Kinzua State

Kinzua State: Seiche is a fictional story that depicts the struggles of long-term mental patients as they wrestle with their afflictions and effects of institutionalization. It is a tale filled with improbable occurrences, deviant doctors, disasters, acts of mercy, poetry, and human tenderness. Narrated by the hospital psychologist, Dr. Masonheimer, the story opens with a patient's night dream that portends the coming of a spiritual Fire Beast that will mysteriously bring justice to a broken Indian treaty. As Masonheimer goes about his business of focusing on different patient problems, he unknowingly finds himself in peril when the Fire Beast seemingly manifests itself as a man-made object that threatens to destroy the hospital. When one disaster is averted another follows. Sensibly written for both young and experienced readers, Seiche counters mass media stereotypes by portraying the courageous and humanistic sides of patients as they strive to overcome their illnesses and regain their self-determination.