ROOT AND BRANCH is an original work of historical fiction based on
fact and documented by the social history of California, Boston, and
Kwangtung,China of the 1850’s. It is not condoned by "official"
revisions of history.
What this novel does not have/does not do: This novel doesn’t merely recount events, there’s no great emphasis on love scenes, nor fortuitous sex, it’s not a piece of commercial literature, none of the sappy soap opera romance episodes, it doesn’t have the "smart, snappy, with it voice" of the modern man or woman.
What this novel does offer:
→True accounts of events that moved men and women of the
mid-to-late-1800’s.
→The value systems generating the acts of individuals within
historical events.
→No-holds barred
accounting of what went down between the dominant Euro-Americans and people of
color—the mind-sets, their subsequent actions during the Gold Rush, the events
that led up to it, and the resulting impacts that continue to present day
America.
→The story-line is even more extensive
in that it weaves in influences from the Ching Dynasty, and the American
Revolution.
→It shows that the history’s impact
lies forever with us in our daily moments.
→It examines such issues as class
warfare, cross-cultural gender models, expectations, and conflicts.
Snyopsis
YANA , Native American woman warrior-shaman from Mt.
Shasta, must choose between maintaining a future peace or fighting present
enemies who want to exterminate her tribe. TAI-YING, famous “Red Stick”
martial hero of Kwangtung, finds the “Gold Mountain” of California to be a dark
labyrinth of illegal trade between the Triads, the U.S. government, and even
his own spiritual mentor. LIVINGSTON LOWE, from Back Bay Boston old
money, is determined to earn his spurs as a canny predator in the wild arena of
unbridled American commerce, at any price—even murder. And ISHI, the
young son of YANA and TAI-YING, comes of age at a time when ranchers and miners
hunt his head for bounty.
The Story
As warrior-shaman of her people, YANA undergoes rigorous integral
training that burdens her with choosing between a spiritual response to racial
extinction or immediate retaliation to save her people. Her epiphany occurs in
dialogue with her Gods during a medicine lodge ceremony.
She is captured fighting government forces and ranchers, and is thrown
into Sailors Prison in S.F., where she meets TAI-YING. While being transported
to government stockades aboard ship, she and the remnants of her tribe escape
to resist another day.
TAI-YING, famous “Red Stick”
martial hero of Canton, arrives in S.F. Chinatown as problem solver for
newly-arrived Chinese laborers, landing smack in middle of a turf war between
Tongs, Irish toughs, and Anglo businessmen. He is immediately tossed into the
clink, and is later busted out by a competing tong which has purchased his
freedom. He
finds “Gold Mountain” to be riddled with dark labyrinths of illegal trade
between the Triads, the police, and even his own spiritual mentor.
The destinies of YANA and
TAI-YING intertwine to fight for the rights of their son ISHI, and their
peoples to have better options than beheading, hanging or slavery.
LIVINGSTON LOWE flees his stifling parents
and the pre-ordained existence of Back Bay Boston old money. His determination to earn his own
spurs in American commerce confronts the raw, unbridled reality of frontier
life. Forced to
face his dark side, Livingston chooses to do what’s necessary to survive and to
succeed in business—even murder and sex-slaving.
ISHI comes of age when
ranchers hunt his head for bounty. He is sent away to the remote White Lotus
Monastery in the Trinity Mountains to save his skin and the blue jade key
guarding an 800 year-old family treasure. There Ishi matures and unfolds into
manhood under the tutelage of ABBOT CHAN, MARTIAL MASTER PENG, and BIG-EARED
TU. Ishi’s inner journey to peace is conflicted by the violence suffered by
both parents fighting for their right to exist..
This is a 470-page work, 12-pt New Times Roman, double spaced
MSWord document
$5- per e-book, ½
price for Calif. State university students.
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Or write the author, Ed Orem, directly: eorem@yahoo.com