SEATTLE/ Conservative Monitor -- The Libertarian Novel, "Freeman", has a telling scene from the first chapter. In it an artist reveals to a patron, "Show man's life as it should be and could be -- that is art." A novel in some sense is a work of art; Mr. Rushing works hard to make his novel conform to this notion. He tries to show what life would be like for a person living the libertarian ideal.

The hero is a middle aged man, Paul Freeman, who doesn't pay his taxes, doesn't have a license and seems blissfully unconcerned about the consequence's of his flouting the system. He dispenses advice to his friends with calm assurance that his advice will work. Much of it can be boiled down to slogans, which give gloss to a deeper philosophy, "Do no harm, and do not let others harm you." "Freedom Works!" "God is Reason!" The man who lives by this philosophy is inevitably successful, both materially and psychologically.

In many ways the book reminds the reader of Ayn Rand. The difference is that James Rushing is more overt and less lyrical in his writing. Every page conveys messages about libertarian philosophy. Mr. Rushing is not shy about lauding its benefits. Mid-way through the book the character of Aunt Alice is introduced. In many ways she seems to represent Mr. Rushing's struggle with objectivist philosophy, in that she is a caricature of Rand. There are discussions between Paul Freeman and Alice that soften objectivism in some ways and crystallize it in others, making it conform somewhat to Rushing's own ideas on the subject.

Meanwhile, we are given a view of the seamier side of life, that is the side of life spawned when libertarian views are violated. The Mayor and the Chief of Police struggle with the drug war. Fighting against victim-less crime, they find themselves dragged into the mire of a criminal world largely of their own creation.

The dichotomy between the two worlds is sharp. Those unaware or unable to implement the libertarian philosophy see life as hopeless, it falls apart around them because their use of force in an effort to do good, in the end, corrupts the good. Paul Freeman goes through life helping others merely by passing on his philosophy of life. The book makes clear that it is this communication which is the vital aspect of his existence as well as the raison d'etre of the book itself.

Does the book achieve its objective? Does it communicate the libertarian philosophy? Does it meet it's own exacting standard of art? Does it show us what life could be, should be? Yes, it does succeed on this level. The reader will not be gripped by the drama, the conflict between good and evil is all one-sided (with evil making all the efforts and coming out the loser every time). Yet this does not prove to be a draw back in that the essential strength of the book is its ability to describe the "good life" a "life worth living" in an up-beat, positive way, and to teach us by example. James Rushing writes clearly, simply and forcefully. "Freeman" is a book well worth reading, even studying. A novice to libertarian thought will find its ideas stunning; an old hand will find them reinforcing.

Mr. Rushing has a website at: www.armedfreedom.com