Customer Reviews

Death of an Eagle

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As the book that first introduced me to Kirby Jonas, Death of an Eagle may always be my favorite. It had such a new, fresh quality to it that I was intrigued and hooked from the first page.

I portrayed television's The Virginian for many years, and in that portrayal I got to recognize varying degrees of quality in writing and in the way things were portrayed. I have to tell everyone who has a chance to read any of Kirby Jonas's books that you are making a grave error if you let this chance go by. I am so impressed with this author. I was so impressed with his books, in fact, that I suggested putting them on audio tape, and Kirby and I have since undertaken that endeavor with a major book on tape company in Washington State. I have read, to date, Death of an Eagle and The Dansing Star onto tape and plan to do them all.

I have become biased about Kirby's books, of course, because we have become friends. But I can't imagine he could write a bad book, and I would stake my reputation on that. What a tremendous boon this man is to the Western fiction field.

Death of an Eagle will draw you in to the world of Jose Olano and Robert McAllister with such force that you won't want to let go of them. You'll feel goosebumps as you read it, and you will smell the smells, feel the feelings, even taste what they taste. Kirby Jonas is real, and he is authentic, and as far as I can see he is the best western novel writer there is. I have read Zane Grey books on tape before, and I never once lost control of my reading to the point that I had to stop. SUch is not the case with Kirby. His books drew me in so deeply emotionally that I had to stop and have a cigarette several times and think about what I was involved in. What a power this young man has with his audience. DO NOT MISS HIM.

It was great to see James Drury's name again. There are still some of us fans left, I guess. He's definitely teling the truth too. I read Death of an Eagle, and it is great from the first page on. How can anyone write such a good story? There is a bear attack from a huge grizzly bear right away, and the main character fights that bear heroically. It was so much like I was fighting it. You can't believe the depth of these characters and how close you get to them. You don't want to let them go. Bring back more of these people, Kirby Jonas! Bless you for writing a book I can read to my eight-year-old or loan to my mom. We've needed a good clean western writer since Louis L'Amour died, and now I've found one better!

A sculptor taps away at a rock and reveals the body he finds beneath the stone. A painter looks at a blank canvas and sees images coming to life at the discretionary wave of his hand. It is the essence of the artist that we are left to interpret as we often see little of the toil that brought the piece to life. However, sometimes, we look upon an artistic rendering and know the artist suffered, or enjoyed, or was fulfilled by the work; and we get to see the secret innermost reaches of his soul. It speaks to us because it was so very real and important to him. And in that moment when that common thread is found, we smile and say, "I understand what he meant." Now the inverse of that would be the artist that looked at his audience and said, "I understand what they want." This book, like all those of Jonas, gives the lover of the West just that. This man ushers his readers into a time machine and brings the west alive in a way that no writer, in my experience, previously has done. Zane Gray and Louis L'Amour will always be the standards to which this writer is compared as people will find it hard to step out of the genre. But I challenge the reader to compare Jonas' work to the pieces completed by Hemingway at this stage of his career, even Kipling, or Yeats. There is a poetry and fluidity to this young man's style that happens to be portrayed in the west but should be respected on any level of writing quality. You see, PASSION, in all things, is what separates those from the common soldiers that allow the momentum of mediocrity to rule their lives. Jonas speaks volumes of heart and soul in "Eagle" because the voice he has found rings true and with a commitment to accuracy. Much like a proud man would protect his family heritage, Jonas takes the responsibility of "story teller" to the highest degree. "Death of an Eagle" is a must read. It's portrayals of accuracy, kinship, loyalty and heart are merely the superficial assets of the "piece". Lying below the sculptor's rendering, surrounded by stone, beats a heart, available to all and proudly offered by this great author.

I read Death of an Eagle after being introduced to Jonas's books through THE DANSING STAR. I didn't think Jonas could get any better, but now I don't know. I'll have to cast my vote for this one. I've read Louis L'Amour all my life, and he was always my favorite author. One of the other reviewers said Kirby Jonas is called THE NEW LOUIS L'AMOUR, and that fits. But he's actually better than L'Amour. His character development is complete and tremendous! What a super book! My favorite western of all time--a match for SHANE.

There was a time when western fiction was mostly thrilling, fun reading. Kirby Jonas has catapulted this genre onto a new unprecedented level. It is exciting to wonder where this brilliant young author will take his writing and career. As a writer without equal, a painter of note, a songwriter and musician of exemplary ability here is one talented man poised for leadership in this new century! Watch Kirby go! Death of an Eagle was the first Jonas book I read and thus will always be a huge favorite except that each of his other books is individually just as good! Death of an Eagle reads well, has powerful development and transition, teaches methodically and so strongly draws the reader into the exciting story that you are there, you see the sights, smell the smells, experience the emotions and feel the feelings. And what great and exciting experiences these are, going from one high point on to another. It is better than a movie because the mind is more creative than the screen could ever be. And Kirby draws the creativity right out of you! Death of an Eagle is one incredible book. Through it all the perceptive reader will also come to realize that a tremendous amount of very careful research has gone into the writing and historicity of the book. And the story comes out clean and nonoffensive so that it makes great reading for the young and sensitive reader. This book alone would put Jonas at the top of my favorites. Fortunately for us he keeps putting out books of the same top quality. This is most certainly a five star book just as Kirby is a five star author! You haven't experienced western fiction until you have read Death of an Eagle! A CLASSIC!

I was scanning throught this web site,and came across this review by my hero JAMES ''THE VIRGINIAN'' DRURY. His review led me to go buy the books of Kirby Jonas. Jim was absolutely right! you can take drury and jonas to the bank. and i can't wait until jim comes out on tape with these books. if you haven't read these books by jonas you are missing a great read. AND I'D LOVE TO STATE HERE THAT I SEVERLY MISS YOU TOO JIM ON TELEVISION. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KIRBY IN THE FUTURE! Folks please dont miss these books.If you like a slam bang western story dont pass these up.

I read Kirby Jonas's The Dansing Star, and I didn't think a better book could come along. Then I read Death of an Eagle. I don't know if it's actually better. But it's different. Refreshing, and happy and sad. It brings out every emotion you can feel, bar none. The ending of this book is so sad, but it shows how life was back then, and the changing of the west. Still, good always triumphs in a great book, and Death of an Eagle has to be among the top books from the who I consider the best Western writer who has ever lived. They call Kirby Jonas the New Louis L'AMour. I loved L'AMour's stuff, but Jonas is FAR better--more historically accurate, and more full of detail and emotion.

A wonderful epic read beautifully by James Drury. I give it 5 stars, it is one of the most engrossing books I have ever read (or listened to). However I am having some difficulty with the sadness of the story. I thought it was a little too tragic for my taste.

I read for pleasure and escape, and I like to be happy when its over. This is why I have read most all of Louis Lamour, some at least twice. There is good and bad, and good always wins in the end. Everyone lives happily ever after.

This is my first Jonas Kirby book. I probably won't be able to stay away from the rest, this one was so moving.

Great book ! Emotionally, I had to put the book down several times for a few moments to" soak-in "the impact Jose' and McAllister were having on me - I became them and their feelings were my feelings. Awesome reading experience.

The best one yet! I have long been a fan of the western novel and this one is among my favorites. The characters feel like people you know. The descriptions show the flavor of the country as it was and life as a pioneer and the hardships of exploring an untamed land.

Keep 'em coming Kirby.