Slot Attendant — Jack Engelhard

The novel is about a man who finally accepts his limitations but refuses to give up on his dream, a paradox, yes, but that's life. The action takes place in the world of publishing, but also in an Atlantic City casino where a writer, Jay Leonard, who once enjoyed glory as a novelist now finds himself down and out as a slot attendant. This is as low as it gets and while he holds somewhat to his dream of a comeback-- he continues to try his luck and knock on doors in the world of publishing with his latest book -- it occurs to him that this may be it after all. He's reached the end. His wife urges him upward, but, even as he despairs, he begins to face his humbled position almost gladly, even with some pride. He takes plenty of abuse down on the casino floor from supervisors and customers. But it's not much different from the literary world that he's been pursuing, and besides, these Atlantic City people aren't so bad. Are they any worse than the literary elites that keep rejecting him? Where does a man go after the world has turned its back on him? What if he is right and the rest of the world is wrong? These are questions that haunt Jay Leonard throughout the novel. Throughout his inner rage, Jay Leonard begins to make his peace. He submits and surrenders. Or does he?