Story Behind The Book
I've always enjoyed Hard Rock. Whenever I hear that music, or any kind of music, really - I see images in my mind. The origin of this book can be traced back to the Alice In Chains song, "Rooster." As far as I'm aware, the song is about Vietnam, but I wanted to write a story and update it for modern times, so I chose to write about the Iraq War. Further, I've always enjoyed movies, books, stories, music, etc. that doesn't just entertain, but has something to say, something to carry with you and think about as you move through life. I especially loved the commentary on the absurd cruelty of war in the book Johnny Got His Gun and the movie Dr. Strangelove. I wanted to continue that legacy of literature versus oppression, cruelty, war and stupidity. Loser's Memorial is that dream fulfilled.
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Reviews
<p><strong>Sample reviews from Amazon.com!</strong></p> <p><br /><strong>Absolutely Unique!, June 4, 2013</strong><br /> Captivating from the very first paragraph on. Dark, gripping and unique premise that kept me turning the pages one after the other. I was left wondering why no one in Hollywood has discovered "Loser's Memorial" yet and turned it into an epic movie.</p> <p><br /><strong>A sandy horror, July 20, 2013</strong><br /> Outrageous as it is in content, LOSER'S MEMORIAL has a striking ring of authenticity. From the military dialogue to the foul mouthed college professor and his misguided son, the language is true to life. And the reading by Michael Hansen is superb. He gives each character an individual voice . I enjoyed this book. It scared me because the cruelty of greed shows how two lives can be affected and dramatically changed. The suffering of the innocent Arab boy Jamil and what it does to him is<br /> Incredibly raw. There is a new way of war out there and this book captures it.</p> <p><br /><strong>Enjoyable and thought provoking, July 15, 2012</strong><br /> Loser's Memorial is a tale of two young men who become monsters. One is pushed from innocence to evil, becoming what others fear he already is. The other slips down a path of poor decisions and a fear of actually committing to decisive action. I found myself sympathizing with both characters, though Jamil, caught in circumstances beyond his control was the more sympathetic to my view. While I felt sorry for Peter, I could not identify with his overly passive behavior in the face of the reality of the world.</p> <p>The background for the story is the current events starting from 9/11 and ending around 2007. The theme of the rise of mercenary forces and their corporate war-business practices coupled with corrupt war-mongering mirror our real world, one in which the American public chose to turn a blind eye to how money was spent by the federal government. The writer catches the dismal, impersonal feeling of this system we (and our representatives) have allowed to grow in our government. Indirectly the author has captured the fall of American imagination and innovation and the rise of legalism and practicality.</p> <p>I found the early part of the story to be somewhat slow but after getting past the introduction to the characters and their circumstances, the tale flowed evenly forward. About two thirds of the way through I realized this story was a reverse spin on a typical Big Name Author Techno-thriller novel. The heroes (such as they are) are not part of the American social elite but ordinary people. God does not intervene with a lucky break, an accident or other inexplicable turn of events which allows the main characters to have a `eureka moment'. Government is not the protector of society but the victimizer, the source of pain and suffering for the ordinary people in the story.</p> <p>Overall I found Loser's Memorial to be full of fresh thought and enjoyably different from techno-thrillers I have read over the years. If you're looking to find a story which relieves you of the sameness of the high-tech genera, this story is for you.</p> <p><br /><strong>My favorite book of 2012!, July 10, 2012</strong><br /> Loser's Memorial is my favorite book of 2012. It pulls you in quickly and refuses to release its grip until you reach the denouement. I love the Sci-Fi/Alphas twist the characters have - having to "recharge" makes them feel very "real". A fan of cerebral writing with well thought-out characters should look no further!<br /><br /><strong>Great Read!, June 26, 2012</strong><br /> This is a fantastic novel. The characters come to life through well-developed prose that invites the reader to experience the world through their eyes. The evolution of their plight through these pages will illicit genuine empathy from even the most jaded among us. The plot is both interesting and relevant while maintaining an underlying timeless theme. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to future works from this author.</p> <p><br /><strong>excellent read, June 5, 2012</strong><br /> This is the second book I have read by this author. He has a gift for storytelling that draws you into the characters and makes you want to know what happens next. I enjoyed the well developed characters and timeless themes of this novel.</p> <p> </p>