The book is captivating and well written with Dr. Opie telling a story that is fiction yet not really. His use of facts, not known to many of us in 1999, to tell a very good story full of actual events and keept this reader on the edge of his seat because of the uncanny recent events of 9-11 that would be in the sequal if there was one. I have lived in the Middle East and have worked with some of the people mentioned in the book and I am surprised at how much the author knows about the interworking of the Terrorist organization and how his brain works.
I am recommending the Medusa Papers to all of my friends.

The book begins with a discussion of the geology of the aquifer, and then moves into the history of irrigation efforts on the Plains since the 19th century, and finally to a discussion of the various irrigation technologies currently used to exploit the aquifer. There is ample discussion along the way about how these technologies have changed over the years as environmental consciousness and the problems of declining aquifer levels have become more prevalent.

This book is not only a very informative look at the Ogallala Aquifer but is pleasantly readable as well. And now that it is (finally) available in a more affordable paperback edition, I'm going to go buy a copy for myself.