The R Document (published in 1979) - Written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book "Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
Is a great working democracy an Utopian idea? As democracy promises freedom of speech, does it allow the right to circumvent the duties as a citizen or the freedom which causes law and order should be curbed. These are the uncomfortable questions which are addressed by Irving Wallace in the R document.
Rampant corruption, racial tension, drug abuse and other law and order problem prompts the President of the United states to bring about an 35 th amendment of the constitution. This law if enacted will enable the President to suspend the Bill of Rights in case of emergency. The FBI director Vernon Tyson is pushing for this amendment which ostensibly will curb the law and order problem prevalent in the United States. He threatens, Blackmails and kills to enable the passage of the bill.



Christopher Collins, an upright attorney general is uncomfortable with such a draconian provision and giving sweeping absolute powers to the FBI. But he feels that the provisions are not so bad for the critics to shout from the rooftops and has made peace with the passage of the bill.
But Noah Baxter his dying predecessor warns him about the controversial provisions of the bill and encourages him to look for the R document. Chris has very less time to unveil the conspiracies as state after state ratifies the amendment making it a law. As he finds out the R document or the regeneration document is a cassette player recorded by Rick Baxter, Noah Baxter's son. Does Chris unearth the conspiracies and protect millions of Americans from living in a police state? Has Rick's innocent recording throw up some startling answer's?
Irving Wallace's novel published in 1979 is very pertinent even today. Yes the realities have changed with law and order problems taking a back seat to terrorism especially after 9/11. After reading the novel the reader is forced to think about such a scenario where civil liberties he has taken for granted are taken away. How would life be if you cannot say what you like, do what you like, write or read your choice's, follow your heart and even blog your mind off? Will life be worth living under a black shadow, a big brother watching you?