Customer Reviews

Frontier Earth

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tombstone 1881; not the slightly gritty, visually septic Hollywood version, but a real, multi-layered tapestry of frontier life, where the gap separating the lawless from the law keepers is thin and murky. This is the well-researched backdrop for a science fiction story that would give Sigourney Weaver nightmares.

From the outset, we are thrust into a cat and mouse game. The predators are creatures who do not feed simply on human flesh, but feast, indeed savor, human terror. The prey is a man without a memory. But there's far more at stake that just his life...if only he could recall why.

At times, the reader is caught up in the events leading to the most famous showdown in American western history, the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Then changing gear, the unfolding drama is seen from the alien perspectives of hunter and hunted, both of whom are confused by human motivations and self-righteous, conflicting moralities.

Cocky and self-assured, caught up in their own unfolding drama, the human players have no comprehension that the very future of Earth is at stake as they head towards their own violent climax. A climax that without alien involvement, may have seen history written very differently....

The book is punctuated with a rich patina of sensations. Not simply visual, but visceral. The brutality of the aliens is described with imagery that reaches into our primitive hindbrain and shakes it uncomfortably. Yet we also see that some humans too, feed on terror and in many ways are as unprincipled as the most horrific of aliens our imaginations can conjure.

Read this one carefully to savor the tastes and textures of a well written, first book. I look forward to a sequel.

The man really did it! This first novel gives us a taste of Harry Turtledove, with a dash of Stephen King, and a healthy dose of Mr. Boxleitner's wit, charm and experienced actor's sense of story. It is definitely a first novel AND a setup for a sequel so the exposition is sometimes too lengthy, in moments even diluting the suspense, BUT when it revs up, it really revs up and is well worth the read--looking forward to more from such a creative storyteller!

Having just picked this book up, I was struck by the level of research that the author obviously performed to get the flavor and historical authenticity of the Tombstone area. The intensity of the Earp-Clanton feud his heightened by the behind the scenes death struggle between the Monitor and the Kra'agh.

This type of believeable alien is similar to those done by William H. Keith in his novels, and therefore it is no suprise to see Bill Keith acknowledged in the book.

I was forced to stay up far too late to finish this book. I hope there are more forthcoming, and more information on the Associatives, and the eerily dangerous Kra'agh.

Macklin and Doris are descendants from the lost colony of Roanoke, whose citizens were taken into space by a benevolent race. Both serve as Monitors insuring the safety of earth from malevolent aliens. As a prelude to an invasion, the Kr'agh attack the ship of the Monitors, which ultimately crashes onto the planet. Macklin suffers amnesia and wonders into Tombstone, Arizona circa 1881.

The Kr'agh trail Macklin, munching on humans along the way and absorbing their intelligence like a sponge. The Kr,agh soon disguise themselves as human and join the Clanton gang. Macklin allies himself with the Earp brothers. Doris catches up and helps Macklin regain his memory, as the OK Corral is about to occur.

At first glance, the story line of FRONTEIR EARTH seems like a zillion other novels with similar themes that for the most part failed. However, Babylon 5 star Bruce Boxleitner provides freshness to the OK Corral that will please science fiction and western fans. The plot is filled with non-stop action and actually appears plausible. The Monitors are an interesting duo and the Kr'agh make for some vile villains. Mr. Boxleitner shows a deft touch that will lead to readers wanting more novels in this universe.

Harriet Klausner

I picked this one up because it's no secret that Bruce Boxleitner is a fan and reader of science fiction and a history buff. I thought it would be interesting to see how he managed to combine the two in this tale purporting to be first contact with aliens in 1881 in the Old West

The protagonist is Monitor Macklin, a human being from stock that came originally from Earth, and sent to Earth to keep us safe from the predator aliens. There's a couple problems, though: the predator Kra'augh are already here, getting ready to move in, strip-mine the planet and enjoy hunting the Food -- us. And Macklin's ship crash-landed and he's lost a chunk of his memory. His AI implant is working hard to feed him data, but his head injury is making it hard to get through. To make it more interesting, Macklin arrives in Tombstone shortly before the OK Corral shootout (and if you don't know what this is, go watch Tombstone).

The story focuses on Macklin trying to figure out why he's here and who he is and why he knows what horses and saddles are, but has obviously never ridden. Meanwwhile, Monitor Doreen, Macklin's partner and lover, who did land safely (they were both dodging the predator ships when they landed), is busy looking for him. Concurrent with that, two predator scouts are on the move, killing some Food (and pleased with the sport can give) and trying to find the Monitors so they can't send for help.

It's competently written, if a little clumsy sometimes. Nothing fancy in the structure, just the linear storyline ad a few memory flashes of the past from Macklin. I'd guess that Boxleitner is a man with a story to tell, and has chosen to tell it more like a western than sf. I think the humorous side of the Monitors and aliens (who can take on the appearance of Food they have absorbed, but still smell and act strange) trying to fit into the "wild west," is not a well-developed as it could be. It's the beginning of a series. Not all the questions get answered, not all the problems solved. I am, however, interested enough to read the next one.

Suprisingly good melding of SF and western genres. The accurate historical detail, intriguing characters, and a plot that rollicks alongs makes this a very enjoyable read. A few dangling plot threads at the end will whet the reader's appetite for the next volume. A fine "first" effort!

The alien culture is vivid, the Tombstone, AZ setting is well-researched, the characters are intriguing, and the story is exciting! When is the sequel coming out?

I heard about this book over Tumblr actually. I'm a fan of Bruce Boxleitner and was curious about his written works. I bought this book "used" and it was in good condition. It looked like a copy you'd find at a tag-sale, however it was still in very good condition, just took a bit to get the old sticker off the back of the book.

The story itself was captivating. I couldn't put it down most of the time! It was a great read. If you like cowboys and aliens, you'll enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to reading its sequel. :)

I've read reviews of this book on other sites. Some people called it stupid. Others called it campy. One reviewer said it was "Wild west meets Predator."
I call it fun.
I started reading this book with zero expectations. I'm not a huge western fan, but I am a science fiction fan, ergo a book written by a Sci Fi actor in a Sci Fi-ish setting appealed to me. I will admit, my only reason for reading it stemmed from my admiration of Bruce Boxleitner as an actor. I wanted to see how he measured as an author.
I'd say he measures rather well. This isn't an emotionally charged, in-depth treatise on the human condition or one person's world being wrecked then rebuilt after one tragic event, or a series of tragic events. This is not a story about triumph over personal adversity or trauma. This is a fun, action-centered tale that happens to cross aliens and cowboys.
And no, this is not like the trailer released recently. The aliens in this book are subversive, not overt. Their task is to hunt and eliminate the two creatures who could prevent their race from invading Earth, NOT to take it over themselves.
Don't get me wrong. These aliens are nasty - ugly, huge, and both sadistic and masochistic. They're real predators, with both intelligence and technology on their side.
Premise: A life-pod crash lands south of Tombstone, AZ, and from it emerges a man with severe amnesia. His dreams reveal the memories he cannot access in his waking moments, and he finds himself smack in the middle of the conflict between the McLaury Cowboy gang and the Earp Brothers, hunted by creatures he cannot remember and cannot see. But he's not alone. He has allies, and one remembers what he does not.
Don't expect this to be more than a romp through the desert on the back of a horse, and you'll love it.

I don't normally go for these kinds of books, but I got it because my favorite, Bruce Boxleitner, wrote it. I really enjoyed it. The story was good and character development was wonderful. I just found the second book and plan on reading that next. I wish he had written more. What a talented man - I mean actor, writer, and great looking!!!!