaign is on a paid “vacation” with his staff, looking for issues for the future Senator.   They wind up in a scientific research facility where Oscar realizes some major work has to be done…

The story is about Oscar, the campaign manager.   It involves a scientist who works with the nervous system.   Beyond that, it is difficult to say precisely what the plot is about.   It simply follows the protagonist’s story too long, taking on the meandering quality of a life.   While perhaps realistic, this annihilates whatever purpose or thrust this story sought out in the four hundred pages.   What appears to be the book’s primary climax occurs with over fifty pages left in the book.   Then the climax is deconstructed and rent asunder by what remains, leaving very little for the reader to hold on to.   I'm left with the feeling that the entirety of the plot would have been better served had Sterling written a novel and one or two short stories, rather than deciding to create the marathon plot of this novel.

The ideas are there.   Social commentary, neurology, political structures, genetic engineering, ethics, sociology, economic theories… everything seems to have its moment.   Sterling explores gift economies, bicameralism, the coming of the Caucasian minority in America, and many other topics within this book.

As a political commentary, Distraction is much more effective than Wag the Dog; it captures the optimism that has always been present in American politics rather than some dark-minded, conspiratorial, satirical, fun-house mirror image of it.   Sure, the main character is a ‘spin doctor,’ but he’s one who wants to make a positive difference in a disaster-stricken America, which is far removed from Wag the Dog’s depiction of a money-grubbing, power-hungry lunatic.   Corners are cut, enemies are made, alliances form and break, people are tricked, but the character’s commitment to his ideals never fails.

The characters are done justice, as well.   They each have histories and face realistic dilemmas.   Particularly well done is the main character, Oscar, who faces prejudice because of who he is… people are ashamed to even talk about it to his face, and the issue is danced around the first several chapters as his ‘personal background problem.’   Both the mindsets of scientists and politicians are captured convincingly.

Sterling’s style remains steady as ever.   Sterling has never been hard on the eyes, but he has always placed a heavier emphasis on substance rather than style.   And so it is with this book; the style never strikes the reader as spectacular in its own right, yet does an admirable job of conveying what it wants to convey.

There's a little adult material within, but it's not excessive.

Distraction is a book with incredible potential, well thought-out ideas, and great characters, but the story fails to gel those ideas and characters into a coherent bloc.   In the end, Distraction makes for a worthy distraction because of its intriguing ideas, but it’s not Sterling’s finest work.