Redwood Summer is a novel about San Jose and the greater Santa Clara Valley in 1990; a pivotal year that began with the promise of new possibilities as the decades long Cold War was winding down, and ended in the anxious early months of rising U.S. military involvement in the Mideast. This vital region, a capital of technology, was tied to the greater world transformation of those times and a part of the long history of rising, falling, and evolving civilizations as decisions and actions by a powerful few affect and shape the lives of the many.
Jason, a young man from San Jose, is at the end of 1990 trying to figure out how the seemingly happy, carefree life he once knew suddenly came to an end. He then thinks back to early summer, and traces its slow decline as he reflects on the changing relationship with his girlfriend, the struggles of his best friend, worsening conditions at his Silicon Valley workplace, his quest for an ever more expensive education, and the gnawing fear that he’s disappointing his family in an extended flashback that mirrors the global shift of that era. The brief promise of world peace and unity that ended with the beginning of the first Persian Gulf War and its resulting abandonment of the peace dividend is metaphorical of Jason’s own journey from optimism to despair.
The recent past slowly unfolds in Jason’s mind until his memories come full circle by the last chapter. His new life situation is finally revealed, and he sees the light of the cause and effect of all that happened and how it led him away from his old life as the world darkens around him.
San Jose and the greater Santa Clara Valley has a varied and complex history of innovation as well as controversy. Once covered with orchards and farms, it’s transformation into a hub of technology was largely driven by defense spending. Redwood Summer is an attempt to shine a literary spotlight on this important region in a story of love, friendship, betrayal, loss, and adjusting to personal choices as well as to a changing world. Though historical fiction, its themes of keeping up with technology, surviving the wealth gap, political division, and the cancer of intolerance continue to affect us.
Lastly, Redwood Summer is a tribute to my beloved hometown.
Following are the links to all 17 chapters as well as an opening short story.
The Hill, a short story prologue
Part I …almost perfect…
Redwood Summer Part I Chapter 1
Part II …San Jose used to be a small town…
Redwood Summer Part II Chapter 6
Part III …you don’t want to be caught on the wrong side…
Robert Kirkendall 
Thank you for the share. 🙂
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I lived in Monterey in the mid 80s when going to San Jose was not a big deal. We next visited about 2018 on a trip to Monterey. What used to take about 40 minutes was now 2 hours of gridlock. Everything had also gotten a lot more expensive. Not an improvement (in my book). San Diego has gotten worse too.
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I was living in Cupertino in the mid ’80s, but I originally grew up in SE San Jose, not far from Monterey Hwy. The valley has really filled up since then, though last year or two the valley, as well as the greater Bay Area, has been losing people, too expensive. San Diego is a fine city, though I’ve only been there a couple of times. Someday I’d like to visit Petco Park when my Giants play there. 🙂
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San Diego calls itself “America’s Finest City.” I find it overpriced, overcrowded, and overhyped.
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And with another drought on the way, that does not bode swell for all of SoCal.
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California was going down even while I was there. San Francisco had a homeless population wandering the streets, including families. I remember a man and woman with their children in tow, pushing a grocery cart across the street with all that was left for them to own. That was the late 1980’s. Now look at the homeless population in the large cities. North California wanted to secede from South California because the large cities were stealing their water to survive.
I do remember the drive through the redwoods, it was like traveling through another time. Oh — and I remember how to pronounce San Rafael. Newcomers were easy to spot when they didn’t say San Ra-fell.
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I grew up in the South Bay and I remember the homeless population suddenly rising during that massive ’82 recession and it’s been with us since (gotten worse lately).
Redwoods are America’s cathedrals. They were more widespread millions of years ago but these days only grow along the Northern California coast. Redwoods are only mentioned briefly in my novel but the organized effort to save them during the summer of 1990 is where I found the title (I originally title my novel Heart’s Delight, after Santa Clara valley’s former nickname).
Yes, if you don’t pronounce San Rafael the correct way you’ll be spotted as an outsider. Same thing when people refer to SF as Frisco. No one who lives between Humboldt Co. and Monterey calls it that, we call it The City.
Thanks for visiting this page! I’ve put a lot of effort into Redwood Summer over the years and I hope to develop it into the masterpiece I know it can be.
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There is nothing like seeing your book in print. I have 3 published and only 23 more to go, but I’m missing 2 important components: A reliable Indie Partner and the funds to pay her or him. One day perhaps (a person can dream).
BTW: Do you remember the Italian restaurant in San Rafael that was hard to find unless you knew where to look? Best lemon butter prawns ever!
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Way to go getting three books published! Hope you find a reliable indie publisher. I haven’t spent a lot of time in the North Bay so afraid I don’t know the name of that Italian restaurant, though I was in Petaluma recently, almost moved there a couple of years ago.
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