Customer Reviews

Badger Boy

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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!!

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.

I must have misunderstood the description. This book style is not what I had anticipated or thought I was ordering.

*Badger Boy* was a chance find on a local store bookshelf which was almost unpopulated by anything resembling science fiction, and while I don't regret the purchase or the time spent reading the novel, I'm a bit disappointed. Kelton is not a bad storyteller, and he's got a good touch at characterization. The truthfulness of his settings I can't satisfactorily address as I'm unfamiliar with the history of Texas and the Indian Territories at the depicted time, but they seem robust enough. The problem is that the work appears to be no more than a matchstick sketch, without much depth or detail, and these characters -- and the situations in which they find themselves -- really deserve much better. If *Badger Boy* is any indication of the present state-of-the-art in Western fiction, then the writers and fans of this genre are stuck at roughly the same phase of development as was characterized in science fiction by works like A.E. van Vogt's *Slan* (which was published in 1946). Speaking as an outsider -- a science fiction fan who has little experience with the Western genre -- can I ask just why the hell a writer as obviously talented as Elmer Kelton is producing stuff that promises so much and delivers so little? Is it that you Western fiction fans are too easily satisfied, and don't support your writers as intelligently and expectantly as you should?