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CAPTIVE
What begins as a normal day for nine unsuspecting strangers, ends with the unthinkable. Their loved ones brutally murdered, the survivors are taken hostage and locked in a room, completely cut off from the outside world. Left alone and afraid, they soon find themselves desperately searching for answers while locked in a life or death struggle of their own...This is how the story beginsYet what starts off as a standard, hostage drama quickly evolves into something more. Much more. By essentially trapping them, and forcing them to interact, we get to see the hostages political and personal views expressed without a filter. It is this interaction that elevates CAPTIVE into a gritty, raw presentation of contemporary political convictions passionately expressed by a room full of Americans who believe they are about to die. The diverse beliefs voiced by the hostages range from ultra-right neo-Nazism to ultra-left liberalism. No point of view is left undebated in this larger than life story within a story.Based on the award winning stage play, 'CAPTIVE' offers powerful social commentary packaged in a gripping, fast paced thriller. Through these nine people, the author brilliantly explores questions about our role in an increasingly diverse, post 9/11 world...and offers some surprising answers.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 14, 2012
“Captive” by Timothy Allen Smith is a gritty, raw presentation of contemporary political convictions passionately expressed by a room full of hostages. The diverse perceptions voiced by the hostages are real, legitimate beliefs influenced by the life experiences of the various individuals.
From ultra-right neo-Nazism to ultra-left liberal empathy for the “terrorists” plight, no political point of view is left undebated in this larger than life story within a story. At a public theatrical production of a student play, a handful of armed and masked men usher nine people who happened to be in the lobby at the moment, down into a musty basement room, while other armed and masked men terrorize the theater audience.
Although the terrorists are presumed by most of the nine hostages to be Muslim extremists, we never really know their identity, nor do we learn their demands. We only know that they remove five of the nine, one at a time, over an indeterminate period of time, and eventually kill them.
This story presents differing political points of view in a way that forced me to think. Like almost everyone else in America, I have my own personal political beliefs. However, this story presents other perspectives which I had, perhaps, not previously considered. It presents them in such a manner as to almost compel you to consider the merits of those assessments. At the very least, it will make you realize there IS merit to opposing points of view, regardless of how painful it may be to recognize that fact. And it WAS painful to realize maybe I don’t have all the answers after all.
At the very least, I encourage everyone to read and consider this worthy book, and then vote your convictions. The epilogue, more than anything else, should scare you right into the voting booth.
From ultra-right neo-Nazism to ultra-left liberal empathy for the “terrorists” plight, no political point of view is left undebated in this larger than life story within a story. At a public theatrical production of a student play, a handful of armed and masked men usher nine people who happened to be in the lobby at the moment, down into a musty basement room, while other armed and masked men terrorize the theater audience.
Although the terrorists are presumed by most of the nine hostages to be Muslim extremists, we never really know their identity, nor do we learn their demands. We only know that they remove five of the nine, one at a time, over an indeterminate period of time, and eventually kill them.
This story presents differing political points of view in a way that forced me to think. Like almost everyone else in America, I have my own personal political beliefs. However, this story presents other perspectives which I had, perhaps, not previously considered. It presents them in such a manner as to almost compel you to consider the merits of those assessments. At the very least, it will make you realize there IS merit to opposing points of view, regardless of how painful it may be to recognize that fact. And it WAS painful to realize maybe I don’t have all the answers after all.
At the very least, I encourage everyone to read and consider this worthy book, and then vote your convictions. The epilogue, more than anything else, should scare you right into the voting booth.
September 4, 2012
Extremely well written and thought provoking. It was difficult to put down once I started.
August 30, 2012
Fantastic. Loved it
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews