Jupiter, an American drifter down on his luck, finds himself wrapped around the finger of a retired French heroin smuggler. Circumstance quickly leads him across the globe searching for clues to the smuggler's secret. He lands headfirst in Nepal, a country still reeling from civil war, and is befriended by Maya, a British diplomat's daughter with connections and attitude. Before Jupiter can get his bearings, Jack, the last remnant of the heroin ring, surfaces unexpectedly. On a dimly lit back street of Kathmandu their lives are endangered. Suddenly the trio is on the run, making their way for the remote border of western Nepal. As they climb higher into the Himalayas, they battle for survival and encounter danger at every turn. Gradually the true meaning of Samsara begins to unfold, becoming more apparent as they toil towards possible safety.Samsara details the tragic historical events surrounding the resistance movement of the Tibetan Freedom Fighters, a band of brave soldiers who fought against Chinese occupation of Tibet for over fifteen years. Trained in secrecy at US army bases through a covert CIA operation, they eventually established a base in Mustang, an isolated kingdom in the far reaches of Nepal. An abrupt shift in political climate suddenly left the Tibetan guerillas abandoned. When juxtaposed against current US policy, it echoes an all too familiar precedent. This novel is a commemoration of their remarkable yet heartbreaking tale.


Samsara, David Abramczyk, Himalayan Maphouse, second edition , 2012, Paperback, 335 pp, $17.20

David Abramczyk was born in Chicago, growing up in Saint Charles, Illinois. He began his education at Colorado State University studying Wildlife & Fisheries Biology. After answering an advertisement in a newspaper, David arrived in Nepal to study Nepali language, culture and history, a decision that prompted him to dramatically change his direction in life as he become fascinated with all aspects of the Orient. Lured by quick money and adventure, he traveled to Alaska in the summer of 1990 to work on a salmon fishing boat. Over the next six years he became increasingly involved in commercial fishing. In 1992 David transferred to University of Colorado at Boulder as a Chinese Language and Literature major. This offered the opportunity to study with an affiliated study abroad program at the University of Nanjing in Nanjing, China. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Boulder in the spring of 1995. His knowledge of the region and his fluency in Nepali allowed David to work as a guide specializing in mountaineering, white water rafting and kayaking. When not guiding David went exploring and mapping out relatively untouched trekking routes in the far reaches of Nepal, often alone. David is a passionate sailor who has completed several trans Atlantic and Pacific crossings. He has professionally captained numerous boats in several regions of the world. David currently resides in Europe, focusing on writing and mountaineering, and is in training for a summit attempt of another 8000 meter peak.