Nick Naylor is just a regular guy trying to earn a living In these neo-puritanical times, it's a challenge to defend the rights of smokers and a privilege to promote their liberty Sure, it hurts a little when you're compared to Nazi war criminals, but Nick's just doing what it takes to pay the mortgage and put his son through school As chief propagandist for the tobacco industry he can handle the insults from the antismoking zealots, but death threats are a different matter Someone wants to prove just how hazardous smoking can be - and if Nick isn't careful, he's going to be stubbed out