"...strap on your seat belt, it's a wild ride. Take a little Hunter Thompson, add some Dashiell Hammett, throw in a pinch of noir, and let it ferment for five minutes in a bottle of Boone's Farm...that's the mix these books deliver on." R. Baker "The only author to fictionalize with historic accuracy one of the most divisive and monumental periods in modern American history, the 1960's." "Chicago: Days of Rage" is the second book of "The Woodstock Trilogy" which also includes "Monterey Pop: Summer of Love" and "The Woodstock Conspiracy." It tells of the dramatic rise of the 1960's counterculture as witnessed from the perspectives of an audacious flower child, an increasingly disconnected CIA assassin, and his boss who is determined to prevent a bloody revolution at any cost. "Chicago: Days of Rage" examines the evolution of the counter-culture and the events leading up to the disastrous 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention. Arriving in Chicago from assignment in South America, CIA field agent Monday is delighted to find his old boss and friend from Saigon, Percy Arnold, as his new partner. In Los Angles, Sandy makes the transition from flower child to super model and witnesses the birth of Crosby, Stills and Nash while Lennon ponders 'Revolution' in London. Detroit's MC5 perform at Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin's ill-fated Festival of Life in Chicago held concurrent with the convention. Sandy and Marla's reunion at the festival turns deadly as Country Joe McDonald is beat bloody in a hotel elevator for having long hair, and no one moves to stop his attackers. Such is the mood in Chicago. "Chicago: Days of Rage" dramatizes events that helped change the peace sign into a raised, clenched fist in less than a year.
About the Author: Martin Rots was raised in Southern California and Detroit. In the late-sixties, he regularly attended concerts at the Grande Ballroom, Eastowne Theater, and other contemporary Detroit venues. He contributed reviews of live performances and new records for a local paper for several years before returning to school and a long career as a mechanical engineer. Martin has continued to write fiction, non-fiction, essays, and short stories his entire life. In the mid-sixties, Martin began to collect music, books and memorabilia and has consequently amassed a large collection that is still growing. His passion for the era has taken him to London, Paris, New York and San Francisco for research. Crossing Abbey Road, visiting Jim Morrison's grave in Paris, and standing on the stage at Monterey where Jimi burned his guitar has given him a better understanding of the artists and the places that inspired them and their music. Today Martin lives in Northern California while he continues to study and write about the music of the era and the counterculture that evolved around it. He regularly contributes to this blog - MartinRots.com and his Classic Rock blog at ClassicRockEsoterica.com.