New Book Alert: Off Telegraph: A Novel of Berkeley in the Sixties by Joseph V. Rodricks; A Long Strange Trip Into Science, Politics, Religion, and Fanaticism

New Book Alert: Off Telegraph: A Novel of Berkeley in the Sixties by Joseph V. Rodricks; A Long Strange Trip Into Science, Politics, Religion, and Fanaticism

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews




Spoilers: Of course a novel about the late 1960's would be set at Berkeley. Where else but Hippie Central would you find so many students and professors experimenting, protesting, exploring, tuning in, turning on, and dropping out?

Joseph V Rodricks' novel Off Telegraph: A Novel of Berkeley in the Sixties explores that groovy time with a colorful cast of characters that pursue knowledge in science, religion, politics, and some get very lost in the pursuit of that knowledge.



Grad student, Will Getz is studying to make a pfaffidine synthesis for a reliable source of pffafadine. He has spent several months working on the project and has only achieved positive results once by accident. He can't replicate the feat and time is ticking with a fearsome deadline soon approaching. Rather than admit the stall, Will changes the data information. This deception haunts Will especially as his opportunistic colleagues get involved.

Meanwhile, Will's former girlfriend Gina Antinori, an anthropology student is become more involved in the sociopolitical structure of the 1960's. She considers switching her major to Law and makes a bevvy of eccentric friends including Chris, a former priest who is considering break a few of his vows with Gina, Kay, a journalist exploring lesbianism, and Schaefer, an anthropology professor whose outlook on the world heads dangerously towards fanaticism.


The book is rich with characters driven by their goals to help society in their own ways. But their goals become lost because of ego trips and narrow perspectives that cause them to commit fraud even violence to achieve those goals.

Will is particularly hit by this. As anyone who has spent time in academia knows, plagiarism and fradulent research are not looked on very favorably in that circle. (Or in any circle for that matter, nor should they be.) If caught the person is subjected to expulsion, lost funding, lost position, denial of a degree, and given a black mark towards any future hiring possibilities among other things. That's why most college courses begin with the professor lecturing their students about the penalties. It's no wonder why this deceit continues to trouble Will.

Will was fascinated by studying chemistry and biology and using pffafadine to create better treatments for cancer patients. He, as many researchers often are, is swept up in the glory of achieving an unattainable goal and the fame and prestige that goes with it. However, Will becomes consumed with guilt for changing the data. He alienates himself from close friends and is easily swayed to commit more fraud to cover up his initial fraud. He becomes depressed and agitated and starts experimenting with hallucinogens to cope with the inner stress.


Gina and her colleagues also strive to change things in different ways. They want to end the Vietnam War, achieve equal rights for all, and explore life beyond their comfort zones. Many of them experiment by exchanging lovers and discovering about themselves. Gina's relationship with Chris is one that is between two souls that want to explore the world in a larger context beyond their rigid Catholic beliefs.

Their relationship is almost a union of the body and Spirit. They seem to reject the orthodox Catholicism with their physical union. However, the relationship intensifies Gina's inner spirit and she is able to become more active within the world around her.


Violence is also explored in how people's ideals can metamorphosis into fanaticism. One intense subplot has Schaefer leading some grad students to Guatemala in the middle of a civil war. When they return things take a turn into the horrific as Schaefer takes his religious intolerance to violent disturbing levels.

In one graphic passage a former colleague of Schaefer's explains what the man's plans were when he returned to California. Schaefer is driven by his own charisma, fanatic views, and ability to lead others as a cult leader. He has the idea that only his way is the purest and that society is so flawed, that he must bring about its destruction.


Off Telegraph explores the highs and lows of the 1960's. It was a time when everything was new and just waiting to be explored, fought for, experimented upon, challenged, and questioned. It was a time of great ideals. However, under those ideals was a darkness that bred corruption, illness, violence, and death. For better and for worse we were marked by that time.