"Fast" Eddie knows the scene. He knows the alcohol, he knows the road, he knows the men, and -- most importantly -- he knows the hustle. After years of beating everyone he can on the road, Eddie is getting tired of it all and dreams of something bigger. The greatest pool player in the world, to him, is Minnesota Fats, top-stick in New York who hasn't lost a game in years. Eddie has the skills he needs to be the best if he lets his skills transcend his arrogance.

Tevis has written a heartbreaking treatise on a mix of many themes propping up the his big point: We lose if we choose to lose. An opponent gets the upper hand if they chose to win.