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The Haunting of Josef Fleischer
Josef Fleischer's ideal life is turned upside down when dreams and visions begin to haunt his nights. At first, they are specters of waging war—him, his father and those other Oregon volunteers who fought the Indians on the Palouse back in '56. Josef thought he had put all this behind him decades ago—the war, the killing, Yellow Bird, and the warrior. But when the warrior appears in a daytime vision, promising that Yellow Bird will be avenged, Josef resolves to face his demons. Is he going mad, or has a real warrior ghost come to deliver revenge?
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2023
1 person want to read
About the author
Dan Strawn
17 books10 followersAbout Dan Strawn
Dan Strawn took up writing after retiring from dual careers in business and education. He lives in Vancouver, Washington with his wife, Sandi. In addition to his novels, he is a published short story, memoir, and essay writer. His work has appeared in various editions of Idaho Magazine and in Trail Blazer Magazine.
In April of 2014, his short story, “Son” was awarded first place in the Adult Division of Idaho Magazine’s annual short fiction contest.
In 2005, Everyman’s Small Town, his essay about Moscow, Idaho, made the finalist list in the University of Oregon’s Northwest Perspective’s Essay Contest.
He is the author of four novels and one novella.:
“Black Wolf’s Return”
Nominated for a 2014 Book Award by the
Pacific Northwest Book Sellers Association
“Lame Bird’s Legacy”
“Isaac’s Gun—An American Tale”
“The Dead Possum Gang,”
"The Haunting of Josef Fleischer"
On occasion, he teaches for the mature learning division of Clark Community College, Vancouver, Washington. In 2008, he took mature learning students to eastern Oregon and Idaho to experience first-hand the Nez Perce land and people they had studied in class.
He also volunteers with the Nez Perce National Historic Park as an interpreter of the Nez Perce experience at Park sites, at elementary, intermediate, and high schools, senior living facilities, and other venues..
He is an active member of the Western Writers of America, a life member of the AT&T Telephone Pioneers, and a member and past board of directors member of the Nez Perce Trail Foundation.
Dan Strawn took up writing after retiring from dual careers in business and education. He lives in Vancouver, Washington with his wife, Sandi. In addition to his novels, he is a published short story, memoir, and essay writer. His work has appeared in various editions of Idaho Magazine and in Trail Blazer Magazine.
In April of 2014, his short story, “Son” was awarded first place in the Adult Division of Idaho Magazine’s annual short fiction contest.
In 2005, Everyman’s Small Town, his essay about Moscow, Idaho, made the finalist list in the University of Oregon’s Northwest Perspective’s Essay Contest.
He is the author of four novels and one novella.:
“Black Wolf’s Return”
Nominated for a 2014 Book Award by the
Pacific Northwest Book Sellers Association
“Lame Bird’s Legacy”
“Isaac’s Gun—An American Tale”
“The Dead Possum Gang,”
"The Haunting of Josef Fleischer"
On occasion, he teaches for the mature learning division of Clark Community College, Vancouver, Washington. In 2008, he took mature learning students to eastern Oregon and Idaho to experience first-hand the Nez Perce land and people they had studied in class.
He also volunteers with the Nez Perce National Historic Park as an interpreter of the Nez Perce experience at Park sites, at elementary, intermediate, and high schools, senior living facilities, and other venues..
He is an active member of the Western Writers of America, a life member of the AT&T Telephone Pioneers, and a member and past board of directors member of the Nez Perce Trail Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 21, 2020
The Haunting of Josef Fleischer
I have been a fan of Dan Strawn’s books and writing for a long time. It was with a sense of curiosity and excitement that I began reading ‘“The Haunting of Josef Fleischer”. It’s set in the late 1800’s in Western Oregon, and I was caught up in the story right from the beginning. Not only were the characters wonderfully fashioned and interesting, but the writing was especially skillful. At times, the words flowed like poetry and were full of beautifully descriptive words and phrases. Josef Fleischer, the main character of the book; is a successful farmer, husband to Edith and three grown children. The bond that he and his wife “Edie” have after so many years of marriage together; is lovely and palpable throughout. This book is Josef’s story to tell though. It’s a gripping tale of life, war, love, and what can haunt us; no matter how strong we think we are. I totally recommend this book to anyone, I really enjoyed it! I think it’s one of Dan Strawn’s best works so far, and I can’t wait to read his next book!!
A. Dorice Cosler
I have been a fan of Dan Strawn’s books and writing for a long time. It was with a sense of curiosity and excitement that I began reading ‘“The Haunting of Josef Fleischer”. It’s set in the late 1800’s in Western Oregon, and I was caught up in the story right from the beginning. Not only were the characters wonderfully fashioned and interesting, but the writing was especially skillful. At times, the words flowed like poetry and were full of beautifully descriptive words and phrases. Josef Fleischer, the main character of the book; is a successful farmer, husband to Edith and three grown children. The bond that he and his wife “Edie” have after so many years of marriage together; is lovely and palpable throughout. This book is Josef’s story to tell though. It’s a gripping tale of life, war, love, and what can haunt us; no matter how strong we think we are. I totally recommend this book to anyone, I really enjoyed it! I think it’s one of Dan Strawn’s best works so far, and I can’t wait to read his next book!!
A. Dorice Cosler
January 24, 2020
Josef thought he managed to put his memories behind him, memories about battles between Oregon volunteers and the Indians on the Palouse. But now, they’re coming back to haunt him.
The story has a fascinating structure, where the visions that haunt Josef—either dreams or memories—are told in the present tense, which puts the reader in the moment, alternating between early December 1856 and spring 1898, as wartime events are happening around him. In his waking hours, when he snaps back to the present, the story is told in the past tense. This makes visions become more vivid than reality. “The warrior, stoic, passionless, looks down on Josef. Josef, unbraid, combative, stares back.”
It is when this separation between past and present blurs that we find ourselves as confused as joseph is between dreams and reality. “Joseph drew his pistol and pointed it at the warrior. Twice, he pulled the hammer and fired. When the smoke cleared, the warrior sat astride his burnt-tail mustang, unmoved and unhurt.”
Fascinating, well-written story. Highly recommended. Five stars.
The story has a fascinating structure, where the visions that haunt Josef—either dreams or memories—are told in the present tense, which puts the reader in the moment, alternating between early December 1856 and spring 1898, as wartime events are happening around him. In his waking hours, when he snaps back to the present, the story is told in the past tense. This makes visions become more vivid than reality. “The warrior, stoic, passionless, looks down on Josef. Josef, unbraid, combative, stares back.”
It is when this separation between past and present blurs that we find ourselves as confused as joseph is between dreams and reality. “Joseph drew his pistol and pointed it at the warrior. Twice, he pulled the hammer and fired. When the smoke cleared, the warrior sat astride his burnt-tail mustang, unmoved and unhurt.”
Fascinating, well-written story. Highly recommended. Five stars.
January 10, 2020
More than PTSD in the 19th century
What if it wasn’t PTSD, but actual ghosts come back to haunt a former soldier? Josef struggles between both possibilities in a time when neither was understood very well — not by his fellow soldiers, not by his wife, not even by himself. Coming to terms with wartime atrocities has dire consequences when a restless ghost is determined to be avenged. Enjoyed this look into the conscience of war in the 19th century Pacific Northwest.
What if it wasn’t PTSD, but actual ghosts come back to haunt a former soldier? Josef struggles between both possibilities in a time when neither was understood very well — not by his fellow soldiers, not by his wife, not even by himself. Coming to terms with wartime atrocities has dire consequences when a restless ghost is determined to be avenged. Enjoyed this look into the conscience of war in the 19th century Pacific Northwest.
September 24, 2024
This book was a delight to read. The descriptions are lovely. The theme is unwavering in its gifts on right and wing, past and present. And the haunting... Truly creepy. And what an ending!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews