In this corporate thriller, the tobacco companies find themselves on the verge of losing a lawsuit that could start them down the road to bankruptcy. Led by Terra, the largest of the group, Big Tobacco makes a bold move by calling America's bluff. Effective immediately, they announce, all tobacco products are being recalled from American stores, all factories are being shut down, and no more tobacco will be purchased from American farmers; this state of affairs will end only when Congress passes legislation granting the industry immunity from product-liability lawsuits.
It's a nifty premise, and Mills' projection of the consequences of such a move is both entertaining and plausible. I'd have liked a slightly more evenhanded treatment of the debate -- Mills seems to me to be solidly on the side of Big Tobacco -- but the premise is quite attention-grabbing, and Mills keeps the story moving along in a crisp, efficient manner.
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