Customer Reviews

Hombrecito's War

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Mike Farmer is an engineer and writer of technical books and papers. I had no idea he was also an outstanding fiction writer. As a reader of western history (cowboy era) and fiction almost exclusively I found this book to be an interesting mix of both. I am familiar with the historical event on which the story is based and I have traveled the geographical area many times. The narrative paints clear and accurate scenes and the reader becomes so engrosed in the story that he wants to enter the story and talk to the characters. I found myself wanting to give advice to the characters in anticipation of what may happen next. Sometimes it would have been good! A difficult book to put down. Eddie Wayne

Hombrecito's War is a superlative read. Michael Farmer has created excellent historical action fiction with true-to-life charactes. Set in beautifully described New Mexico, the story unfolds from the turbulent early 1900s to modern times. The time transitions are a fascinating interplay between Henry, a physician telling the story of his early life to Roberta, his long time nurse, as they race down highway 70 across the Tularosa Basin to help his Apache surrogate father, Yellow Boy. Yellow Boy saved young Henry's life after Henry's father was murdered and the killers attempted to kill Henry. Yellow Boy, a warrior, and Rufus Pike, a tough buffalo hunter/cattle man, who is self-educated, raise Henry. The interplay of the three characters is fascinating as Yellow Boy and Rufus educate Henry in the rugged ways of a warrior, survival, book learning, and help find the revenge that drives his life. Interspersed with the relationships are vivid descriptions of New Mexico, turbulent depictions of often-violent politics, tender love and caring, and Apache warrior life. Hombrecito's War is a powerful story, a true western myth.

A well written story about revenge in the Southwest territory portraying the life and times of a true Apache Warrior adopting a young boy and teaching him the skills of survival as an Apache in the late 1800's. The author depicts actual places of the terrain with modern and historical aspects it puts the reader in specific parts of the territory with vivid reality.
I would highly recommend this book to readers of historical fiction.
Mescalero Apache Tribe
Lillian Chavez, Tribal Librarian

This book is a fantastic read, well worth the money for the amount of entertainment it provides. It has an element of the old west, and shows interesting contrasts between then and today...how far we have come yet how close we remain. It has well-developed characters and is based in part on a true story, so the story line is very realistic. I found that the book kept my interest...I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. In addition to the story itself, the writing style is entertaining. The author uses unique phrases that paint enjoyable mental images that I have never experienced before. I keep referring back to certain sections to reread these phrases. I think there is more to the story, and hope there is a sequel. I'll buy it as soon as it comes out!

This is a fantastic story. If you are a fan of Robert F. Jones ("Tie My Bones To Her Back","Deadville", etc.)you will find Hombrecito's War and Hombrecito's Search very enjoyable.Great characters. Highly recommended.

This was a very enjoyable book, which surprisingly, drew me in emotionally. From the death of Henry Fountain through the great ending, I cried more than once. The story is told with wonderful details of the landscape of Mexico, which put the reader right in the midst of things. I especially enjoyed the reminiscent style in which the story is written. It kept reminding me that the main character, Henry Grace, was sharing the story of his childhood with an old and very dear friend. I especially loved the characters of Rufus Pike and Yellow Boy, who molded Henry's entire life beginning when he was only 8 years old. The education he received from them was more valuable than anything he could have learned in a classroom. I hope there's a sequel to this one.

My book club, comprised of six women, has been meeting almost monthly for six years, and in that time, we have never read a western (unless "Death Comes for the Archbishop" counts as a western). We all LOVED this book, even though none of us is much of a fan of the western genre. Farmer paints a vivid picture of southern New Mexico and tells his tale well. We eagerly anticipate a sequel telling the story of Henry's lost years in Mexico.