Hannon's background as an engineer comes through as he also includes construction photos, technical drawings of the dam and indepth descriptions and discussions of construction, repairs, capacity and the like, perhaps all in more detail than the casual reader would prefer. The author's viewpoint frequently shines through in this highly political effort. Hannon addresses the issues of the Glen Canyon Dam head on. He includes a history of the political wrangling that got the dam built, the wealthy power brokers who are the primary beneficiaries of the dam and the folly of trying to control nature. The book is at its best when it tells the story of the canyon, explains why the reservoir should be drained and moves the characters toward that end.
Passages leading up to major events are so mired in detail that they often become tedious.
If you've got the time, it's worth the read. Reviews will appear on The Denver Post Online.