Badger Boy [Hardcover]

Elmer Kelton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2001

The Texas Frontier, 1865

The Civil War is over and Texas is reluctantly yielding to the Union soldiers spreading across the state, even into the dangerous Comanche country. David "Rusty" Shannon, proud member of a "ranging company" attempting to protect Texas settlers from Indian depredations, finds that the rangers are being disbanded. He makes his way home to his land on the Red River, hoping to take up the life of a farmer and the hand of the beloved girl he left behind, Geneva Monahan.

But Geneva has married in Rusty's long absence and the country is filled with hostiles—not just Indians, but hate-filled Confederates, overbearing Union soldiers, and army renegades. Rusty's youth as a captive of the Comanches returns to haunt him when, in pursuit of Indian raiders, he takes as prisoner Badger Boy, a white child taken from his murdered parents by a Comanche warrior.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The indefatigable Kelton cranks out yet another rousing western, his ninth novel under the Forge Books brand, with this continuation of the saga of the Texas Rangers and his redheaded hero, Rusty Shannon. In 1865, the Civil War is just about over and the Confederacy is collapsing everywhere. Only small, undermanned ranger companies protect the Texas frontier from marauding bands of Comanche warriors, and army deserters, outlaws and Yankee soldiers add to the troubles of a desperate population. When Rusty leaves the rangers to return to his farm, he finds that his sweetheart has married somebody else. Racial tension between rednecks and freed slaves boils over, and old enemies return to settle scores. Rusty faces a new dilemma when he captures a white youngster, called Badger Boy by the Comanches who had seized him as a baby and raised him. Rusty himself is an orphan once captured by the Comanches. Observing Badger Boy, he begins to understand a great deal about his own past and what it means to his future. Since Rusty's debut in The Buckskin Line (1999), he has grown from a na ve kid into a responsible leader of rangers, a savvy frontiersman who is as tough as a boiled owl and smart as a fox. Running gunfights with Indians, outlaw ambushes and showdowns with horse thieves and renegade murderers liven up this polished and tightly wrapped yarn of duty, honor, courage and gunsmoke. Kelton is a master of both plot and character development, and his Rusty Shannon is a down-to-earth, dusty cowboy whose exploits always thrill Kelton's fans. Regional author tour. (Jan.) Forecast: In his niche, Kelton is the tops. He's been voted the Greatest Western Writer of All Time by the Western Writers of America, and is a six-time winner of the Spur Award. If booksellers emphasize his stature in the field, this standout title could be one of his best-selling yet.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“A terrific read.”—The Dallas Morning News

“Award-winning writer Elmer Kelton—a star in the shrinking Western genre—totes you effortlessly to the post-Civil War Texas frontier, where white settlers were just learning to live with freed slaves, Comanches and each other . . . . His characters, like Shannon, make mistakes, are far from perfect and take life in stride.”—The New York Post

“Kelton is a master of both plot and character development, and his Rusty Shannon is a down-to-earth, dusty cowboy whose exploits always thrill Kelton’s fans.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (January 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312873190
• ISBN-13: 978-0312873196
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,495,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elmer Kelton of San Angelo, Texas is a native Texan and author of over 50 Western novels. He has won many awards for his work and has been recognized as the Greatest Western Writer of all time by the Western Writers of America, Inc. He is the author of Forge's Texas Ranger series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ferociously Good Sequel!, February 7, 2001

By 

Robert M. Barge (Fort Davis, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Badger Boy (Hardcover)

Little wonder that Elmer Kelton has been voted the greatest western writer of all time by the Western Writers of America. His current novel, "Badger Boy," extends Kelton's reputation of well-researched excellence. As entertaining as it's predecessor, "The Buckskin Line," "Badger Boy" transports the reader to post-Civil War Texas with writing so vivid you can smell the earthiness of frontier cabin and taste the pungency of frontier justice. You find yourself caring about these characters and if you're like me, you'll be eagerly anticipating their further adventures. Sink your teeth into this one!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rusty Shannon: Meet "Badger Boy"!, December 28, 2000

By 

Gary E. Briers - See all my reviews

This review is from: Badger Boy (Hardcover)

Elmer Kelton develops further the character of Rusty Shannon, first introduced to us in "The Buckskin Line." As the Civil War ends, Rusty finally takes leave of the Rangers (the "Buckskin Line") to return to his home and to his sweetheart. There he finds his first surprise. Conflict between old and new enemies meets Rusty--as often as he renews old friendships and acquaintances. And some of those enemies and acquaintances are Indians. Just as Rusty had been taken by raiding Indians as a child, so was young "Badger Boy." The manner in which Rusty and Badger Boy link up is pure Kelton. Ah, and the great thing is that it's obvious the struggles (and Kelton's writing about them) will continue. If you've read "The Buckskin Line" and liked it, you'll LOVE "Badger Boy." But you'll be waiting for more Kelton when you finish this 'un! If you have NOT read "Buckskin Line," do so, or this book will leave you wondering. Kelton outdoes himself again, but we know there's more to come! Doesn't get any bett'r'n that! Is the next Kelton gonna be a sequel to "Badger Boy" or to "Smiling Country." I can hardly wait!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HARD TO PUT IT DOWN!!!!!!!, June 2, 2002

By 

Mac Blair "Mac Blair" (Huntingdon, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Badger Boy (Texas Rangers) (Mass Market Paperback)

Bager Boy is about Rusty Shannon and his activities as the Civil War ends. He was a Ranger and as such is on his way back home after the war. The book will hold your attention. Rusty has to face many disapointments. His girl has gotten married, he has no money and not much hope of getting any. There are people who would like him gone. It is a good story of people at that time and the hard time they faced. Rusty ends up finding a white boy, dressed as an Indian and who had been living with the tribe for several years. This is Bager Boy. As expected the Boy is rejected by what is left of his family and Rusty is to take him back to his own prople. The ending has a surprise. The book is more of a family adventure than a "shoot out western". It does have a good story. I question the name as the Bager Boy does not relly show up in the book until page 158 when the book is half over, but then I did not name it.