Definitely a good one/Also: Swamp Foxes and The Commanche's Woman
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
This is a great Slocum by any measure. The writing is excellent, the plot not overly involved, the characterization dead on. It also incorporates a lot of history, from the time just after Custer's defeat, involving the Sioux and Cheyenne. Also, it takes up just after Slocum has lost his wife (a Blackfeet Indian) and his one year old daughter to smallpox. The story is about revenge and renewal--Slocum's attempt to find the man who sold the blankets which gave the smallpox to his wife and daughter, and his attempt to restore himself to the tragedy and loss. Many of the scenes are poignant, descriptive, and just well-crafted in general. Perhaps not what you expect from an 'adult western.' But this one certainly defies expectations. Some scenes, however, are good-natured fun to read, which adds a little levity to anotherwise serious read. Highly recommended. * From the back cover: Slocum's promise to a dying man spell big trouble. The man's wife and daughter are marooned deep in Indian country--and the Dakota Territory is under siege by blood-crazed, rampaging Sioux. If anybody can get them out, Slocum can. But dealing with Laura Duffy and her luscious, overripe daughter Opal is taking Slocum's mind off more important things--like the 3000 outraged Sioux warriors on their trail. Here's review for two other books in the Slocum series: SWAMP FOXES **** Swamp Foxes is a rarity in the Slocum series in that after a brief chapter or two in Texas, the rest of the action takes place in central Florida. So, technically it's not much of a western with the exception that you have Slocum himself transplanted as such. And he's none too happy about it either, as he lets you know it time and time again how much he misses the drier air of the West and how he hates the humidity and mosquitoes and such. Not that our boy Slocum is wimping out on us--he certainly doesn't in this book. It's just that the writing becomes a little repetitious as such and it almost seems like he's whining too much. Any way, enough of that. What's not so good about this Slocum is the plot. He escapes from some men onto a boat that goes to Florida. There, he impresses a young man, Boyd Calder, who gets his pap to hire on Slocum so that Slocum can raise enough money to get back to the West where he belongs. Of course, there's a sister and things get pretty wild there. Then one day while out herding cattle, Slocum gets jumped by this group of squatters who work for Miss Elizabeth Ashford, the inheritor of a spread that is going under because of a range war with the Calders. Soon, Slocum is spending his time (and nights) between the two homes. And that's really about it for plot. One could argue that all of the sex that goes on is more of a plot than the story. The writing is good (not great), and Slocum is certainly at his ornery best in Swamp Foxes. However, the weak plot and the Florida setting really take a lot away from this one. **** Best line: A man finds himself in odd and som
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