36 Years After Oregon's Timber Wars, New Novel Addresses the Fallout
The Californer/10315880

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. - Californer -- On March 26, 1989, the "Easter Massacre" occurred in Detroit Canyon, Oregon, an event many consider the beginning of the Oregon Timber Wars. The massacre was a standoff between loggers and environmentalists fighting for control of the North Roaring Devil timber sale—old growth trees meant to be cut for lumber. For two days, the opponents faced off, until a federal judge ruled that the loggers could carry on. But the environmentalists stayed the course, at times using their own bodies to protect the trees, but ultimately failing. The trees—the massacre victims—were all cut.

The next four years saw a repeat of occurrences like these, until finally, changing tactics, environmentalists were able to protect the trees through means of an endangered animal, The Northern Spotted Owl. The owl resides in the old growth trees, making it necessary to preserve the trees in order to preserve the bird.

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Enter Don Karlsson, author Micah Thorp's fictional character in his forthcoming novel, Aegolius Creek. Don happily tends the timber on his land—timber he has planted, replenished and will harvest for income. But when an endangered vole is discovered on Don's land and environmentalists step in, he puts up a fight.

His children step in: his daughter, a fierce attorney determined to represent Don's interests—even if they go against her own; and a son who organizes local environmentalists to make sure his father does not win. Loyalties are tested, and the conflict ripples throughout the community as a courtroom battle spills over into protests and riots.

Micah Thorp, an author, physician, and lifelong Oregonian, says, "I wrote Aegolius Creek to describe the impact of the cultural and economic changes that occurred during the Timber Wars of the 1980s and 90s on local communities and families. Those changes have been multigenerational, longstanding, and offer insight into how we might manage similar social changes in the future."

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Oregonians will recognize other local concerns in Aegolius Creek, such as the the wildfires that have ravaged the region, and the intrusion of outside interests looking for profit. The novel is also a moving portrait of a family reeling from loss but bound by longstanding loyalties and, of course, love.

Earlier books by the author have received a Next Generation Indie Book Award and a Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award. Aegolius Creek was recently awarded a 2025 Independent Book Publisher Award for West-Pacific Best Regional Fiction. The novel is available now for preorder before its September 16, 2025 release. For more information, visit: https://typeeighteenbooks.com.