title: Light on a Distant Shore
author: Sedgwick, Michael E.
description: In 2032 Arizona, Alex Moray is a research scientist employed by the Solarium Complex to make the long-standing dream of nuclear fusion a reality. He is aided by the unfailing support of his Chinese manager, Sue Song. His wife Fiona, a professor at the local university, is intensely involved with a political action committee and militia, in an attempt to free the nation from the stranglehold exerted by an insidious body, self-titled The Council. This body, a small group of individuals owning ninety-nine percent of the nation's wealth, and led by Samson Klenk, has protection of its wealth and power, by whatever means, as its guiding policy. Its members believe they share a way of life too ancient, too precious and fragile to allow the common horde to trample on it. Keeping everyone in check does not occur without resistance and ruthless measures are often necessary. Various threats insure the three branches of government comply with The Council's policies and demands, and it uses a despotic president and vice president to push through changes to the Constitution through Congress: changes extending the presidential term of office and weakening or eliminating the 4th Amendment and portions of the Bill of Rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Despotism needs enforcement and this is achieved by replacing the FBI with an armed Federal Security Service. People seen as obstacles to The Council's policies, vanish, often permanently. Fiona constantly urges Alex to join her PAC colleagues in their efforts to thwart and destroy The Council, but he feels too overwhelmed by his work to oblige the woman he loves. Elena and Harry Sandford, formerly married but now separated, are the Morays' closest friends, but the friendship between Alex and Harry sours when the latter drunkenly announces an affair between Alex and Sue Wong. Although determined to be loyal to Fiona, Alex is ashamed to find he increasingly lusts over Elena Sandford, a sensuous and seductive Hispanic beauty who appears intent on distracting him with sexual enticement. Marital tension erupts between Fiona and Alex. Jack Campbell, an ex-marine master sergeant and member of Fiona's PAC, befriends Alex but places certain demands on him. Alex's situation becomes precarious and thrilling. When he succumbs to Elena's sexual entrapment and people close to him begin to die, he questions his priorities and calls on Fiona's sister-in-law, Rebecca, to help him. The road he must follow to achieve nuclear fusion and social justice is fraught with hazards. He persuades Jack Campbell to accompany him through strife-torn Mexico for a final and dramatic confrontation with Elena.