The Straitjacket Waltz

(Paperback)

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Description

A dark humor pervades the story as Thompson's cast of characters struggle to find a place, their place, without compromising themselves. This position on compromise makes it impossible for them to master the steps of the order's waltz. The characters efforts to create their own waltz steps are, at times, magnificently insane; wonderfully hilarious. At other times, they fail miserably and pay heavily for it. The book explores how fragile the mainstays of a culture become for individuals who seriously challenge their validity. Religion, often to the detriment of spirituality, requires a Leap of Faith to get beyond reason. Some can't make that required Leap of Faith. They are unable to ignore the absurdity of dogma. The characters call out the contradictions and hypocrisies while demonstrating a will to define their own meaning and purpose. Politics, the social order, family, everything is scrutinized by the thoroughly engaging characters in Thompson's book.

Author Bio

Mr. Thompson served in the United States Navy in Vietnam. In 1975 he completed his undergraduate work at Texas Tech University, Lubbock Texas. He went on to receive his MA in Philosophy from Bridgewater University. Now retired, he has worked as a cotton tromper, bartender, land surveyor, stained glass craftsman, US Navy Surface Warfare Officer, small claims mining compliance specialist in Northern Nevada, wildland firefighter throughout the Great Basin, Senior investigator busting sweatshop owners in Los Angeles, California, and spent five fire seasons in remote fire lookouts. He is married, has three children and six grandchildren. He is a member of the UDT-SEAL Association and a registered citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.