2030

Albert Brooks's dystopian novel of the near-future wins points for plausibility: It is easy to imagine conflict between old people, who consume an increasing share of society's resources, and the young, whose piece of the pie keeps shrinking. The rise of China, likewise, is not an original concept. But 2030 shows why celebrities, even perceptive ones, should probably leave novel writing to the professionals. Brooks's dialogue is as flat as his characters. Even judged as a potboiler, 2030 lacks suspense, with every twist crudely telegraphed.