Che's Dead: Although this book serves as an enjoyable critique of the modern political system in America and throughout much of the world, I was extremely disappointed by the use of Che Guevara as the spokesman for the author's political vision. Upon reflection, it seems to me that the author only used Che in order to increase sales of his book - the political philosophy that the book extols has little in common with that of Che.

The basic background is this: following defeats in the Congo and Bolivia, Che Guevara gives up revolution and wanders around Latin America for 32 years, finally returning to Cuba with a new non-violent revolutionary philosophy. This new philosophy is based on the concept of the polis - the autonomous Greek city-state - and focuses mainly on increased local control for loosely-confederated communities. "Blackthorn" traces the development of the idea in this way: Greece ("Pericles or somebody else"); Rome; Machiavelli; Thomas Jefferson. I cannot accept Che (probably the most radical leader of the Cuban revolution) ignoring the innate injustice of the sketchy philosophy which is presented in the story.

What the author appears to ignore is the fact that these city-states upon which this "true republic" is based are just as unequal and oppressive as modern capitalist societies - maybe more so. In the most democratic polis, only the rich males were allowed to choose their leaders, with all women and foreigners viewed as sub-human. Pericles himself, the founder of this ideal (according to Blackthorn) was the original genocidal demagogue, who launched wars for an Athenian empire and exterminated native Mediterrranean populations to make way for Greek colonies. Other city-states were ruled by dictators, absolute monarchs, or even theocracies. This political form does nothing to strike at the injustice that Che Guevara gave his life to eliminate. I won't address Machiavelli's views, the corruption and oppressive class nature of the Roman Republic, or Jefferson's life as a slave-owning aristocrat.

Had this book created a new character to present Blackthorn's views, it would have received a much higher rating from me - I honestly enjoyed the author's jabs at our modern political systems. As it is, I see Blackthorn using (and abusing) the memory of a beloved freedom fighter in order to make money, and I can barely refrain from giving him the lowest possible rating.

Don't buy this book if you are interested in learning about Che Guevara or already know about his life and beliefs. If, however, you simply want to chuckle about auction-block politics - go ahead and read it. Just don't associate the "true republic" with Che. ( )