Marshal of Medicine Lodge: A Merlin Fanshaw Western

by Stan Lynde

Book Overview

Montana Territory, 1886 ?The last thing this territory needs is Indian trouble, or a bunch of nervous settlers demanding protection by the Army. As United States Marshal for the territory, I figure to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595669875
• ISBN13: 9780595669875
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Takes you back to a different era

Stan Lynde's book "Marshal of Medicine Lodge" is a winner! I tend to be one of those that finds only small cracks of time for recreational reading. When I do have time this genre ranks pretty low on my priority list. However, after reading Mr. Lynde's book "Vigilante Moon", this book was a "must read" as soon as I saw it. I enjoyed the carefully crafted dry humor as well as the colorful descriptions that took me back to Montana, to a day gone by. Mr. Lynde has a unique gift in creating real, living characters. Character's that live and breath, have feelings and motivations and wrestle with the tough moral decisions that face all of us. This is a captivating novel that leaves you rooting for the good guys and booing the bad guys. It will refresh your spirit and leave you pondering a day gone by. I highly recommend!

more than just a western

Based on Stan Lynde's prior work, I expected humor. I expected a moral theme - and I wasn't disappointed. What surprised, and delighted, however, was the depth of insight, poetry, and philosophical understanding woven underneath the obvious. Mr. Lynde writes, "The music sobbed and stormed; it spoke of heartbreak and hurt, of injustice and grief; and it shouted in protest even when it whispered. At last the music slowed, faded, and died. In the shadow beneath my hat brim, my eyes were wet." "Remorse comes easy. All a man has to do is hurt himself bad enough." "Preacher man I met one time said man's pursuit of justice was one proof that God exists. Said all people everywhere are born believing life should be fair. But why do they think so? They sure don't get the idea from the way things are in this world." And humor: "Marshall Ridgeway was so pleased with the way I'd performed my duties it was all he could do to keep from telling me so." If you have been looking for a book that touches your heart and engages your mind without tainting your spirit - this is a book for you.

A wonderful western without the usual cliches

Mr. Lynde has crafted a wonderful story chock full of fully realized and believable characters. The hero of the tale Merlin Fanshaw grows and changes during the course of his adventure and is older, wiser but also less innocent by the story's end. The detail and accuracy about the old west in the book reflects Mr. Lynde's vast knowledge about the area and the era. This is one of the best westerns that I've ever read and one of the best books of any genre that I've read in quite a while. Highly recommended.