Richter’s War: Case of the Japanese Alien

In this sci-fi thriller short story, a World War II battle engulfs Los Angeles, and sweeps a hard-boiled detective into dangerous and out-of-this-world action and intrigue.Case of the Japanese Alien draws on the mystique of hard-boiled detectives and the strangeness of the rumored enemy attack and anti-aircraft artillery barrage known as “The Great Los Angeles Air Raid” in late February 1942. The story integrates elements of racism, government, war, and human nature amidst action, suspense, humor, Nazis, and an alien named Haruki.Geno Richter’s a tough hero–He must be tough in order to take on Nazi spies and an apparent alien invasion of Los Angeles. But he’s also tough enough to take a stand against the U.S. Government’s internment of people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. This dreadful episode is a key ingredient of Case of the Japanese Alien, and Geno rises to the occasion in his own special way…