Snakey Joe Post, Guardian of the Treasure

by Richard Lapidus

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971375852
• ISBN13: 9780971375857
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Talei Publishers
• Length: 296 Pages

Customer Reviews

Blood & Thunder, Mystical Twists

This is a Wild West story that travels like a snake through genuine history, seemingly wriggling this way and that but all the time moving straight ahead, and fast. Where it's headed is Tombstone Territory, home of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, Johnny Ringo and a cast of dozens of desperadoes, heroes, hookers and wild critters. What's happening in the Territory is a countdown, starting off with a nasty outlaw gang that's more a small army, slowly but surely killed off as they lived -- by the gun. But these are the baddest of the bad; you might be betting on hero Snakey Joe in each new confrontation, but you sure have to wonder if he's going to come out of the next one alive. As much as it's a Western in the classic sense, rich in history, legendary characters and sudden death, it's also a mystical tale offering visions that will abide long after the book's put down. Tall tales and legends spring from truth, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn there really was a Snakey Joe sort of character in the Old West, a mystic warrior in down-to-earth farmer's overalls. The story is told in snapshots that keep you asking: "What happens next?" It's a pleasant surprise as you read along and the vignettes start adding up to the big picture. And what's the big picture? If the average western is simple good versus evil, this one's a cut above. Yes, it's good versus evil, but further defined as natural morality against ruthless greed. It may be set in the past but there are lessons here you can take to the bank, if your bank's still in business. A lot of writers tell too much, as though they believe the imaginative movie screen of our minds has gone dark. You won't have that problem with Snakey. The writing is clear and spare. But don't think that's the same as saying it's plain vanilla; it's heavily spiced with rough-and-tumble figures of speech and cowboy banter. On top of that, there's a few servings of nature lore that'll make you feel more at home next time your lost in desert country. You won't often find a comment in a review about how the book looks, but in this case something's got to be said. I don't think you'll see many passed-around, dog-eared copies of Snakey Joe. The cover is truly as classy as they come, an instant collector's item. When your ol' pard wants to borrow it, I'm betting you'll tell him "Get your own." With that work-of-art cover slapped around a memorable, page-turner yarn, you've got yourself a keeper.