Customer Reviews

Black Sun: The Battle of Summit Springs, 1869 (Plainsmen)

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Black Sun is the 4th in the Plainsmen Series and the 4th book of Terry Johnston's that I have read. Since reading it, I have read the next 4 books in the series. Terry Johnston brings the old west to life with his descriptive writing. He has researched this period of time and knows what he is writing about. Black Sun was like the other books that I have read of his in that once you start reading, you can't put it down. He is successful in taking his reader captive and transporting them to the old west to be a spectator of the adventures of Seamus Donegan and his friends, fictional and real life. I highly recommend this book and the others in the Plainsmen Series.

The Battle of Summit Springs in July of 1869 is the subject of the fourth book in Terry C. Johnston's "Plainsmen Series". This engagement is sometimes referred to as Major Eugene A. Carr vs. Tall Bull of the Cheyennes. The Indians, specifically the warrior society known as "Dog Soldiers", raided in Kansas and Colorado at will, terrorizing ranchers and wagon trains and kidnapping white women and children. Carr's Fifth Cavalry was dispatched to seek and destroy the Indians and put a stop to the depredations once and for all. Carr was guided by Buffalo Bill Cody and Pawnee scouts in searching for the Indian village until it was located at Summit Springs. Seamus Donegan, Johnston's fictional hero, rides side by side with Buffalo Bill throughout the pages of the adventure. This story doesn't quite measure up to Johnston's first three books but his fans will nevertheless enjoy this historical novel.

Anybody even remotely interested in the mid 1800's events that took place in the Dakota's, Wyoming, Montana and even Texas, should have the 16 book series. I purchased every single one, after reading the "Sioux Dawn" book from our local library, I was hooked and it has given me a completely different outlook on the happenings to the Indians in this country. I was born and raised in the Netherlands and my "Indian Knowledge" was strictly from the movies. But this book has opened my eyes to what we as human beings can do to each other. And most of what they did to the Indian Nations is nothing to be proud of. How many times did the white man break the treaties they made with the natives?? I don't know, haven't been able yet to figure out how many times.
In one of the books Mr. Johnston mentions that he is planning as many as 22 or 23 for the Series, I for one will purchase every one of them. Mr. Terry C. Johnston is very fast becoming my favorite historical/novel writer.
Yours,
Richard H. Reupert