Joe Paliani, left, is the author of ‘The Hounds of Heaven,’ a book aimed at young readers about environmental activism. He named an important character for his wife of 33 years, Charlotte, right.

‘The Hounds of Heaven” does not begin well for proselytizing Jehovah’s Witnesses who approach the novel’s main character. Grant Parish cusses them out, shoots his powerful Glock pistol into the air and sends them away.

So begins a story about environmental activism and community members coming together, from author Joe Paliani. The manner in which sect members Sally and Kurt forgive the rude man and join his campaign is a core element.

After a career with programs battling poverty in California, Paliani retired to Ocean Park, Washington, and sent himself to work writing plays. Several of these have been performed by Ilwaco based theater troupe the Peninsula Players.

Now, Pailani’s first novel, penned during the past two years of isolation, has come to fruition. According to Paliani, he didn’t intend to write it, but his New York-based publishers categorize it as a young readers’ work.

The story features Parish and his wife Charlotte, named for Paliani’s wife, as they campaign against a wealthy transplant developer who wants to flood their valley and bring jobs and supposed prosperity to their idyllic home in Washington state.

The way they rally the community against the threat, and the role religion plays in this process, forms the centerpiece of the action, which covers 136 pages. The only annoyances for this reader were that the somewhat large type was centered, which made it occasionally awkward to read, as did the varying number of lines on each page. One, for instance has only seven.

‘Decimated’

Paliani’s published letters to the editor in local newspapers have expressed his passion for preserving the environment. In his novel, the plight of salmon on the fictional Keen river in Washington mirrors his fears for the Columbia and Snake rivers.

“It is the end for native salmon, with fish being decimated because of the dams,” Pailani said. “The fish can’t swim up to their natural habitats to mate and spawn.” The Columbia River runs from British Columbia and used to be unimpeded, until dams set in place during the 1930s stropped migration patterns.

“Hydroelectricity is a wonderful thing — if the fish could bypass dams for migration,” he said. Pailani believes that wind and solar power could replace hydroelectric plants. “It is a great interest of mine to save the salmon,” he added.

Comfort

Paliani, 83, said his life has been a spiritual journey. A troubled boyhood, one copied directly for his lead character, created a very strict Catholic young adult, who somewhat lapsed during his brief military service, then developed through much study to late adult contentment, believing all religions should be respected.

The portrayal of Jehovah’s Witness characters in a positive light is one of Paliani’s ways of expressing gratitude. While he is not a member of the faith, he cherishes the comfort they once brought during two health crises, many years apart.

As for the novel, action culminates in a hearing before a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers adjudication panel where passions are laid bare. Another federal agency plays an important role, and the power of prayer is supremely tested.

Torn

One element that makes the novel compelling is the character of the politically connected developer. Horace Rentford is no cookie-cutter evil carpetbagger with deep pockets. Instead, he is scrupulously polite, often reasonable and almost charming. The situation is reminiscent of another North Coast encounter.

Astoria’s 12 year controversy surrounding the use of liquified natural gas, which ended in 2016, perfectly characterized the manner in which a community could be torn between the temptation of promised economic prosperity and environmental threats.

“Mr. Rentford is not a bad person,” Paliani said. “He has billions of dollars to offer to these people who do need a job. He has plans for a hospital and more for the community, but it is going to destroy the lives of people that don’t want their lives changed.”