Many of his stories are related to the history of California (or some other place). Often he brings up conflicts from the Spanish and the Mexican era.

Moaning Cave - Historical background: The Mexican-American war. A Mexican Spaniard fighting against the American conquers. An old "Spanish" farm with problems.

Laughing Shadow - Historical background: Spanish conquers/settlers and the Indian Chumash-tribe. The indians were principally friendly, but there were a few rebels in the mountains. Most of the Chumash were exterminated.

Phantom Lake - Historical background: Ships, foreign trade and pirates in the 19^th century.

Dancing Devil - Historical background: Mongolian history, religion and culture. Also relations between The US and China.

Headless horse - Historical background: Spanish conquerors, Cortéz and his sword. Also the Mexican-American war. The Spaniards took the land from the indians and then the Americans took the land from the Spaniards (a simplification). An old "Spanish-Mexican" farm with problems.

Deadly Double - Historical background: European imperialism in Africa.

Shark Reef - Historical background: A submarine from the second world war.

Purple Pirate - Historical background: War between Argentina (which had declared its independence from Spain in 1816) and Spain. The Pirate-history of California.

Wreckers´ Rock - Historical background: The history of the Ragnarson family and their forefather Knut Ragnarson who arrived to California 1849 (the same year as the goldrush began). He was a shoemaker during the goldrush and survived a shipwreck.

The history of California