After the events of The Longmire Defense, Walt has several challenges facing him. He and Vic are moving in together, which makes it so they have to clAfter the events of The Longmire Defense, Walt has several challenges facing him. He and Vic are moving in together, which makes it so they have to clean out the house. In the basement, Vic finds an old surfboard, which kicks off a lot of memories.
In the present, Walt is dealing with a hearing stirred up by the important people he offended in the last book, and that isn't exactly going smoothly.
Most of the book takes place in the past, as Walt and Henry have finished college and, rather than be drafted, enlisted for the Viet Nam war. They go on a road trip from California to their respective places they've been told to report to. Along the way, they hit the trope of "wandering heroes find corrupt town," this one steeped in history. One of the low points of American history, actually, as Walt and Henry find a forgotten Japanese Interment camp from World War II, and slowly learn the tragic history of the place, and the town.
We jump back and forth between the two eras, and it's interesting to see Walt long before he picked up a badge. I very much enjoyed this, and it was another great addition to a series I really like. ...more
Bronson Powers is a unique man. A former Hollywood stuntman and addict turned devout, if radical, Mormon and homesteader, he left modern society 20 yeBronson Powers is a unique man. A former Hollywood stuntman and addict turned devout, if radical, Mormon and homesteader, he left modern society 20 years ago. Living way off the grid with his multiple wives and the kids from those unions, he keeps to himself and raises his family as he thinks right, guided by his interpretation of the religion he converted to.
Enter Maya Abbadessa, a woman desperate to climb the corporate ladder. While high and driving a stolen car, she finds Bronson an d his family and complications arise, as you might expect. In some twisted convoluted circumstances, one of Bronson's wives and three of his kids join the "civilized" world for a year, with some very high stakes on the outcome. Some thrive. Some fall into bad habits. And then tragedy strikes, coming in waves that keep growing higher until death and fire have their way.
It's an interesting story, but I find myself unable to rate it higher. There aren't necessarily clear cut good guys (with maybe one exception) but the ones who come close to that suffer some harsh losses and tragedy. There are definitely some bad guys, and I really don't like that they seem to come out of this really well. Life is like that, sure. Doesn't mean I want to read about it.
Duchovny is without doubt a talented writer. I just didn't find this story grabbing me as deeply as it could have. The disconnect is likely on my end. ...more
I rarely give five star reviews. This one earned it. The blend of Weird Western, historical fantasy, and just plain fun really won me over.
Talen is aI rarely give five star reviews. This one earned it. The blend of Weird Western, historical fantasy, and just plain fun really won me over.
Talen is a Stalker, someone that hunts down those corrupted by dark magic. She's one of the few surviving elves, slaughtered alongside their Lakota allies when the US Government managed to get the dwarves to help them in a bloody conflict.
When Talen's newest bounty turns out to be something very much out of the ordinary, she finds herself wrapped up in a vast conspiracy that could change the world. Along with a former lover and maker of magical artefacts, a falsely accused woman, and an unlikely airship captain, Talen needs to find out the truth behind a whole new form of dark magic before the world changes for the much worse. Are two guns filled with spells going to be enough?...more
I heard about this series from the Longmire tv show on Netflix. As is often the case, the books were better, and I've been happily reading them since.I heard about this series from the Longmire tv show on Netflix. As is often the case, the books were better, and I've been happily reading them since. This was another great addition to the series.
Walt Longmire has a complicated past, and that's certainly true in this outing. Responding to a call about a lost motorist, Walt finds her, but also an old rifle that ties to a decades old case that has some disturbing implications about part of the Longmire family. Walt, being who he is, starts digging in, meeting some mild difficulties that turn into clear indications that someone doesn't want this sleeping dog roused.
There are attempted murders, political pressure from the state capital, some shady operatives, and a mysterious trust fund among other complications. On the more personal side, Walt spends some time with Cady and Lola, there are some surprising developments with Vic, and the usual looming presence of Henry. Actually, Henry isn't in this one much and I missed him.
Fans of Walt know what he's like and how he's going to react to some of the offers he's made and attitudes he sees. He's an old fashioned man doing the right thing no matter how much easier almost anything else would be.
The strong mysticism that runs through many of these books is absent this time around, which I also missed, but then again, Johnson went heavy on that recently and maybe he and Walt are taking a break.
More modern than most Westerns, this is set in the 1940's or so, post World War II. John Grady Cole is a man slightly out of his time, and when his faMore modern than most Westerns, this is set in the 1940's or so, post World War II. John Grady Cole is a man slightly out of his time, and when his family ranch is sold, the young man takes his horse and his best friend and rides into Mexico, seeking to live the only way he knows how: with his hands, working with horses.
They find work, love, trouble, and corruption south of the border. There's a rich rancher and his family, also his beautiful daughter and clear-seeing aunt; a questionable traveling companion; some good people who will share whatever they have; and some corrupt officials who will take whatever they can.
It's a well written book about a grand adventure. ...more
There's Native in my background, so I'm always interested in learning more. Sadly, with the history of the way White America has treated the Natives, There's Native in my background, so I'm always interested in learning more. Sadly, with the history of the way White America has treated the Natives, it's rarely something happy. I knew a bit about this story, but not many of the details. This was, indeed, far worse than I thought.
The Osage Nation, like most, were moved off their lands and stuck on a reservation. As has happened several times, the "worthless" land they were pushed on to proved to be a lot more valuable when oil was discovered under it. The Osage, for a time, were among the wealthiest people on Earth.
Enter the corrupt white men.
The US Government, because they could, decided that Indians weren't competent to manage their own money unless the government said they were. so various White men were assigned as guardians. They stole, embezzled, and took horrible advantage. But some decided that wasn't enough and began killing their "charges" and the vast conspiracy of businessmen, doctors, lawyers, and outlaws began taking a terrible toll on the Osage population.
Due to incompetence, corruption, and fear, local authorities didn't do a good job investigating. Eventually, the fledgling National Bureau of Investigation was assigned, as the new Director J. Edgar Hoover was remaking the organization into what eventually became the FBI.
This is a true and terrible story, and while I think every American should read it, and more Native history in general, I wonder how many will. And I actually had this picked out to read this year before the movie was being talked about. ...more
If you're only familiar with Longmire from the Netflix series (which was excellent), then there's a component of the books you've missed. There's a stIf you're only familiar with Longmire from the Netflix series (which was excellent), then there's a component of the books you've missed. There's a streak of mysticism throughout the novels from Native culture (mostly Cheyenne, thank you Henry Standing Bear). Hell and Back takes this from a background element to the focus of the entire book.
Starting right where Daughter of the Morning Star ended, Walt Longmire is in completely different territory. Not only has he left Absaroka County, but the state of Wyoming, and, arguably, the real world. behind.
Trapped in a twilight world peopled by hauntingly familiar faces, Walt realizes this isn't a murderer, or a criminal conspiracy, that he's fighting. He has to face some people from his past, and a truly horrific piece of history from one of the Native "boarding schools," as he learns he's in the realm of the Eveohtse-heomese, a monstrous creature from Native myth.
As Walt faces a wholly new threat, Vic and Henry, in the mortal world, search for their missing friend and have their own threats to deal with. While most of the series has been Walt-centric, there are sections of this that are focused on Vic and Henry, and they were really well done.
This series is fantastic, and I love that the author takes such great care with depicting Native, Native culture, and the wide range of people that are modern Indians.
I loved this, but two things going in: you really need to have read the other books to get a lot of what happens, and this particular book is very different from the rest of the series. ...more
The Longmire books are rapidly working their way up in the ranks of my favorite books. The biggest difference between the novels and the tv series (thThe Longmire books are rapidly working their way up in the ranks of my favorite books. The biggest difference between the novels and the tv series (that was far too short) is the mysticism that pervades the books. That plays heavily in this story.
What is a sad but true fact is the utterly disproportionate number of Native Women that go missing every year. Author Craig Johnson makes that part of this story, as Walt Longmire and his best friend Henry Standing Bear are asked to look into threats against a rising basketball star, Jaya Long. Her sister, Jeanie, disappeared roughly a year ago, and a connection seems at least likely.
Walt and Henry are quickly tangled up in a web of high school girls' basketball, missing women, White Supremacy, family drama, and a strange Cheyenne legend that seems to be more and more relevant.
I love these books. The humor is great, Walt is without doubt a hero (although he'd vehemently disagree), Henry is an amazing character, and Johnson weaves together law enforcement, rural Wyoming (although they're out of state most of this story), the plight of the modern Indian, the crippling poverty of the Rez, and the mystical nature of their life.
There are fantastic books, and could be law enforcement, thriller, or modern Western depending on how you'd like to classify them. Strongly recommended and, as I always do, I suggest starting from the beginning....more
Nettie Lonesome is half black, half Indian, and raised as a slave by an abusive couple who barely keep their small ranch together. Her life is mostly Nettie Lonesome is half black, half Indian, and raised as a slave by an abusive couple who barely keep their small ranch together. Her life is mostly misery, and then some stranger shows up who isn't quite what he sees, and he attacks her. With luck and ferocity, Nettie wins, and her world changes. She is now aware that there are things out there that aren't quite human, and has gained the power to sense them.
She leaves the ranch, hiding her identity and her gender, seeking to live a life she's dreamed of. She manages it... for a few days, and then strangeness catches up with her again. Nettie has a journey ahead of her as she tries to discover her place in this world, where she came from, and who and what she is. Aided by Coyote Dan, she ends up meeting up with some unusual people and discovering her destiny, or at least part of it.
This is a great Weird Western, very enjoyable, with some well done characters and world building. I very much enjoyed the book and strongly recommend it. ...more
Walt Longmire is back, dealing with a new mystery. As he tries to recover from his recent adventure in Mexico, Longmire is contemplating a lot of chanWalt Longmire is back, dealing with a new mystery. As he tries to recover from his recent adventure in Mexico, Longmire is contemplating a lot of changes. Then, he gets surprised by a death at the Sailors' and Soldiers' Home. The man who died was a family friend, but the surprising part is the box full of roughly a million dollars.
From there, Longmire ends up dealing with one of the most famous paintings of the American West, the strange world of art collectors, and several mysteries connecting to the painting or the retirement home. Little is what it seems, and Walt, Vic, and Henry Standing Bear have their work cut out for them.
The series has a lot of characters who are well past their younger days, and a few changes sound like their coming down the road. Walt has some decisions to make, and is at a loss for almost everything that isn't crime solving.
Another fantastic adventure in Absaroka County. The mystic element that is in many of the books is sadly not present here, but it was still a great read. ...more
I've read everything by Louis L'Amour, but somehow not the other "king of westerns," Zane Grey. I decided to fix that and give this a whirl.
Deer StalI've read everything by Louis L'Amour, but somehow not the other "king of westerns," Zane Grey. I decided to fix that and give this a whirl.
Deer Stalker is definitely a Western, but it's an unusual one. There are no gun fights, not a lot of attention to horses aside from them being a way to get somewhere, and it's set in the 1920's, so there are cars and trucks. On the plus side, the books lead female character, Patricia, gets a lot of screen time, which many Westerns don't do.
Thad Eburne (horrible name) is a man who left the East to come West and fell in love with the country. He works for the forestry service as a ranger, mostly attending to the huge deer herd in the Buckskin range. But mankind has meddled and killed off all the predators, so the deer population is out of control and starving to death. Thad agrees to go along with a desperate plan to try and save as many of the deer he's come to admire as possible.
Along the way he meets Patricia, another refugee from the East Coast, who came West to get away from a never-identified scandal. She seems to be a very honorable and admirable woman, so I'm not sure what she might have done to get in so much trouble out New York way. Naturally, she and Thad meet and fall in love over the course of the book.
The descriptions of the land, the spirit of the west, and the early theme of conservation are all great. A bit less so are many details we never get filled in. What happened to Pat back east? Who are the forces that oppose the attempt to save the deer, exactly, and why are they so against it? For that matter, what did they do, precisely?
It's an odd book in some regards, and seems to end on a cliffhanger of sorts, but there's no second book. I have to admit, based on an admittedly small sample size, so far I prefer L'Amour. ...more
Deadlands was a unique RPG, set in a very different America. It was the story of the Weird West, not the Wild West, with everything changing from the Deadlands was a unique RPG, set in a very different America. It was the story of the Weird West, not the Wild West, with everything changing from the Civil War forward as strange creatures emerged, dark powers from fairy tales proved to be real, and scientists came up with impossible gadgets.
Grey Torrance, warrior and man seeking redemption, meets Looks Away, a Lakota (more on that later) who has a very unusual story to him. Together, the two journey to Paradise Falls in what used to be California but is now known as the Maze after the land was wracked by a monstrous earthquake.
Grey finds a fascinating woman in Jennie Pearl, daughter of Lucky Bob Pearl, hero of the town who has been missing for far too long. Jennie, Grey, and Looks Away probe into the strange dealings of the madman Deray and the local crooked rich man Nolan Chesterfield.
What they find is more horrible than they expected, even in a world of real monsters. Can they save the town, stem the tide of evil, and deal with the chaos from ever-progressing Weird Science?
It's a fun story based on a game I loved to play. The only drawbacks were, I think, mandated by the company, not the author. There were a few more modern terms than felt right for the period. The Lakota prefer to be called their own name, not the "Sioux" label hung on them by the French. And there were a few tiny bits of repetition that were a bit odd, like rifles, when dropped, always spinning through air and landing barrel-down in mud.
It's a fun read, whether or not you've played the game. And now I want to play again. ...more
While the series continues after this book, Blue-Eyed Devil is Parker's last piece of it due to his untimely death. For a writer, it was one of the beWhile the series continues after this book, Blue-Eyed Devil is Parker's last piece of it due to his untimely death. For a writer, it was one of the best ways to go imaginable: he died at his writing desk. Parker left behind several series, and the Western adventures of Cole & Hitch was the newest and most different from his other, modern-era works. I always wondered if this was the same world as the Spenser books, and I don't know that the question has ever been answered.
Cole and Hitch return to Appaloosa, the scene of their first adventure (which was made into a pretty good movie). It's a classic Western with Parker's fantastic style and action. The main story revolves around the Old West trope of "This town ain't big enough..." Our heroes hire on as security at a local saloon, since the sheriff isn't really doing his job. The man with the badge has ideas about his future, and he isn't too picky about what happens to people along the way.
Cole and Hitch, and a few other returning faces, end up going up against the very ambitious lawman and his crew in a fight for the town. As usual, if the bad guys had left our heroes alone, they'd probably have done ok, and they just weren't smart enough to do that. Cole and Hitch have impressive reputations at this point, and they are well-earned. It's great seeing them in action again.
A damn good addition to a great Western series. If you're a fan of six-guns and horses, you really need to read these books. ...more
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