Richard Engberg

Through the Underground Richard Engberg

This is the second of a set of historical novels comprising Tales of the Border, placed in the context of the Vietnam War, during the turbulence on the U. S. home front. Upon returning from Europe to face the consequences of being classified delinquent with his draft board, Sam Hanson soon finds himself to be at odds with the government. What follows are a series of episodes and often misadventures through a sometimes bizarre landscape of America during the mid to late Sixties; after the protagonist learns that the FBI is actively seeking him, and what will continue unrelentingly for the next three years. One manifestation of a poet is one who describes the world through transformation of place, as well as retrospective admiration of America's natural splendor. Consequently there evolves a montage of societal consensus and disapproval for the meaningless and cruel actions of U. S. Military policies. Yet tensions travel along the path of resistance; so Sam derives strength from his muse, a co-ed beauty who later abides in places beyond the pale. It's a landscape of feast and famine-guilt and idealism, outcast meeting celebrity, death courting pleasure-of trying to stay alive in America. As the country becomes polarized, edging ever closer to a police state and open rebellion, Sam is looking over his shoulder and running out of options.