RAVEN MOCKER

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA

Book 27 of 29 + three Super editions

By Don Coldsmith

Cover art by Tom Hall

Bantam Books, July 2002

Demon…or Healer?

For years Snakewater, the aging medicine woman of Old Town, has been respected – and feared – by her Cherokee village. Now, as a series of mysterious deaths plagues her village, she finds herself accused of being a Raven Mocker, the legendary creature of evil that steals life from its victims in its relentless quest for immortality. Driven from her people, Snakewater journeys west for the first time with a traveling band to the Cherokee settlements far beyond the Mississippi.

Her trail will be one of perilous discovery. Accepted by a culture new to her, admired and loved by its children, she finds herself feeling more vibrant and youthful. But is her newfound vigor a gift from the spirits…or a sign that her people were right, that she is a life-stealing Raven Mocker? As the annual Sun Dance approaches, Snakewater will learn the fateful truth about herself and the unexplained deaths – a surprising revelation that will confirm her new life…or destroy it.

In this book Don Coldsmith moves away from telling a story about his fictional tribe and spins an intriguing and captivating tale of an old Cherokee woman set circa 1800, who is accused of being a mythical Raven Mocker. Coldsmith explains that this evil spirit steals the life breath of the dying and adds their unlived years to its own life. Coldsmith never mentions the missing hearts that legend says this creature harvests without leaving a mark on the body.

Seeing Snakewater struggle with the horror of whether she could be a Raven Mocker without knowing is the main storyline. Coldsmith also includes other spiritual elements, as he does in many of the book in the Spanish Bit series, and one of the unseen Little People has a major role to play in this story too.

Once Snakewater decides to leave her Cherokee home, the story becomes much more familiar to fans of this series. It turns into a tale of discovery, of meeting new peoples and learning their ways. Unknown to Snakewater there are people on her trail seeking revenge for the deaths of their loved ones. Eventually Snakewater meets up with the Elk-Dog People, Coldsmith’s tribe that has been followed throughout all the previous books, and it is with them that she will finally face her demons, real or imagined. 

As usual Don Coldsmith captures emotions superbly, be they joy, wonder, fear or hate. His dialogue is believable and descriptions of time and place are beautifully told. Even if you are sceptical about the supernatural elements of this tale, Coldsmith will make you a believer, such is the power of his prose. 

In Raven Mocker, Don Coldsmith again proves that he was up there with the very best writers of fiction and, for me and many others, his work is unmissable.

I feel I must mention the artwork fronting this book. Tom Hall’s covers to the entire series are wonderful but his painting on Raven Mocker must rank as one of his very best. The careful thought-out placement of items within the image lit by the fire to cast the giant shadow of a raven is terrific and captures the mood of this story superbly.

Note: Wolfpack Publishing have recently begun republishing the complete series.

THE LOST BAND

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA

Book 26 of 29 + three special editions

By Don Coldsmith

Cover art by Tom Hall

Bantam, April 2001

For the Forest Band of the People, summer is a peaceful time of hunting and gathering. But when a band of Shaved-heads brutally attack, the People’s women and children are carried off into slavery. Most accept their fate, but one of the captives, the courageous widow White Moon, vows to keep the traditions of the band alive until the day the survivors can be reunited with the People. Her dream will inspire many of her tribe as they struggle to preserve their culture: a young hunter and his loyal wife, a troubled warrior on a vision quest, an aged storyteller, a wily trader – until at last the special child is born who is destined to lead the Forest Band back to its rightful place in the Great Council of the People.

A sweeping story that covers generations, even reaching further back into the past than before the first book in the series began as Don Coldsmith finally reveals what happened to the band that should occupy the empty place at the Council fire.

Coldsmith divides the book into four parts, each following a different person as the survivors of the Forest Band’s ancestors try to keep traditions alive, in secret as they often don’t know who they can trust, especially those originally taken by the Shaved-heads. Even though many want to find the People themselves there are a variety of reasons they cannot do so; the birth of children and not knowing where to find the People being a couple of those problems.

The lives of the four main characters, White Moon, Striker, Stumbling Bear and Story Keeper, are fascinating to read. Each is very different to the others but linked by the desire to keep their bloodline hidden and to be reunited with the People. I always thought Coldsmith was extremely good at character studies and they are as strong in this tale as they are in any other book in this tremendous series. Hope, expectation, wonder, happiness, love, fear, anguish, hate and sadness, mould the lead characters as they grow. As a reader I often found myself sharing their emotions as I was captured by the magic of their decades long quest.

Right at the beginning of the book Coldsmith lets the reader know that the Forest Band will return to the People, and the scenes of amazement when Story Keeper arrives at the Sun Dance and announces who he is captured my imagination immediately and I was hooked. I just had to discover what had happened to the Forest Band and the story proved to be just as good as I hoped it would be.

Medicine Hat

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA #25

By Don Coldsmith

Bantam, February 1998

Original hardback edition published 1997

Pipe Bearer, a young holy man of the Elk-dog People, dreams of a powerful sign: a horse with curious markings on his ears and head, resembling the medicine hat of a holy man. But he cannot interpret the mysterious dream. When one of his mares foals a colt with the same markings, he undertakes a quest to the lands of the Lakota and the Pawnee to learn more about this sacred event.

Joining another pair of travelers, Pipe Bearer and his wife, Otter Woman, will pass through places of great power and inexpressible evil. On the long trek, they will experience great joy and terrible tragedy. And gradually they will discover the spirits’ true purpose for their quest….

Don Coldsmith tells this story in the first person, but not just through one character, but two. These are Pipe Bearer and Otter Woman. The narrative switches between them often and the reader will feel like they are part of the group Pipe Bearer and Otter Woman are telling their tale to. Both storytellers go off on an occasional tangent which adds depth to their character, and they often exchange banter that contains humorous observations about many things, especially how women trick their men into believing they make all the decisions about their life path.

As well as being a quest to find out more about the Medicine Hat horse, this is a tale of discovery, both in land and people. Comparisons between the Lakota way of life and that of the Elk-dog People provide fascination and revelations that cause much consideration. Without spoiling anything, I will add that the wonder of the changing landscape is extremely well told, and the reader will easily recognize places Pipe Bearer and Otter Woman see for the first time. Origin stories of how these places came to be add welcome, enchanting, elements to this captivating tale.

I’ve often felt that Coldsmith was gifted in his ability to describe human emotion, and this story is packed with that. Wonder, confusion, love, fear and heartache beautifully told so that the reader shares these feelings with the characters, making you care about them, and, when tragedy does strike the reader will experience their pain too.

Whilst not the most action-packed book in this series, it is still a gripping and appealing story, one that all fans of The Spanish Bit Saga novels will certainly enjoy reading.      

Bearer of the Pipe

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA #24

By Don Coldsmith

Paperback edition, Bantam, March 1996

From his auspicious birth, Wolf Pup has demonstrated an instinct for the ways of the wild. Yet it is in the lodge of his grandfather Singing Wolf that he seeks his true calling: medicine man and future bearer of the story skins, the pipe, and the sacred Spanish bit. But before he can claim his destiny Wolf Pup must undertake a perilous vision quest. He must learn to see through the eyes of the deer, soar with the red-tailed hawk, sit coiled with the snake in the grass. Then a whirlwind of terror, an instant of destruction, will leave his village in ruins and chase the life-giving herds of buffalo across the horizon and beyond the People’s reach. Suddenly Wolf Pup discovers the burden of being Pipe Bearer may require the most profound and painful sacrifice of all.

As this is a generational saga it comes as no surprise that Don Coldsmith has to return to similar themes in some of the entries to this superb series. Here it’s the vision quests and the calling of a medicine man. Coldsmith tells this kind of tale so well, confusing both his characters and readers with the true meaning of these vision quests and only revealing the truth when he is good and ready.

Wolf Pup has a distraction though, a girl he hoped to marry someday is courting another, so jealously is an emotion to cope with, something that Pup struggles with. These feelings beautifully written and make Wolf Pup so very human.

Don Coldsmith also describes events in such a way that you’ll feel you are sharing the dangers, excitement and wonders with his characters. The whirlwind build up and destructive force being one of the highlights.

As I said the story may revisit certain themes we’ve read about in this series before, but Coldsmith combines them with new elements that makes the tale seem fresh and new making this a worthy entry into what has to be one of the best, if not the best, series written about the native Americans.

Child of the Dead

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA #23

By Don Coldsmith

Bantam, September 1995

First published by Doubleday, February 1995

It is the time of the annual Sun Dance, but this year the celebration is marred by sadness. On the trail south, the holy man Singing Wolf makes a terrible discovery: an entire village destroyed by the dreaded poch, the spotted death. There is only one survivor, a young girl called Gray Mouse. For the good of the tribe, Singing Wolf knows they must leave the girl behind. Yet the aged and grieving Running Deer will stay behind to care for Gray Mouse. Seeking to join her departed husband and daughter, Running Deer will instead discover a new reason to live as she nurses Gray Mouse to health. Together the old woman and the young girl will begin an extraordinary quest to re-join the People, bearing a powerful vision of courage, hope, and survival.

There is much to admire in Don Coldsmith’s writing of this book. His observations of heart-break, despair, the uselessness of old-age, the humour in not giving a damn how the younger generation see the antics of the elderly, the human spirit to survive, and the power of hope, to name but a few of the feelings that Coldsmith brings to life in such a way you’ll find yourself sharing these emotions with his beautifully crafted characters.

Singing Wolf must also wrestle with the question of how to fight a killer you cannot see, that can strike at any moment without warning.

Don Coldsmith splits this story into three parts. The first dealing with the horror of smallpox; the second the battle to survive the disease and that of Running Deer and Gray Mouses’ trek to find the survivors; and the third part that sees a jump forward of ten years, bringing new heartache for Gray Mouse as she struggles to find out who she is. This takes her on a dangerous trail of self-discovery that could lead to her death at the hands of a tribe first met in an earlier novel in the series; Bride of the Morning Star.

In conclusion this is another excellent entry in this first class series.

Track of the Bear

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA #22

By Don Coldsmith

Bantam, January 1995

First published by Doubleday, May 1994

For as long as anyone can remember, the People have had a sacred Covenant with their brother Bear. Now, without warning, the bond has been shattered as a bear stalks the People on their annual trip to summer council. Fearing the bear is an evil spirit in disguise, Singing Wolf knows he must take matters into his own hands – even if it means breaking the Covenant, wresting power from his father, holy man Walks in the Sun, and alienating his beloved Rain. But as Singing Wolf and Walks in the Sun each struggle to understand the broken Covenant, their crisis foretells an even greater challenge facing the People – both from within and without.

Once again Don Coldsmith’s exceptional ability to write a gripping tale shines through in this story of the struggle to understand spiritual beliefs. The question of why the bear has begun killing the People needs an answer before they can begin to plan how to stop the animal without destroying it and thus giving a death sentence to the creatures’ killer.

Amid the beautiful described landscapes and seasonal change Coldsmith really does capture the frustrations of lack of understanding that twists the soul of Singing Wolf and those he confides in. You’ll share those torments with the People as Coldsmith’s words captivate your imagination, you’ll feel their sorrow as the death count mounts, you’ll find yourself wondering just how this bear, that never shows itself except to those it kills, can possibly be stopped without bringing even greater tragedy down on the People.

Coldsmith solves the problem in an obvious yet unpredictable way that both shocks and surprises. Followers of the series will definitely feel the pain that this conclusion brings to the People, making this book a not to be missed read in the series.

It’s been a while since I read a Spanish Bit novel and this one has left me very eager to read the next in the series as soon as possible.

Thunderstick

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA #21

By Don Coldsmith

Bantam, April 1994

Originally published by Doubleday, June 1993

Singing Wolf has reached his seventeenth summer, and the time has come to prove himself as a hunter…and a lover. But Singing Wolf has a rival in the hunt for buffalo and in the courtship of the beautiful woman called Rain. He is a handsome stranger from the eastern band of the People, and he has brought a weapon of extraordinary power, magic, and danger: the Thunderstick. Their enemies already have the death-dealing muskets, and if the People are to survive they must have them, too. To learn the way of the Thunderstick, Singing Wolf must overcome his jealousy and accept the teaching of White Feathers…even as their love for the same woman threatens to destroy them and their clans.

Many of the previous Spanish Bit Saga books have dealt with discovery of new lands and people, this entry in this superb series changes direction a little as this is a tale of acceptance of new ways that revolve around the Thunderstick.

Don Coldsmith fills his story with wonderful imagery, of awe for this new weapon and the fear of not having any of these muskets meaning the People could become easy prey for those who do. So the whole of the band set out to trade for these weapons and in doing so will discover that there are many new things being produced that will change their way of life in the near future such as metal traps for instance.

Most of the story is told through Singing Wolf, a much troubled young man who battles to hate White Feathers, a man he finds admirable but is intensely jealous of as Rain seems to welcome his advances. The situation isn’t helped when Wolf finds himself in debt to White Feathers.

There are a number of tense situations such as Wolf’s near death during a buffalo hunt, and later, the mistrust of the intentions of a band of strangers who become unwelcome guests of the People.

I found this to be a great entry into the series, an easy read that left me eager for more, so I guess I’ll be picking up the next book very soon.

Walks in the Sun

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA #20

By Don Coldsmith

Bantam paperback, November 1993

Originally published in hardback, April 1992

Twelve brave young men set out, led by the indomitable Blue Jay, seeking a better wintering land to the mysterious south. But the quest becomes an obsession that plunges the men – and the beautiful, enigmatic woman who joins them – into a lush, deadly forest inhabited by great spotted cats and “thunder lizards,” against a man-eating people near the sea, and to a highland realm where human sacrifice are performed on a man-made mountain.

To the young holy man Walks in the Sun, the journey is a test of his vision and his skill at casting the bones. For as he and his comrades face death, disease, and loss, they fight for survival – and a return to the People.

Like most of the previous books in the series this one is also about discovery, wonders that can also fill the mind with mistrust and fear, be they new lands, unknown people or creatures. Don Coldsmith was a master at capturing these feelings in the written word, making the reader share these moments as if they were there too. A perfect example of this is when Blue Jay and his band camp on the beach and fear they have angered the sea Gods as the water slowly creeps further and further up the sand as if to sweep them away.

Right from the start the reader knows that most of the band doesn’t return from this journey and Coldsmith’s superb storytelling reaches out and grabs the imagination as the reader becomes one of those in the audience listening to Walks in the Sun’s emotionally charged description of the joys and sadness the band endures as their trail takes them much further south than intended.

This really is a beautifully told story that for me has become one of my favourites in this wonderful series so far.

Bride of the Morning Star

THE SPANISH BIT SAGA #19:

By Don Coldsmith

Bantam edition, May 1993

Bear Paws of the Elk-dog People married into the Pawnee Nation and adopted their rituals and customs as his own. But when they abduct a young maiden of the People, he is torn between past ties and loyalty to his new wife’s tribe. His dilemma is complicated by the secret arrival of his old ally Tall Bull, who has come to rescue his beloved Calling Bird – with or without Bear Paw’s help. Both realize that the Pawnee have already chosen her to be the bride of their most powerful god, the Morning Star, and at the end of the ceremony she must die….

Set about five years after the previous book in the series, Return of the Spanish, this story tells of Bear Paws struggles to accept some the traditions of the Pawnee, which in turn put a strain on his marriage and will, perhaps, bring about its end. The main problem that Bear Paws has to deal with is human sacrifice. In an author’s note at the beginning of the book Don Coldsmith tells of how this element of the story is based on fact and events in his story are similar to what happened to the Piegan girl, Lance Woman, that took place in 1856 and is said to be the last attempt by the Pawnee to carry out this traditional sacrifice to the Morning Star.

Don Coldsmith writes a gripping story that becomes a race against time. Characters are beautifully depicted and I soon found myself wondering if Bear Paw would be able to save Calling Bird, even with the help of Spotted Cat, a warrior of the People, who it is said can make himself invisible. Superbly paced, I found this book impossible to put down and all too soon found I had reached the end, and once more find myself eager to read the next book in the series.

Mention must be made of artist Tom Hall who really does capture the mood of the story well with his cover painting right down to colour and style of clothing and shape of the red crosses, along with the different coloured cross poles of the ladder behind the figures. Quite simply an excellent cover painting to front a top class book.

The Spanish Bit Saga #18

RETURN OF THE SPANISH

By Don Coldsmith

Bantam, January 1993

Originally published by Doubleday, May 1991

Strong Bow was famous for his proficiency with all the weapons in the People’s arsenal. His long muscles could propel an arrow with deadly accuracy into a buffalo, a tree stump, or a lizard’s eye. But the young brave was eager to prove his skill on his people’s enemies and to capture the highest glory – death in battle. In the summer of 1720, the Spanish would give him his chance against the French and their relentless Pawnee allies. But as Strong Bow will soon discover, the price of pursuing the warrior’s way can be even greater than death….

Like many of the books in this excellent series this tale is about the discoveries of new lands and the people that inhabit them, but this time Don Coldsmith adds the fear of mistrust. This latter is mainly brought about by the language barrier as few of the different tribes, and the Spanish, are able to talk to each other and even less are able to speak with sign language. Body language and actions are misinterpreted and this, mixed with arrogance, gives the whole story a sense of tension that makes for gripping reading.

Strong Bow makes for an engaging hero and you’ll soon be wondering how he’ll come out of this in one piece, particularly after the Pawnees capture him. (The cover painting by Tom Hall superbly illustrating a scene from this part of the book)

How Strong Bow is saved from instant death is beautifully thought out but this doesn’t mean he is free, the shadow of death still hangs over him. Coldsmith creates a wonderful group of characters that each want to deal with Strong Bow in their own ways, each held to a stalemate by the others. Strong Bow is eager to escape and gets his chance…. but I won’t reveal more as this will certainly spoil the book for anyone intending to read it.

Don Coldsmith ends the story with a question that I can only hope is answered in the next book. In fact this question had me reaching for the next novel immediately….

Return of the Spanish is another story that shows why this series is held in such high regard by so many.

Law of the Gun

Edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Russell Davis

Pinnacle, November 2010

It’s an American icon: the Western shootist, living by skill, courage and a willingness to spit in death’s eye. Now, the greatest names in Western literature turn this mythical character upside down, inside out and every way but loose…

Law of the Gun is about journeys, vendettas, standoffs, and legends that end – or sometimes just begin – with the roar of a gun…

Contents:

The Trouble with Dudes by Johnny D. Boggs

Uncle Jeff and the Gunfighter by Elmer Kelton

The Devil Doesn’t Sleep by Deborah Morgan

Destiny’s Gun by Jory Sherman

As Good as the Bad by Ken Hodgson

Inferno by William W. Johnstone, with J.A. Johnstone

Waiting for Mr. Griffith by Tom Carpenter

The First Ride of Monday Happenstance by Russell Davis

Ricochet by Don Coldsmith

Bounty Hunter by John Duncklee

The Wanted Man by Rita Cleary

Dead Man Riding to Tombstone by Andrew J. Fenady

Hap by John D. Nesbitt

Gunfighter’s Lament by Ellen Recknor

Shootout at White Pass by John Jakes

The Long High Noon by Loren D. Estleman

The Two-bit Kill by C. Courtney Joyner

For me, this anthology is filled with tales by a terrific selection of authors, making it virtually impossible to say which story I liked best. If pushed I’d probably choose Loren D. Estleman’s tale, the length of time the story takes place over giving it that little extra appeal. Ask me tomorrow and I’d more than likely single out a different story. Yes, there are a couple I didn’t like as much, but that is to be expected when reading such collections. I’ve read most of these authors before, and of the two I hadn’t, one will certainly have me checking out more of their stories as soon as possible.

Fans of William W. Johnstone / J.A. Johnstone Last Gunfighter stories will be pleased to find that Inferno stars Frank Morgan in a tale set before the first book in that series, The Drifter.

Law of the Gun is definitely a great way to introduce yourself to authors that may be new to you, and for those already familiar with them, make sure you pick up a copy of this book as it contains some excellent stories you won’t want to miss.

The Spanish Bit Saga #17

QUEST FOR THE WHITE BULL

By Don Coldsmith

Bantam Domain, August 1992

Doubleday first edition, November 1990

This spring the annual Sun Dance is without joy. The buffalo – upon which the People depend for their survival – have not returned with the greening of the grasses. While the holy men gather to find a way to bring back the herds, Red Horse, a young medicine man of the People, consults the Story Skins and is granted an extraordinary vision of a majestic white buffalo. Joined by Digging Owl, a medicine man from the Southern Plains, Red Horse sets out on a wondrous and perilous quest in search of the legendary beast – a quest for survival from which, it is prophesied, one of the two friends will not return.

Don Coldsmith continues his saga of his fictional tribe by exploring the devastating effects the disappearance of the buffalo would have on them. He creates a great sense of worry through his characters mainly through the desperate hunt of Red Horse to find the white buffalo of his vision.

Red Horse must travel through new lands, deal with people from unknown tribes, and work with Digging Owl to fulfil his quest. Coldmith creates a wonderful friendship between these two, a friendship that is built on a backbone of mistrust, neither wanting to admit why they are tracking the buffalo. Both have different agendas, both wanting it to end differently, both fearing it could mean having to face each other in conflict.

I did feel it a shame that Don Coldsmith has Red Horse confront two separate trios that are made up of the same type of people, one who wants to kill Red Horse and the other two ready to listen. Both encounters are resolved in similar ways too.

By far the best meeting is with an old woman who lives in the middle of nowhere, a woman who prophesises the death of either Red Horse or Digging Owl. In her, Coldsmith has created a very memorable character, one I’d like to read more about. Maybe I will as the series progresses.

The discovery of the buffalo leads to dramatic and very visual scenes that brings everything to its inevitable conclusion and left me eager to read the next book in the series.

The Spanish Bit Saga #16

FORT DE CHASTAIGNE

by Don Coldsmith

Bantam, December 1991

Wise old medicine man, White Fox, and his impressionable son, Red Horse, have agreed to guide Captain LeFever of Fort de Chastaigne to Santa Fe, in his quest to establish trade relations between the French and the Spanish. But their destination proves to be an elusive one; Baptiste DuBois, the vicious leader of a band of voyageurs, joins the expedition and cruelly assaults a Mandan woman, trapping LeFever and the People of the plains in the middle of an unwanted blood feud. For young Red Horse, the voyage downriver becomes a journey to manhood as he confronts treachery, passion, and greed that inflame the heart and imperil the survival of his people.

Don Coldsmith, once more, writes a fascinating book about his fictional band of the People and their struggles to come to terms with the ways of other people, here the French. Most of this is seen through the eyes of Red Horse, particularly after he’s witness to murder. Red Horse, too, must try to understand the complexities of women, which lead to some heart rendering discoveries.

One of my favourite parts of this book was when the People first lay eyes on a black man. Why would somebody paint his whole body they wonder?

Like many of the Spanish Bit books this is mainly a tale of discovery, both of people and land. Coldsmith’s writing style has you sharing that wonder, the fear and the horror of sudden violence.

To say more would give away too much of the plot, and again I will say that if you have an interest in the Indian way of life – or are just looking for a good read – then this book is worth hunting out.

Don Coldsmith R.I.P

I'm sad to report that Don Coldsmith passed away yesterday. I've always been a big fan of his work, particularly his Spanish Bit Saga series. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

The Spanish Bit Saga #15

SONG OF THE ROCK

by Don Coldsmith

Bantam, July 1991

original Doubleday, Sept. 1989

Choosing the eerie Medicine Rock as the location for his vision quest, White Fox seeks guidance for the destiny of the People through the ancient practices of fasting and meditation – and receives a strange omen of evil instead. On the way back to his tribe he discovers the corpse of a warrior laid out for burial, and when he stops to investigate he is set upon by a beautiful female attacker who disappears without a trace. Haunted by her memory and his own dark visions, White Fox finds himself strangely drawn back to Medicine Rock – and to the aid of his mysterious enemy, who battles a greater evil than his people have ever known.

Don Coldsmith presents the reader with a beautifully written book. A story that starts gently but has enough subtle hooks to snag the readers imagination to ensure they read further. The vision quest brings more questions and then the discovery of the body will have you well and truly caught up in the storyline.

Coldsmith’s characters are well drawn, particularly the mysterious female, and when you find out about her past, her childlike innocence, she’ll touch your heart.

If you like romance then the growing admiration, attraction, between the two main characters will be a pleasure to read.

But it’s the main thread of the story that makes this gripping reading, and Coldsmith sure knows how to involve the reader emotionally with his use of the written word and by using a theme that all of us have created within our own minds at sometime; something we can all relate to with a fascinating and compelling horror.

The Spanish Bit Saga #14

TRAIL FROM TAOS

by Don Coldsmith

Bantam, October 1990.

The People of the pueblo want only to be left in peace but they are trapped between a band of militant young warriors and the Spanish Hairfaces, who have already shed first blood…

These are evil times for the people of the pueblo. The Spanish padres are trying to force them to abandon their spirit ways. And a powerful leader named Pope is stirring up the young warriors to resist. For Red Feather and the Elk-dog People, who are on their way to Santa Fe with sixteen pack horses loaded down with prime furs to trade, the trail will end in unexpected violence. Red Feather and his son White Fox will be seized and thrown into a Spanish prison. And soon, the safety and the very survival of his clan and the people of the pueblo will hang on Red Feather’s ability to escape.

Don Coldsmith, for the first time in the series, tackles the topic of Christianity being forced on others as the Spanish padres insist the natives abandon their spirit ways and accept a new God. I particularly enjoyed Blue Corn’s struggle to understand why the Spanish could not accept all the different tribes’ stories of the creation of man, why they believed in only their story and wanted everyone to follow this belief or be put to death.

It’s into this dangerous situation that Coldsmith brings Red Feather and his band of the Elk-Dog People. Arriving at the time the powerful native leader Pope leads a large force of warriors in an all-out attack on Santa Fe to drive out, or kill, all the Spanish.

Coldsmith’s tale is a gripping read of mistrusts and fear. The different elements of the story all combine to make for a powerful read.

The Spanish Bit Saga #13

THE FLOWER IN THE MOUNTAINS

by Don Coldsmith

Bantam, July 1990

Once he was Jean Cartier, a French explorer. Now he is Woodchuck, a proud warrior of the Elk-Dog People whose mission is to introduce his son, Red Feather, to the crucial business of trading. To exchange furs for Spanish weapons of steel, father and son journey through hostile territory peopled by unpredictable tribes. But a warning from a former enemy makes Woodchuck realize too late that the real danger comes from his own countrymen. Soon Red Feather lies near death, wounded by the French and rescued by a beautiful Indian maiden, and his father’s only hope is to elude the Europeans before he too becomes a victim of vengeance.

This book continues, and ties up, a number of unfinished threads from previous books. Don Coldsmith keeps the reader guessing as to the true nature of the French’s mission and the book builds to an exciting chase through the desert.

Don Coldsmith’s superb writing skills create a gripping sense of urgency in Woodchucks race to find his wounded son. In these scenes he adds doubt and questions such as; will the French be hunting Red Feather for horse theft? Why are the French here? Are they here to try to capture Woodchuck who is a French deserter? And worst of all is the fear that Red Feather could be dying, that Woodchuck will be too late to save him.

It is only when The People are very near to home that Don Coldsmith reveals why the French are really here. A revelation that leads to tragedy and hints at a vast change for the coming generations of The People in how they will live their lives.

Another hit in this excellent series, although I would suggest that a newcomer to these books would have their enjoyment of this book greatly enhanced by reading the earlier numbers first.

The Spanish Bit Saga #12

 THE MEDICINE KNIFE

by Don Coldsmith

Bantam, October 1989

Sky-Eyes was once a French soldier, now he lives with the People and has a wife, Pale Star. Because he speaks the language of the “hairfaces” he leads a small party on a trading mission, to exchange pelts for iron items with the Spanish at Santa Fe. Once there Sky-Eyes is accused of spying while Pale Star attracts the unwanted attention of a Hairface. To get out alive Sky-Eyes must combine his white man’s skills at political maneuvering and his newly learned ways of the people.

Another good entry in this excellent series that sees Don Coldsmith catch the reader’s attention early on with skilled telling of the Peoples way of life, and their beliefs - and Sky-Eyes acceptance of them, even though they go against his teachings.

The description of the journey to Santa Fe builds with tension that explodes with the accusations leveled at Sky-Eyes, leading to an exciting climax.

Maybe not the best entry in the series, but well worth a look as it tells of an interesting time, first trading, in the development of the People.

The Spanish Bit Saga #11

 RETURN TO THE RIVER

by Don Coldsmith

Bantam, July 1989

This series goes from strength to strength. The Spanish Bit books might not have as much ‘fighting’ action as other books I read yet they are compelling reading. This is a great example of Don Coldsmith’s superb storytelling, a tale of adventure and discovery that has a few surprises along the way and an unexpected reaction at the end.

The book begins a few years after the conclusion of the previous story, River of Swans. Jean Cartier, known to the plains tribes as Woodchuck, is given the opportunity to guide an expedition searching for the mysterious Big River. Cartier finds himself haunted by dreams of his abandoned son, left in the care of The People. The explorers search takes them near the homeland of The People and Cartier must decide between deserting to rejoin the Elk Dog Band of The People or continuing on his journey and never knowing the fate of his son.

As irresistible forces urge him to The People, and he senses their destinies are interwoven, he must make the choice, if he goes to the people will he be the bringer of their destruction...or their chance to survive in the changing land?

And that is all I’m going to say other than read it!

Stagecoach

edited by Ed Gorman and

Martin H. Greenberg

Berkley, September 2003

Immortalized in film and legend, the stagecoach was a colourful, hard-driving transport that linked far-flung places the railroads didn’t reach. Now, Stagecoach is galloping into town with a strongbox full of eight action-packed stories celebrating this icon of the American West, written by some of today’s top Western writers. Each tale follows an enigmatic stranger who arrives by stage at Tombstone – the town that was too tough to die – where they encounter the likes of the Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday.

Contents:
Bluff Creek Station Louis L’Amour
A Fresh Start Don Coldsmith
Hearts Richard S. Wheeler
Nate’s Revenge Robert J. Conley
The Fly on the Wall Judy Alter
Killer in the Dark Ed Gorman
The Story Robert J. Randisi
Hangman’s Choice Loren D. Estleman

Anthologies are a good way to try authors you’ve never read before, and for me this collection contains stories by three such writers, Alter, Conley, and Wheeler. Two of which inspired me to read more by them.

All the stories were very readable and, even though some feature the same real life characters, were all very different in content.

Some have a traditional approach, a couple managed to touch my emotions, others include humorous moments, one doesn’t contain any gunplay but is non-the-less a compelling read, a couple contain great twists, one or two are quite dark in their themes.

So a great mix of stories, those by Gorman and L’Amour being the standout tales to me. In fact L’Amour’s story being the best work I’ve ever read by him - and this is the only story to have been published before, the others being written for this anthology.