Houseboat Wars - Charles Bush

IT’S 1977, AND BATTLES RAGE ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY OVER ATTEMPTS TO EVICT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, MOSTLY YOUNG AND REBELLIOUS, LIVING IN HOUSEBOATS

In the waning days of the hippie movement, along a stretch of San Francisco Bay known as Waldo Point, hundreds of young people live in an improvised community of off-kilter houseboats, taking inspiration from their guru, garrulous eighty-four-year-old Achille Palaiologos.

A change in property ownership threatens the community’s existence: the new owner, a developer, wants everyone evicted. The houseboaters fight back, enlisting in their cause Legal Aid attorney Rick Spenser.  Battles ensue, both legal and physical, in the courts and on land and water.  After a daring act of sabotage upends the developer’s plans, the houseboaters split into bitterly opposed factions over whether or not to propose a compromise plan.  Meanwhile Rick, though supposedly committed to girlfriend Tiffany Wong, is attracted to houseboat leader Becky Yates.  Both these conflicts culminate in a day and night of tragedy, betrayal and fear.

In the aftermath, Rick strives to repair his relationship with Tiffany, while Rick and Becky together struggle to save the community and end the houseboat wars.

'…a fun and thoughtful read…probes the ‘nobody's right when everybody's wrong’ culture clashes of the 1970s…put on your favorite old vinyl album, read and enjoy the ride.'—Don Daglow, author of The Fog Seller

“The Sausalito, California houseboat wars of the ‘70s…makes for a wild chapter in Bay Area history and an entertaining read.”—Cyra McFadden, author of The Serial: A Year in the Life of Marin County

 “…a fascinating, fictional chronicle of…the house-boat community of Sausalito, California…suspenseful and a page turner. I highly recommend this well written book.”—Colleen Rae, author of One Sausalito Summer

“In this thriller, a houseboat community’s legal case against developers in 1977 California culminates in murder…The attorney protagonist getting caught up in more melodrama than lawyering makes for an unusual but convincing tale.”—Kirkus Reviews