7:16 P.M.

Jack Thompson's deadline for "proceeding accordingly" against Amazon.com is - as GP types this - less than nine hours away. As reported yesterday on GamePolitics, the outspoken Miami attorney complained to online retailer Amazon.com that his new book, Out of Harm's Way, was being victimized by negative reviews written by so-called "pixelantes" who had not read his book.

It is true that many of the 52 customer reviews currently available are quite harsh. One said of Thompson's book, "It's slanderous of the video gaming industry, and markets drivel to the common man..." Another remarked, "This book is shabbily penned, and obviously rushed out of the door. It's a clear grab at money while his fame still remains."

But the anti-Thompson backlash taking place at Amazon isn't confined to reader reviews. Long before the book was released, mischief makers were apparently engaged in a campaign of repeatedly clicking back and forth between the Amazon listing for Thompson's book and those for a variety of sex manuals. Consequently, readers clicking on a GamePolitics affiliate ad for Thompson's book would find additional recommendations from Amazon that included, "Advanced Sex: 101 Positions and Techniques for the Sexually Adventurous" and "Trust, the Hand Book: A Guide to the Sensual and Spiritual Art of Handballing."

Now that Thompson's book has been released, its Amazon page appears to be under full-scale assault from gamers who have been outraged by the strident anti-game violence campaign waged by the activist attorney over the years. New Amazon features that allows users to add "tags" and even pictures to a product page have been exploited by the anti-Thompson crowd. Of the 30 tags currently posted, the kindest include Scaremonger, and Unscientific.

Customer images - an Amazon enhancement designed to show products in use by consumers - have also been employed by Thompson-bashers to make their point. One user-submitted pic is a satirical cartoon, apparently from web comic ctrl-alt-del. A second pic shows a young woman vomiting. Both would appear to violate Amazon's rules for customer images, which, among other considerations, rule out pictures that are spiteful, or do not relate to the product.

It's not the first time that a controversial conservative has been gamed by Amazon users. In 2002, T.V. preacher Pat Robertson's book "Six Steps to Spiritual Revival" was linked to "The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Men." The same title showed up in Thompson's links in October.

GamePolitics has sought comment from Thompson on the issue, but so far he has been unavailable. GP does have some comments the attorney cc'd us last month in reference to a query by another publication:

"It's pretty simple... You've got your standard gamer morons who are going to gamepolitics.com and other enthusiast sites who are seeing the link to my book on the right side... These too-clever-by-half morons then go to amazon.com, click on my book and then do some more clicking to pull up deviant or pornographic sex books in order that you will see precisely what you are seeing. Before gamepolitics started running the ad for my book, the potential buyers were also looking at Senator Zell Miller's book on the culture war (he's on my side), and other value-and faith-based books... The gamers, once again, are proving my point that they know the price of everything and the value of nothing."

UPDATE / 2:00 PM EST: Jack has posted a long commentary on the Amazon situation....which now (3:30 PM EST) seems to have been deleted. It's all very strange.

YET ANOTHER UPDATE / 9:25 PM EST: Should you be looking for the mysteriously missing Thompson review, GP has a copy stashed here. Also, 7:16 PM EST has come and gone. Perhaps Amazon meant PST?