Mickey Mantle loved sex. And getting drunk. Those are the topics of discussion as the baseball hero, now in heaven, pulls up a chair with writer Leonard Shecter. Together they rehash Mantle"s life, from his X-rated bedroom exploits and his treatment of fans to his relationship with the media and his phenomenal career. Nothing is left uncovered in a story that reveals Mantle"s dark side. Only two main voices are needed from Alan Smithee -- a drawly, scratchy Oklahoma twang for Mantle and a low, whispery tone for Shecter. The novel, rooted in truths, is a remorseful confession for Mantle as, in his own way, he faces the demons that shaped his life. Smithee -- a traditional pseudonym in the entertainment industry -- is wonderful as ball player and writer.