About a Mountain

WhenJohnDAgatahelpshismothermovetoLasVegasonesummer,hebeginstofollowastoryaboutthefederalgovernmentsplantostorehigh-levelnuclearwasteataplacecalledYuccaMountain,adesertrangenearthecityofLasVegas.Bearingwitnesstotheparadeofscientific,cultural,andpoliticalfactsthatgiveshapetoYuccasstory,DAgatakeepsthesixtenetsofreportinginmindWho,What,When,Where,Why,andHowarranginghisowninvestigationaroundeachvitalquestion.YetasthecontradictionsinherentinYuccasstoryarerevealed,DAgatasinvestigationturnsinevitablypersonal.HefindshimselfinvestigatingthedeathofateenagerwhojumpsoffthetoweroftheStratosphereHotel,aboywhomDAgatabelieveshespokewithbeforehissuicide.Hereistheworkofapenetratingthinkerwhosestartlingportraitofamountaininthedesertcompelsareexaminationofthefutureofhumanlife.