Ideas live as emotion, and this occurs when embedded in stories. Much of my fiction explores seminal ideas that are deeply embedded in emotion, especially shared emotion. That’s where the personal becomes social, where history becomes the present. The excitement of great stories is their truth.
The Road to Certain Shelter
Is it possible to identify new ideas or technologies that seem desirable or necessary, but will turn out to be huge blunders? ‘Blunders’ because they cause much more harm or danger than benefits. Yet they were developed with the best of intentions.
This boundary-breaking novel weaves a story of confrontation with enormous challenges that cannot be avoided. A lot of it really happened. The rest is likely.
All the Danger
Caught in war’s crossfire are two orphan girls, three tramps, an army major, an itinerant preacher—and an obsessed undercover operative. When modern America emerges after the Civil War, another war erupts—a war of ideas. The original hope of liberty and equality through self-employment and ownership is challenged by a large new industrial class of impoverished renters.
What Beauty Tells Me
Five stories about justice and forgiveness, intelligence and goodness, peace and beauty. A work of hope and reconciliation, a celebration of the world, a hymn for the fallen, a lyric of love.
The Innocent Alone Crave Justice: A true story about a knowingly false accusation of treason. Suzie’s Horse, An Opera: A teenage girl in boarding school, ostracized and persecuted. My Heart Ain’t Broken, It’s Just Taking A Break: A middle-aged country-and-western singer, down on his luck. Camestres and Felapton: An elderly violinist has retired from a long career but retains all his musical passion. What Beauty Tells Me: A meditation on beauty, intelligence, and goodness.
Re-enchanting Nature
For years Frank traveled the world to wherever human misery was greatest; now he seeks redemption. He photographed evil and wretchedness, now he seeks the good and beautiful in people. He has no home. He is alone, and he has embarked on a quest that frightens him more than danger ever did.
Who Gathers the Breeze
Margherita sets out for Santiago de Compostela in 1347 from Siena, Italy. Tiffany sets out in 2006 from Short Hills, New Jersey. Both “meet someone” who changes their lives. Both are married to bankers, both of whom are speculators using the latest financial innovations, for which they pay a big price. Much has changed in the last seven centuries; much hasn’t. The differences and similarities help us understand where we are.
Skipper’s Project
Skipper is Director of Projects at the Institute for Strategic Planning, a military operations think-tank in Washington. His project is nothing less than a new plan for America’s national security. It is disrupted when his college-age son is linked to two Muslims convicted of terrorism.
HAT is a fictional character based on an American journalist based in Paris and Berlin, who covered the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1920s and 30s.
Thomas Aquinas, in the 13th century, first defined the idea of individuality as we experience it today. This naturally has important consequences for society and culture—and America is arguably the world’s most individualistic nation.
Skipper’s Project is about America’s project.
Siding With The Angels
Cheryl Walker’s plan for ASI Inc. is daring, brilliant, worth billions: to create a new international market… in water. What better place to begin than the Middle East? By chance—or is it?—she meets an unemployed Egyptian engineer and is off to sell the largest water project ever.
Annihilating Distance: Selected Stories
Rebels Outlaws Spies Dreamers Prisoners Strangers. Exhalations of the Intellect. Against Us, Tyranny. Toward the Annihilation of Distance.
A special forces veteran, at the end of his rope, picks up a prostitute, at the end of hers, with the fierce desire to protect someone who needs it.
A poet once considered important by some, dangerous by others, returns from exile to be honored. He is accompanied by a young woman he barely knows.
A young microbiologist at the dawn of genetic engineering reaches spectacular success through a field mined with ethical concerns.
A father rescues a woman from a stranger and she stays with his wife and young son, until eventually he has to confront the man who assaulted her, and his followers.
If He Loses
Written during the 2020 presidential election campaign, this ‘flash’ novel takes a tough look at the then coming election. It asks what would happen if the president loses but contests the result. Told like a TV drama in 22 episodes, it chronicles the impact on two families, one liberal, one evangelical.
Unfortunately, it is as relevant today as it was then.