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Veteran magazine writer Fred Hoctor, a master of the absurd, has not simply written a collection of throwaway stories about a wacky group of expatriates trying to survive the tedium of the world.   He has, tale by tale, with drollery and often-towering humor, built the case for dropping out - specifically, for changing one's venue to Baja California, a last vestige of the Old West, where dropouts seem to be accepted with glee.

Hoctor's outrageous characters range from a bawdy-house madam to a starving artist who is obsessed with painting boulders to look like giant frogs.

Hoctor's skill is most evident when he betrays his love for these larger-than-life personalities, sometimes evoking tears of sorrow through laughter.  Critics agree he is able to look deep into the human condition.

"Hilarious reading"  Arizona Republic

"Baja Haja is devilishly funny, sprinkled with pathos and beautifully written" Lois Horowitz, San Diego Union Tribune

"Exotic, wacko and gentle characters...an hilarious book."  San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner

"Funny, funny stuff"  The Oregonian