Tevis, Walter: The Hustler

To the strangers he plays in darkened pool halls, at first "Fast" Eddie Felson seems like a sloppy pool player with bright eyes and an extraordinary grin. But when real money is on the line, they see that Eddie is a hustler of the first order. But Eddie's got ambitions and wants to quit his two-bit hustling for the big time. And when he sets his sights on Minnesota Fats, the best pool player in the country, he knows this match will be a true test of his skill--and he knows he can win. But what Eddie doesn't know is that the game of pool isn't all about skill. It's about guts and stamina, and, above all, character.