Reader Comments

    “What a terrific and enjoyable experience reading your book turned out to be.  It is one of the best and most memorable books that I have ever read.
     “I read the book during our recent cruise to Antarctica and Tierra del Fuego.  The day that I read the book was the day that our cruise ship rounded Cape Horn.  We not only went by the Cape once but we did it three times including a counter clockwise circumnavigation of the island of Capo de Hornos.  And, if you can imagine, the weather was beautiful and the scenery nothing short of spectacular.  While this rounding of the Horn is certainly high on most travelers’ lists of interesting things to do, I must say that in spite of the unusually great weather, the diverse wildlife, and the incredible scenery, I was, for the most part, unsuccessful at tearing myself away from your book.  The book got its talons into me and I struggled to take some time to view the fjords, the Cape, the crossing of the Drake Passage, and the Beagle Channel.
     “With this being your first book, my summary comment would be to get back to work and write another one in very short order.  This reader is dying to read more of your work.
     “My first comment on the book would be that you have introduced a limited number of characters that are fully developed in your narrative.  There are no extraneous or superfluous characters.  Like the other components of the book, the characters are tightly described and easily and fully understood by the reader.  Yet the characters that are in the book all have important roles in the plot that are fully developed through the reading.  And, no surprise, there are heroes and villains within all of the character groupings.  This is absolutely wonderful character development.
     “In the Absence of Honor brings the reader into increased awareness of numerous issues confronting the lives of people living in remote areas with significant Native American populations.  Fascinating issues including distribution of wealth generated by Native American owned casinos, corruption of local law enforcement and political figures, corruption of local tribal officials, the interactions among Federal bureaucracies, the local governments and the tribal communities all contribute to a great learning experience for the reader.
     “In addition to the above issues which primarily relate to the assimilation, or lack thereof, between the Native American and European based ethnic groupings, the overriding issue of the development of remote lands for commercialized tourism is an issue that is currently being debated throughout many parts of the world.  This book contributes to a greater understanding of these issues.
     “While this book is clearly a book of fiction, the issues raised by Mr. Proebstle are serious matters that encourage the reader to learn more about these issues and to consider the numerous sides of these delicate and complex matters.
     “All these issues and characters are combined by the author in such a manner that results in a fast moving and riveting plot that keeps the reader flipping pages as fast as his eyes and hands can move.
     “Mr. Proebstle’s familiarity with the Northwoods of Minnesota, his development of the characters, and the socio economic issues raised in In the Absence of Honor all combine to make this a most compelling read.  If this is Jim’s debut narrative, this reader can’t wait for the second, and third”

~Carl Norris