Wilderness #56

IN DARKEST DEPTHS 
as by David Thompson

Leisure, June 2008

Legendary mountain man Shakespeare McNair has seen enough winters in the wilderness to know when something isn’t right. Beneath the waters of the lake near his new home, something is definitely off. Waves appear without any wind to create them, fishing poles are snatched from hands, something malevolent out there…watching them. Shakespeare knows it’s only a matter of time before the creature hurts someone, so he’s going after it himself, even knowing he might not come back…

A book filled with mystery, strength of character, scenes of excitement and life and death situations, humorous banter, wonder, and beautifully written descriptions of the wilderness…and its weather. Not to mention the emotionally charged moments of coming eye to eye with the creature.

Shakespeare’s determination comes across extremely well, as did Blue Water Woman’s worry for his safety. Strongest of all was their love for each other.

This book doesn’t contain any man against man conflict, as might be expected from a Wilderness tale, but had it done so then this, in my opinion, would have detracted from the story of man against the elements and nature – just read the gripping scenes of Shakespeare in a canoe during the storm to see what I mean.

Like all Wilderness books In Darkest Depths is a superbly paced book, and David Thompson keeps you guessing as to the identity of just what lurks in the lake and its fate comes as a welcome surprise.

Love and Cold Steel

WILDERNESS #70

By David Robbins

Mad Hornet Publishing, December 2018

The heart wants what the heart wants.

Evelyn King yearns to get hitched. Eager for her dream to come true, she won’t let anything stand in her way.

But the frontier has many dangers. Killers and hostiles and beasts abound.

As Evelyn is reminded when she and the man she loves run into a pack of two-legged wolves…and something far worse.

At last another Wilderness book has appeared, two years after the previous title, The Avenger. Since Leisure Books closed David Robbins has been publishing new Wilderness books under his own name rather than the pseudonym of David Thompson.

How I tried to read this book slowly, to savour every word, every scene, but my ambition failed miserably as each short chapter ended with a question or cliff-hanger that made it virtually impossible to put the book down as I just had to know what happened next.

Love and Cold Steel could be described as two separate storylines running parallel to each other – Evelyn and Dega’s dangerous travail to reach Bent’s Fort and hopefully find a preacher to marry them, and the tale of a wagon train and it’s guide, Quay, to solve the mystery of his gruesome discoveries that threaten all the travellers lives – although you know at some point these gripping tales are going to converge in some way that will intensify the already deadly situations the main characters find themselves in.

Fans of the Wilderness series, and/or David Robbins writing style will know what to expect in the way the story is told; the how are they going to get out of that scene endings already mentioned, the endless struggle of man and women to understand each other which often results in laugh-out-loud moments, the witty dialogue which again left me grinning much of the time, the desperate savage fights to survive – both against man and beast – which are vividly written and plotlines that will keep you guessing to the end.

Wilderness 70 might have been a long time coming but it certainly lived up to my expectations and I believe it should be enjoyed by all western fans, especially those who like the mountain man era. All I can hope is that David Robbins doesn’t keep us waiting quite so long before he gives us another instalment in this excellent series.

Interview: David Robbins

My third interview is with author David Robbins, who has written in a number of different genres but mainly he writes westerns. In fact he has had around 250 books published, with many more to come, under a variety of pseudonyms so chances are you may have read some of his work without realising it.

First David, I want to thank you for agreeing to answer my questions.

You're most welcome.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

When I was 11 I taught myself to type on an old Royal manual and churned out short stories. That's when the muse took serious hold.

What was the first novel you had published and if this wasn’t a western what was your first western?

BLOOD CULT was the first novel. My first Western was a PREACHER'S LAW fill-in. The editor liked it so much he asked me to do more Westerns.

How many books did you write before the first was accepted for publication.

The first book I submitted was published and every one since except for one.

Which writers influence you?

As in current tense? None. I write 'me'. If you mean from the past, the list is legion.

Don't misconstrue. There are many currrent writers I like greatly. But not in the sense that they mold my work.

In terms of craft, Hemingway and Poe are worth noting. Hemingway not for the way he wrote but in the ideal he strove to attain. Poe for the elements he espoused in THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPOSITION.

In terms of Westerns, Owen Wister, Zane Grey, L'Amour, Jack Schaefer, the list could go on and on.

So many fine writers tell fine stories. It's a shame so many of those stories are lost in the mists of time.

You’ve written in other genres such as sci-fi (Endworld), adventure (Executioner) and horror novels but is there a particular genre you’d like to write in that you haven’t yet?

Is there a million-dollars-a-book-genre? :)

Do you work on more than one book at a time?

No.

You’ve written the non-fiction book Heavy Traffic, was this as enjoyable to write as fiction?

Absolutely. I've done other non-fiction, magazine articles and the like.

Do you wish you had more say in the covers that appear in your books?

Show me a writer who doesn't. :)

Seriously, there have been covers that make you go, 'Huh?'

What led you to write westerns and what appeals to you about the genre?

I was weaned on Westerns. Back in my day, they ruled the entertainment roost. With my farm and later ranch experience, it was a natural fit.

As Owen Wister’s The Virginian was such a successful book, often referred to as a western classic, was it difficult to write the sequel, The Return of the Virginian, as it would probably be measured against that great novel, and how did the opportunity to do this come about?

I enjoyed the experience immensely. My goal was always to have the two be seamless. In that I succeeded except in one respect that nags at me to this day. Still, it got a lot of positive response. As for how it came about, it was another case of someone knowing my work and liking it.

How important is historical accuracy in westerns?

These days in some quarters it has almost become a mantra. Personally I like to see stories steeped in the history they flesh out.

You’ve had a few books published under the Ralph Compton name (twelve to date) but what is your opinion on keeping dead authors alive by having someone write new books under their name, like is happening with Ralph Compton and William Johnstone?

They are cash cows for the publishers and serve a crucial need for writers; work.

How much research did writing the Davy Crockett series (as by David Thompson) involve?

It was typical. I read everything on him I could find, from his own narratives to contemporary accounts to the latest research. Since I was a Disney Davy way back when, it was fun.

I’d like to see your White Apache series brought back so you can tie up all the hanging plot threads left dangling when Leisure cut all their western series but one. Any chance of that happening?

As Sean Connery will tell you, 'never say never'. :)

The series Leisure continued to publish is Wilderness, that you write as David Thompson – to my knowledge the longest, still being published, western series by a single author. It seems sales of this series are increasing all the time so what do you think it is about these books that appeals to the readers.

Pardon the mixing of metaphors, but the series might aptly be described as a melding of VAN HELSING and Shakespeare, with a generous dollop of DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

As for the increase, that's explained by the fact the ladies have discovered it. WILDERNESS is very female-friendly. :)

Have you listened to any of the audio books of the Wilderness series and what do you think of them and audio books in general?

I've listened to some and liked them. Audio books are great. They take you back a bunch of decades to something called 'radio'. :)

You’ve probably written more Trailsman books (over seventy) than any other author except Jon Messman – and this would apply to the Wilderness series too – how do you continue to come up with fresh plots for them?

I follow Poe's dictum referred to above.

Basically, take a plot, invert, misdirect, and play ring-a-round to avoid predictability, then throw yourself off a cliff as a form of creative Hail Mary.

Is it easier to write a series where you are the only author as opposed to a shared series?

From a continuity perspective. But then, when I'm part of a stable, I concentrate on what the editor wants 'me' to do, and not on what anyone else is doing unless the editor wants us to talk the series over, which rarely happens.

Which of your westerns would you recommend to someone who hasn’t read any of your work yet and why?

WILDERNESS, first and foremost.

Among the Compton's, FOR THE BRAND, NOWHERE, TX, RIO LARGO and the not my title BLOOD DUEL are pretty entertaining.

Which western writers would you recommend?

Today or yesteryear or all time?

The current WWA roster has some terrific writers putting out terrific tales. Kelton, Sherman, Brandvold, Richards, Butts---I could go on and on. There are some outside the WWA also doing stellar stories.

As for my list of must-read fiction Westerns ever: THE VIRGINIAN, SHANE, TRUE GRIT, and THE U.P. TRAIL

Which past western would you like to see back in print and why is this?

Oh, geez. Just Westerns? You're already aware of a pet passion of mine, namely, all the outstanding writers who have fallen by the cultural wayside. Great writers from any given decade, many giants in their time, no longer read.

I'd like to see---and we will, thanks to Leisure---the rerelease of books on which major Western films were based. I'd like to see the rerelease of not just classics, but books that went beyond the pale of normalcy.

Next April sees the re-launch of your Endworld series after an eighteen year gap, and hopefully it’ll be as successful as it was then, but are then any new westerns, other than the series you’re writing for now, to be on the look out for?

New WILDERNESS, new COMPTON'S, new TRAILSMAN. Other stuff is in the works but not necessarily Westerns.

What do you think of the western genre today and what do you think the future holds for the western?

Western writers today have it extraordinarly rough. Not only is the Western genre's share of the market one of the smaller slices of the publishing pie, but they must also contend with the Western equivalent of Moby Dick in the form of L'Amour. He dominates the genre to such an extent that it's not uncommon to see a single bookcase devoted to Westerns at a given bookstore, with two or three of the six or seven shelves devoted solely to him.

For the genre to survive it must adapt. You've noticed how drasically different the market is today than, say, back in the '60's. The days where the 'gunslinger' novels predominated are gone.

Not that there isn't a market for them. Look at L'Amour. Many of his are just that---and at the same time, more.

Diversity has become a key element. The Western umbrella now covers everything from those gunslingers to travelogues of the West.

The core of the market, the traditional Western, has a future to the degree it entertains current sensibilities.

What is your favourite western movie and why?

SHANE. It typifies yet exalts the classic elements.

Finally, what do you read for pleasure?

Everything.

The Avenger

WILDERNESS #69

By David Robbins

Mad Hornet Publishing, December 2016

Zach King has given up the ways of the warrior. The woman he loves is about to give birth, and he intends to be the best father he can be.

Little does he know that he is being stalked. From out of his recent past comes an avenger. A man who has vowed to make Zach pay for killing his brother.

A new birth should be a time of joy. Instead, Zach and his family find themselves ensnared in a web of deception and peril.

The avenger lives by one rule. ‘Eyes for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.’ EXODUS 21:24

It’s been a while coming, but at last David Robbins has given us a new Wilderness book. Over the last few entries of this long running series Louisa, Zach’s wife, has been pregnant and now is the time for her to give birth. The Avenger isn’t the only deadly problem facing Zach at this time, there is also a female grizzly with cubs, and it’s the bear that will create some of the most breath-taking scenes in the book.

Like in many of David Robbins’ books the more horrific scenes are balanced with humour and that is certainly the case with this story. Shakespeare as usual having most of the best lines, indeed his comments making me laugh out loud at times. Seeing Zach trying to adapt from the ways of the warrior to being a father also bringing a smile to my face.

David Robbins lets us in on the Avengers plans and it’s the anticipation of discovering how Zach will deal with him once this vengeance driven man plays his hand that makes this book such a difficult to put down read. You don’t need to have read any of the earlier books to understand why The Avenger is set on killing Zach as David Robbins includes enough background information to explain this.

The Avenger is a book that should be enjoyed by all fans of this genre and it is definitely a must read for all followers of the Wilderness series.

Some people seem a little confused that the Wilderness series is now coming out with a new author name, rather than David Thompson, so I’d just like to add that Thompson and David Robbins are one and the same, the former being a pseudonym used by the latter.

Wilderness 67: The Gift

By David Robbins

Mad Hornet Publishing, July 2013

Nate King’s daughter is sixteen and in love. She conspires to trick her father and sneak away with the warrior who has claimed her heart.

Only they don’t know that four killers are on the loose, slaughtering settlers and anyone else they come across.

Now it’s a race against time as Nate tries to find his headstrong pride and joy before the killers do.

At last, the return of the Wilderness series, something I, and many other fans, have been patiently waiting for. Now published by Mad Hornet Publishing and put out under the authors’ real name, David Robbins, instead of the pseudonym of David Thompson.

Filled with excellent descriptive prose that puts you right into the wilderness, sharing the dangers of the wild, feeling the power of emotion through both fear and love, this book once more proves just why the series is held in such high regard by both male and female readers.

Switching between the various groups of characters regularly means David Robbins often leaves them in cliff-hanger situations which urge the reader to keep turning the pages. Action scenes steal your breath and make you wonder just how they can escape alive, just witness Zach being trapped up a tree whilst a grizzly strives to make him its next meal to see what I mean.

Through all the tense situations there is plenty of cracking dialogue, some of which made me laugh out-loud, mainly whilst Dega, the Indian Evelyn King is in love with, tries to make sense of the white man’s language he is struggling to learn.

And what of the gift of the title? Sorry but I cannot reveal that here, other than say it will get you thinking.

Once again David Robbins doesn’t disappoint and strengthens my belief that this is one of the best western series being written today. Let’s just hope it isn’t too long before the next Wilderness book is released.

The Gift is available as both an ebook and paper book through Amazon, and will be for sale through other book sellers soon.

Wilderness #65

SEED OF EVIL

as by David Thompson

Leisure, September 2010

The King family has always appreciated the remoteness of their valley deep in the Rocky Mountains. There, they have all the freedom they could desire. But the long trip to Bent’s Fort for supplies is one of the few downsides. All that changes when a newcomer opens the first general store in their region. The mountain men and scattered settlers are delighted—until people start to disappear, and dark whispers hint that a seed of evil has taken root in the wilderness.

Right from the opening chapter David Thompson hooked this reader with the question of just what kind of evil does the main bad guy dish out. Of course this question isn’t answered until much further into the story and by that time other plot threads had pulled me deeper into the tale.

Seed of Evil sees the return of one of my favourite characters from the series: Chases Rabbits, his struggle to understand the white tongue adding many laugh-out-loud moments. And for those who’ve followed this series for a long, long time, Chases Rabbits isn’t the only return, this other proving to be even more of a welcome surprise, although I’m not going to reveal who that is here, you’ll have to read the book yourself to discover just who it is.

One of the trademarks of this series is the author’s inclusion of very strong female characters and this book is no exception. Here we have a group of Crow women that soon become the characters the whole story revolves around. Raven On The Ground being particularly memorable.

I’ve already mentioned that there are moments of humour within the story but this wouldn’t be a Wilderness tale without many encounters with the more savage side of life, be they threats from human foes or wildlife, and this book offers plenty of those too. In fact Geist’s sudden, and unexpected, killing of one of the Crow women sure shows how brutal this series can be at times and in my mind is one of the strengths of the Wilderness books.

Once again David Thompson (David Robbins) provides the reader with another excellent entry into this fast moving, action packed, series.

Note: As has been discussed on many blogs and message boards Dorchester/Leisure has stopped producing mass market paperbacks, switching to ebooks with September’s publications. I read Seed of Evil on my computer using the free Kindle reader download provided by Amazon, which proved to be very easy to use.

Wilderness #58

CRY FREEDOM

as by David Thompson

Leisure, December 2008

Samuel Worth never meant to kill the man. But when the son of the plantation owner they worked for tried to attack Samuel’s daughter, he had to defend her. Now his whole family is on the run from a pack of slave hunters and their bloodhounds – straight into the deadly wilds of the Rocky Mountains.

Nate King and his family value their freedom. It’s one of the reasons they chose to live so far from civilization. It’s also why Nate knows he and his wife, Winona, must use every trick at hand to help the Worths escape their captors – even if it costs them their own freedom to do it.

David Thompson (David Robbins) has come up with yet another fast moving, hard to put down, entry into his excellent Wilderness series. The storyline switches from Nate and Winona King to the Worths regularly, often leaving each family in a cliff-hanger situation. Not only do they all face danger from other people but also from the creatures that inhabit the Wilderness itself. The Worths encounter with an alligator being especially breath taking.

Once the Kings and Worths meet up sections of the book follow the slave-hunters, and seeing how they have the ability to second-guess what Nate King plans makes you wonder how the Worths will gain the freedom they so desperately want. This leads to some first rate, nerve pounding, action scenes.

And I did find myself laughing outloud at some of the comments and arguments that both sets of family came up with. David Robbins often injects welcome humouress lines and situations into the Wilderness books.

Of course the issue of slavery plays an important part in the storyline, as does that of bigoted race views – the latter being one of the ongoing themes of the whole series, usually directed at the Indian and half-breeds.

There are plenty of memorable characters too, such as the leader of the slave hunters, Catfish, and the Worths themselves, the mother Emala perhaps the most but for the wrong reasons maybe as she came across well as a whining, irritating person, that I’d have liked to have seen killed off early on.

Does Emala, or any of the other major characters meet their death? That’s not for me to say here, you must read the book for yourselves to find out that answer, but be warned, the ending will have you desperate for more!

Wilderness #53

THE RISING STORM
as by David Thompson

Leisure, September 2007

Simon and Felicity Ward are enjoying their life in the wilderness and deeply love the valley where they’ve built their homestead. Now a ruthless Easterner has laid claim to hundreds of square miles as his private hunting preserve, including the Wards’ land. Alone Simon and Felicity are unable to stand up to Lord Kilraven and his companions, but with Zach King’s help everything may not be lost, as he won’t leave his friends to fight alone – even if it costs him his life.

Once started I found this book impossible to put down. David Thompson (Robbins) masterfully hooks the reader with superb descriptions of the country, life in the wilderness, and engaging characters – both good and bad, and defies the reader to put the book down before reaching the end.

As the story builds towards its climax with increasingly savagery – the whipping scenes being written so well I could almost feel the effects of each brutal lash – it came as a wlcome surprise that the ending was almost understated.

A beautifully written book that once more proves why the Wilderness series continues to go from strength to strength.

Stalked

WILDERNESS 71

By David Robbins

Mad Hornet Publishing, July 2020

Two families from the East want to make a new life for themselves in the Rocky Mountains. They think they can handle whatever the wilderness throws at them. They are wrong. Something is after them. Hunting them. Stalking them. Killing them one by one.

Enter Nate King. The Mountain Man known as Grizzly Killer. He is their one….their best….hope to survive. But even being the best is not always enough.

This is another terrific entry in the long-running Wilderness series that is filled with edge-of-your-seat moments. David Robbins really builds up the tension superbly as two green families are stalked by a kill crazy grizzly. A giant silver-tip that seems to kill for the sake of it, seems to enjoy tearing its victims into bloody shreds. 

The book doesn’t have a large cast. There are the two families, Nate King and his wife, Winona, along with their adopted daughter Bright Rainbow and three Ute braves. By the end their numbers will be greatly reduced. 

David Robbins creates a gripping sense of rising fear as the grizzly begins to stalk its prey. The kills are described in horrific detail, each ripped apart victim adding to the heightening terror that the two families experience, grief driving some of their decisions. 

The storyline isn’t completely dark in tone as David Robbins injects moments of humour to lighten the mood, mostly through conversation. The author also includes a comical visual during the musical instrument incident – a picture I got in my mind at this moment had me laughing out loud.

Can Grizzy Killer defeat his monstrous foe before all those he’s trying to protect die? Animal savagery against human prowess, teeth and claw verses tomahawk and knife. Finding out made for an exciting read, the story being a real page-turner as each chapter and scene ended on a cliff-hanger making it impossible to put the book down before the enthralling conclusion. 

A must read for all fans of the Wilderness series, and one that will be enjoyed by everyone who likes reading about the mountain man era or tales about battles between man and beast.

Westerns read in 2009

For my final post of 2009 I thought I’d post a list of the 100 westerns I’ve read during the year. Most of them have been reviewed here, and the rest will be soon.

I’d also like to wish all visitors to this blog a Happy New Year.

JANUARY READS – 6 books

01. The Trailsman #326: Silver Mountain Slaughter by Jon Sharpe
02. The Badge #4: Powder River by Bill Reno
03. The Warhunter #1: Killers’ Council by Scott Siegel
04. Cherokee Justice by William Kennedy
05. The Pirooters by Mark Mellon
06. The Trailsman #327: Idaho Gold Fever by John Sharpe


FEBRUARY READS – 8 books

07. The Stone Garden: The Epic Life of Billy the Kid by Bill Brooks
08. Longhorns and Outlaws by Linda Aksomitis
09. Abilene #4: The Night Riders by Justin Ladd
10. The Trailsman #328: Texas Triggers by Jon Sharpe
11. Lanigan and the Silent Mourner by Ronald Martin Wade

12. The Shadow Riders by Owen G. Irons

13. Crow #1: The Red Hills by James W. Marvin
14. Wilderness #59: Only the Strong by David Thompson

MARCH READS – 8 books
15. The Texians #1: The Texians by Zach Wyatt
16. The Trailsman #329: Bayou Trackdown by Jon Sharpe
17. The Gunsmith (Giant Edition #13) The Marshal from Paris by J.R. Roberts
18. Slocum #107: Sixguns at Silverado by Jake Logan
19. Die this Day by Dempsey Clay

20. Guns of Virtue by Peter Wilson

21. Joe Blade by Matt Chisholm
22. The Judge #6: Lawless Land by Hank Edwards

APRIL READS – 6 books
23. Ruff Justice #2: Night of the Apache by Warren T. Longtree
24. The Derby Man #4: The Pony Express War by Gary McCarthy
25. Longarm #26: Longarm and the Dragon Hunters by Tabor Evans
26. On the Great Plains by Logan Winters

27. Rawhide Ransom by Tyler Hatch

28. The Trailsman #331: Northwoods Nightmare by Jon Sharpe

MAY READS – 8 books

29. The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark
30. .45-Caliber Deathtrap by Peter Brandvold
31. On the Wrong Track by Steve Hockensmith
32. Street and Smith’s Western Adventure – Vol. 2 #5 British Edition
33. Long Shadows by Terry James

34. Wilderness #60: The Outcast by David Thompson
35. The $300 Man by Ross Morton

36. Time to Kill by Lee Lejeune


JUNE READS – 6 books

37. Bad Day in Babylon by Clayton Nash

38. The Trailsman #332: Beartooth Incident by Jon Sharpe
39. The Tarnished Star by Jack Martin
40. The .45 Goodbye by Dempsey Clay
41. The Outpost by Owen G. Irons

42. Lanigan and the She-Wolf by Ronald Martin Wade


JULY READS – 8 books
43. Riders from Long Pines by Ralph Cotton
44. Claw #1: Day of Fury by Matthew Kirk
45. Portrait of an Outlaw by J.D. Kincaid

46. Riders of the Barren Plains by I.J. Parnham

47. The Trailsman #333: Black Hills Badman by Jon Sharpe
48. Gunman’s Walk by Clint Ryker

49. Rio Bonito by Abe Dancer

50. The Short Creek Rustlers by J.D. Ryder


AUGUST READS – 9 books
51. Partners by D.M. McGowan
52. The Third Rider by Barry Cord
53. The Trailsman #334: Colorado Clash by Jon Sharpe
54. Gannon’s Law by Peter Wilson
55. Gun Fury by Walt Keene

56. Wilderness #61: The Scalp Hunters by David Thompson
57. Gunhawk by John Long
58. Dragonfire Trail by Hank J. Kirby
59. Arizona Pay-Off by Duke Patterson


SEPTEMBER READS – 14 books

60. The Trailsman #335: Riverboat Rampage by Jon Sharpe
61. Nickajack by Robert J. Conley
62. Cord by Owen Rountree
63. Pony Soldiers #1: Slaughter at Buffalo Creek by Chet Cunningham
64. Saving Tom Black by Jere D. James
65. The Gunsmith #330: The Dead Town by J.R. Roberts
66. Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope by Chap O’Keefe
67. Death Comes Riding by Terrell L. Bowers

68. Shoot-Out at San Lorenzo by Henry Remington

69. Gunsmoke by T.T. Flynn
70. Misfit Lil Robs the Bank by Chap O’Keefe

71. Dead Man’s Range by Paul Durst
72. The Plains of Laramie by Lauran Paine
73. Beyond the Crimson Skies by Owen G. Irons


OCTOBER READS – 10 books

74. Barjack and the Unwelcome Ghost by Robert J. Conley
75. Longarm and the Lone Star Trackdown (Giant Edition #27) by Tabor Evans
76. The Guns of Sapinero by Frank Leslie
77. Hangtown by Logan Winters

78. Harlan by Frank Roderus
79. Iron Eyes Makes War by Rory Black

80. Death Ground by Ed Gorman
81. The Staked Plains by Billy Moore
82. The Battle for Skillern Tract by Matt Laidlaw
83. The Trailsman #336: Utah Outlaws by Jon Sharpe

NOVEMBER READS – 8 books
84. Sweep of Fury by Dempsey Clay

85. The Loner by J.A. Johnstone
86. The Trailsman #337: Silver Showdown by Jon Sharpe
87. Trail of the Burned Man by Thomas McNulty

88. Always the Guns by Matt James

89. Wilderness #62: The Tears of God by David Thompson
90. Rustler’s Range by Billy Hall
91. Revenge by Fire by Bill Williams

DECEMBER READS – 9 books

92. Fatal Justice – A Ralph Compton novel – by David Robbins
93. The Branded Man by J.D. Ryder

94. The Trailsman #338: Texas Trackdown by Jon Sharpe
95. Dalton’s Mission by Ed Law
96. Gun Law by Lee Walker
97. Medicine Hat by David Walks-As-Bear
98. Ryder of the Hills by Robert J. Horton
99. Six For Laramie by Rick Dalmas

100. The Trailsman #87: Brothel Bullets by Jon Sharpe

Wilderness #59

ONLY THE STRONG
as by David Thompson
Leisure, March 2009

Nate and Winona King know the frontier is a dangerous place. Even more so for a family of runaway slaves. The Kings thought they had saved their new friends from the worst of their troubles, a gang of vicious slave hunters. But two of the hunters survived – and have hired a seasoned frontiersman and four killers to track the Kings and the runaways down. Nate and Winona continue to lead their party across the vast prairie to the far distant Rockies. Little do they realize that a pack of two-legged wolves are nipping at their heels…and that eventually the prairie will run red with blood.

This book continues a storyline begun in the previous entry in the Wilderness series, Cry Freedom.

David Thompson (David Robbins) hooks the reader from the word go, his superb use of cliff-hanger chapter and scene endings making it very difficult to put the book down. Not only do the King’s, and the family of slaves they are guiding to a new life, have to contend with a vicious pack of slave-hunters, they also have to deal with the added danger of the landscape and wildlife.

It’s the creatures that inhabit the wilderness that provided some of the most exciting moments in this story, both of Randa’s encounters with buffalo making for gripping reading.

David Thompson also reaches the reader’s emotions really well, as through all the family bickering and battles of wills, and the never-ending struggle for man and woman to understand each others way of thinking, comes a powerful sense of love, none stronger than that that sees Nate King become consumed by rage that leads to a savage and brutal killing spree.

Does the book have a happy ending for the King’s and the runaway slaves? I guess you’ll just have to read it and find that out for yourselves.

Wilderness #49

WOLVERINE 
as by David Thompson

Leisure, August 2006

Now settled in the new valley the King’s will come face to face with a peril they’ve never before known. Some of the countries most vicious predators are stalking the King’s and their friends. The wolverine is a cunning savage killer that knows no fear. One wolverine is dangerous enough, but five live in this valley...and they’re out for blood.

This book had me gripped from page one. Be it the passages told from the wolverine’s viewpoint, the time endless arguements between man and woman, the beautiful descriptions of the wilderness, the struggles for survival, the spine-tingling terror of being hunted by an unseen enemy, the warmth and recklessness of love, and the violent confrontations between man and animal. All this combined with cliff-hanger scene endings made this a book that just had to be read in one sitting.

And that’s not all, David Thompson still manages to inject hints of what is to come, maybe, in further entries to the series; just what lives in the lake? Why do the Indians fear the glacier? And will Zach ever realise what Louisa was talking about?

I don’t know how David Thompson does it but the Wilderness series just goes from strength to strength, each book filled with masterful storytelling, that not only entertain but touch the emotions too.

Wilderness #63

VENOM

as by David Thompson

Leisure, March 2010

It takes a lot of guts to carve a home out of the unforgiving wilderness in the Colorado Rockies. It seems something else always staked its claim first. And while some creatures are amenable to finding a new place to live and willing to move, others are not. Others are dangerous. And they’ll fight fang and sinew to keep what’s theirs. As Nate King and his family hold a cabin raising for new neighbors in their remote valley, they’ll have new enemies to face. Enemies that strike quickly and with just one hit can deliver an excruciating death.

A book that starts with an almost gentle pace, an air of happiness shown through the love of the various families that populate the King Valley have for their husbands, wives and children, and through friendship, as a new family is welcomed to the valley and everyone pulls together to build them a cabin. There’s plenty of light-hearted banter, much of which had me laughing out loud. The fears of Zach as he contemplates whether he will make a good father are well written and there are hints that Zach may find himself with woman trouble further down the line. All through this part of the book, though, David Thompson (David Robbins) keeps introducing events that will soon see the Kings, and friends, in a frantic struggle for life.

Once the rains come the book takes on a much darker tone. The threat of the rattlesnakes becomes reality and David Thompson comes up with many edge-of-the-seat situations that had me turning the pages fast. The sequences involving Evelyn and her horse in floodwater teeming with snakes really captures her fear well and provides tense reading at its best. If you’ve a fear of snakes this part will have your heart racing.

There is plenty of superb action as the various families battle the onslaught of snakes, and David Robbins prose makes for some extremely visual reading, Zach on the rampage being the highlight.

Venom is a terrific read for fans of the Wilderness series and should be on the reading list of anyone who enjoys well-written, entertaining, books that are a little different to the more traditional mountain man storyline.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

WILDERNESS

Number 55 of 71 + 7 Giant Editions to date.

By David Thompson

Leisure, March 2008

Robert Parker ventures into the vast unknown to study new species of plant and animals in the name of science. He’s thrilled when a young half-breed named Zach King invites him back to his family’s secluded valley in the Rocky Mountains. But Parker’s about to find out he’s not the only newcomer. Three murderous prospectors have heard there’s a fortune in gold on the King’s land, and they’ll do anything to get it. They’ve heard how tough the King’s are, and they’re well prepared for that. But they haven’t counted on the grit of one determined greenhorn…

This is the second book in the Wilderness series to be written in the first person and it works extremely well. The story is told through the eyes of Robert Parker, a man who almost refuses to see danger in both man and beast, therefore putting him in many perilous situations. 

It was very interesting to see how Parker reacted and related to both Zach King and Blue Water Woman. In fact, it was great to see the latter taking such a central role. Even though Parker and Blue Water Woman come from very different backgrounds and cultures it soon became very apparent that they shared a common trait, that of their enjoyment of the natural world and a respect for the animals that inhabit it.

Of course, the story isn’t all about admiration for the wilderness it is also a story of greed and the lengths some people will go to in their quest to find gold, no matter who has to suffer in their hunt to find it. Something Parker struggles to accept and comprehend. It was fascinating to read that it wasn’t Zach King who teaches Parker the reality of this aspect of life but Blue Water Woman.

Into the Unknown has everything, touching moments of gentleness, savage moments of violence, and moments of humour. All this combines in a beautifully balanced and well written story that was a joy to read.

David Thompson is a pseudonym used by David Robbins and he still puts out books in this series today under his own name.

In October 2022, Piccadilly Publishing made Into the Unknown available as an ebook together with book 56 in series, In Darkest Depths, the cover of which you can see below.

TOMAHAWK JUSTICE

THE TRAILSMAN

Book 141 of 398 + 7 giant editions

By Jon Sharpe

Cover art by Jerome Podwil

Signet, September 1993

1860, Yellowstone country . . . where raw wilderness, natural wonders, and human bloodlust made for a killer combination

The two young Shoshone women seemed too good-looking to be real when Skye Fargo met them in the virgin wilderness. But they were real – real dangerous, as he soon found out. Their father was a chief looking for a vision in the Yellowstone, and looking for Fargo to cover his tail while the chief lifted his eyes to the heavens. For the sacred valley was swarming with the most bloodthirsty redskins in the West – and Fargo was in the middle of a tug-of-want between sisters who gave him no rest, and in the line of fire of Indians who gave no quarter and took no prisoners.

This book doesn’t have a big cast. Fargo is the only white man, then there’s the Shoshone and a band of Bloods. All of this tale unfolds in the wilderness and the author adds some terrific descriptions of the magnificent landscape to give the reader a great sense of place. Amid all the mayhem, Fargo gets a moment to reflect on the advancement of the white man and what it will mean for this wild yet beautiful country. Wildlife also has a part to play, and these creatures add some tense scenes to the story. 

Character studies are well crafted, and dialogue often has humorous undertones adding light-hearted moments to balance the more vicious elements. The many action scenes are at times brutally savage in their descriptions. Let’s not forget that The Trailsman is an adult western series so there are also a number of graphic sex scenes, not as many as in the early books, but a few more than in those towards the end of the series.

Jon Sharpe is a pseudonym shared by a variety of authors. This time it’s David Robbins writing behind that alias, and he has written a fast-moving, action-packed tale that surprised me with its twist ending and proved to be a very entertaining read throughout.

If you’re think of trying to find this book remember the number too, as it shares its title with an earlier entry in the series, book 39.

Wilderness #62

THE TEARS OF GOD
as by David Thompson
Leisure, December 2009

Nate King knows how tough it is to survive in the rugged wilderness of the untamed frontier. That’s why he can never refuse to help someone not as familiar with the infinite dangers of the territory. But when he agrees to guide a freighter captain and his load through geyser country, he has no idea he’s stepping straight into the path of a Pawnee with a personal vendetta. No idea that their destination – the Valley of Skulls – will live up to its grisly name.

Continuing a storyline started in the previous book (although each stands alone as a complete story) this tale sees Nate King become the target of a vengeance seeking Pawnee warrior. This Indian, Kuruk, and his small band of followers, make for some very tough opposition for King.

The quest for revenge isn’t the only thread to this fast moving story, King has to guide the wagons to the Valley of Skulls which holds its own mysteries as well as a group of Shakers who have a very interesting outlook on life. The Shaker’s strong religious beliefs being counted by none-believer Maklin, which allows David Thompson (David Robbins) to write some powerful arguments as to the existence of God.

If the above wasn’t enough for King to contend with, David Thompson adds yet another threat to the mountain man’s life – and all the other characters – by including a natural phenomenon that proves to be the deadliest killer of them all, providing some exciting, tense, reading that adds a touch of horror to the story.

David Thompson’s smooth flowing style is, as always, fast paced, full of excellent descriptive passages, great dialogue, humour, memorable characters, and brutal action, making this book – and indeed the whole Wilderness series – a joy to read.

Savage Hearts

WILDERNESS #68

By David Robbins

Mad Hornet Publishing, November 2014

Nate and Winona King thought they were doing the right thing when they ventured deep into the Rockies to return a little girl to her people.

Little did they imagine it would put Winona and the girl in peril for their lives and pit Nate against ruthless enemies.

At last, another Wilderness book, and one that adds a neat twist to the future of the King’s lives, one I didn’t see coming, but more of that later.

As many will have noticed this, and the previous book, The Gift, are being put out under the authors’ real name, David Robbins, instead of the pseudonym David Thompson that was used when the series was published by Leisure Books.

The book features a tribe unknown to me previously, the Tukadukas, and David Robbins ignited my interest with the unusual hunt that brings them together in this story for me to search for more information on them.

As fans of the series will already know, David Robbins often uses the strength of the family bond, their love for each other, that will see them risk everything to save each other, and this story is no different and that is what leads to the twist ending I mentioned earlier.

The book seems to have two storylines to begin with but you just know these seemingly separate threads will come together violently, and when the King’s get split up the tale gets more complicated and becomes a race against time.

With very strong male and female leads, terrific dialogue often spiced with humour, and savage action scenes, this story builds to a spectacular ending that will alter the King’s lives.

Due to the ending fans of the series will not want to miss this chapter in the King family story. If you’ve never read a Wilderness book before then this is an excellent place to start, to get to know Nate and Winona King and discover how much they are willing to sacrifice for each other.

All I can now hope is that David Robbins doesn’t make us wait quite so long before the next book is published.

Also available as an ebook.

Wilderness #57

FEAR WEAVER

as by David Thompson

Leisure, September 2008

Few natural wonders inspire Nate King like the Rocky Mountains. But he knows that behind its beauty, the wilderness can be deadly. The Woodrow family is woefully unprepared for the perils of the rough country. Concerned for their safety, Nate agrees to help them search for their missing brother. Yet it doesn’t take long for Nate to feel that they’re the ones being stalked. With Blackfeet on the warpath and vicious wild animals circling ever closer, he’ll need all the survival skills he possesses to keep the Woodrow’s safe and make it back to his own family alive.

The opening chapter contains enough intrigue, around a very memorable character, that had me well and truly hooked immediately. This nursery rhyme spouting woman setting the tone of the book superbly, hinting at the craziness to come.

David Thompson’s (David Robbins) descriptions and cliff-hanger scene endings combine in an almost palpable tension that builds a threat of untold horror in the readers mind, as Nate and his companions begin to discover just what has become of Woodrow’s missing brother.

For me the stand-out part of the book was that of Nate and Tyne facing the four Blackfeet warriors, David Thompson’s words playing the innocence of child against the extremely dangerous reality of the situation in a highly strung moment that creates a scene of savage beauty.

David Thompson, through expertly crafted passages of gripping prose, once more proves why the Wilderness series continues to go from strength to strength, as the story weaves its way along a trail of fear until it’s final shocking revelations.

Wilderness #66

GARDEN OF EDEN

By David Thompson

Dorchester, September 2011

Shakespeare McNair has always been happiest when living in the fringes of the frontier, ever pushing the boundaries of exploration. When an old friend tells him of a valley undisturbed by the hand of man, he just can’t resist the temptation. And so he sets off to find it with Nate King, Nate’s wife, and his own wife, Blue Water Woman. But they are about to find out that every Garden of Eden has serpents lurking in the shadows. In this valley, it’s a two-legged enemy – one that slays all intruders.

At long last Dorchester has published the latest two Wilderness stories, Seed of Evil and Garden of Eden, in a single trade paperback, the cost of which is very similar to what you would have paid if both books had been published separately as regular sized paperbacks.

Both are available as ebooks too, with Seed of Evil having been available this way for sometime, and that was how I read it when it first came out and why I’m not reviewing it alongside Garden of Eden. My review of Seed of Evil can be found here.

Garden of Eden provides a lot of suspenseful reading as the King’s and McNair’s travel into an unknown valley and find themselves being stalked by ‘something’. Fleeting glimpses and strange tracks bring rise to fears and then a desperate struggle to escape the valley. You’ll have to find out just what it is that lives here for yourself, as I don’t want to reveal who or what they are here. I will say that I have seen comment by the author that they are mentioned in books that deal with Indian Legends.

As expected from the Wilderness series this story offers everything you could want: a fast moving story that’s filled with tension, action, cracking dialogue, and lots of humour. This story also reveals more of Blue Water Woman’s past, which leads to this usually in control woman being taken over by a killing rage. Why? Again you’ll have to read the book to find out.

Now, I, and the many, many other fans of this great series can only hope that Dorchester doesn’t take quite so long to publish the next two books in the series.