THE GUNSMITH #360
By J.R. Roberts
Jove, December 2011
When Clint Adams receives a summons to appear before Grover
Cleveland, he makes his way to Washington post-haste. After all, the Gunsmith
is a man loyal to his leader and his country. At the White House, the president
asks Clint to take on a job: bodyguard for famed scientist Nikola Tesla.
Tesla’s revolutionary research in electricity has caused
some to call him a mad scientist, and it seems someone wants to put an end to
his experiments. Clint heads to Colorado to meet up with Tesla, but it soon
becomes clear that keeping the eccentric scientist out of trouble will be no
easier than harnessing a bolt of lightning…
Right from the very beginning of this series the Gunsmith
books have regularly featured real people. I’ve always enjoyed this and have
often waited for each new book wondering if another would appear in it, and who
it would be. Of course there have been many appearances by people who have
guest starred in a variety of western books but it’s the less expected people that
for me makes this one of the best series around that uses real historical characters,
like Tesla in this one (another that has always stood out to me is #183: The
Flying Machine – which sees The Gunsmith getting involved with the young Wright
brothers).
The story moves fast and is told from a variety of
viewpoints, even that of a mountain lion – this animal being just one of those
hunting Adams and Tesla - this big cat being used effectively as misdirection
at one point.
There’s plenty of action, of more than one kind – remember
this is an adult series – lots of great dialogue, and a humorous scene near the
beginning involving Tesla and a girl.
I’ve always found The Gunsmith books to be very easy to read
and read this one in two sittings, finishing it with a feeling of having been well
entertained, and wanting to start another straight away. Fans of The Gunsmith
should make sure they don’t miss this one, as should readers who enjoy
fictional books containing real people.
3 comments:
Great review - book also sounds very interesting!
Good review. You tell readers what you like about the book and what they can expect to find in it. Also what makes it distinctive. So many reviewers just do an enthusiastic sales job focusing on the plot.
I also enjoy books with historical figures.
Thanks much for the review, Steve. Appreciate it. The book was fun to write.
RJR
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