Horace

by Larry Knipfing

In the aftermath of an earthquake-triggered nuclear reactor incident in Japan, an American teenager devises a plan to evacuate a city’s children.

Fueled by his disgust over the government’s corruption, denial, and lax response to the event, Horace models his movement after the Underground Railroad used during the days of American slavery. Horace eventually manages to successfully pull parents and children together to shine a light on the ultimate consequences of doing nothing: Fukushima residents, especially the children, will suffer from exposure to radiation for generations to come. And in his mind, this would be not only unacceptable, but irresponsible and inhumane.

Inspired by the principles of Aikido, the classic writings of great authors and thinkers, and the history of civil resistance, Horace’s operation reaches full steam and achieves global attention as he relocates hundreds of children to safety.

In the end, the teen uses his notoriety as a platform to challenge Japan’s government and the rest of the world’s view on the risks and dangers of nuclear energy.

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2012

About the author

Larry Knipfing was born on Long Island, New York, in 1958 and has made Japan his home since 1980. Most of his writing has centered on things Japanese. "Horace", "The Shunga Tales", and "Crow, the King of Sumo" are the first of a series of fiction pieces that he will release in 2012. He has also written a collection of short stories, "The Shyest Man in Japan". He is interested in exploring the essence of Japanese beauty in both his writing, and other artistic forms.