by Ken Gormley
First published 1994
The Pennsylvania statehouse buzzes with tension as legislators gather to redraw district maps following the 1990 census. Political operatives huddle in back rooms, trading votes and promises while computer screens display proposed boundaries that could make or break careers. The protagonist navigates this maze of competing interests, where Democrats and Republicans fight over every precinct and voting bloc. Lobbyists work the hallways as mapmakers adjust lines on detailed charts, knowing each change affects thousands of voters. The central conflict emerges between fair representation and partisan advantage, as characters wrestle with gerrymandering temptations. Personal relationships strain under political pressure while the clock ticks toward constitutional deadlines. At its heart, this story explores how democracy works in practice, revealing the human drama behind the technical process of redistricting.
Genres: political-science, politics, academic, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: competing-interests, political-drama
Setting: Pennsylvania
Period: 1991
Hardcover · Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Publications