Bøker av Terry Shaffer

A genre-bending parody of the evolution of American politics. The Democracy Dramaturgy is told from the perspective of a cynical deadhead named Mo, who, via the wonders of extraterrestrial time-travel, is able to witness firsthand what his nation has been, as well as what it is becoming. When he is accidentally transported to another planet, Mo finds himself in a once-perfect world that has been overwhelmed by the disabling impact of mindless American television programs from the Seventies and their insipid fictional stars. But the fictional characters are far from the most dangerous Earth-born garbage with which the planet's inhabitants must deal, as Mo and Martin S. Cribler, former-crusading-turned-suicidal journalist soon discover. Two other "real" Earth men have preceded them to the planet and are actively waging war for the hearts and minds of the populace: Mafia thug Nino D'Rocca and singing television preacher Duncan Heathens. Sometimes hilarious, often enlightening, The Democracy Dramaturgy is the story of Mo's awakening as he recognizes himself as a fractal representation of the universe in which he resides and finally understands he never needed to change the world. He only needed to accept himself.

"Once in a while you get shown the light..." Garcia Hunter is a pot-smoking Deadhead immersed in the corrupt world of Pennsylvania politics. After fifteen years in the employ of his lifelong friend, State Representative Delano Trodske, Garcia's sense of right and wrong has been horribly twisted by years of looking the other way-and he is determined to regain his lost integrity. With the guidance of his cat and the ghost of Jerry Garcia, his quest for enlightenment is further inspired by the lyrics of Grateful Dead's Robert Hunter. But even as he finds his way back to himself, Garcia never suspects one as insignificant as he could be receiving guidance from cosmic forces he can neither identify nor understand...or that the "purpose" the Universe has chosen for him might be far more important than the reclamation of his soul-or the salvation of the political system. Garcia slowly, inexorably drifts from a world of possessions and power to one of spiritual health and personal understanding. He begins to see the larger patterns and appreciate the hidden structure of reality. He finds the true meaning of love and success. But mostly, he gets stoned a lot. Written with intelligence, insight, and humor, Terry Shaffer's provocative new book is a compelling and highly entertaining romp through the world of politics, spiritual development, and personal truths.