10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Orlando Sackett--#8 In The Sackett Series, August 2, 2005
This book was first issued as a Bantam paperback in December, 1962, having Orlando Sackett as the narrator. The time period circa 1873-1875 was assigned by Louis L'Amour in his Sackett Companion, and that places the book as #8 in the Sackett family series.
This is essentially a fictional story concerning Orlando Sackett, narrated by him, as he leaves the mountains of Tennessee, the Sackett historical homeland, unless you are like Parmalee Sackett, a flatland Sackett. Falcon Sackett, Orlando's father, settled in Tennessee after marrying Orlando's mother to be, Aleyne Kurbishaw. As Orlando leaves the mountains the Tinker (Cosmo Lengro) is his companion, one who says little, but knows much. During the ensuing years of mule raising and racing, bare knuckle fighting, Mexican incarceration, and gold chasing, the Tinker and his wonderfully made knives will be Orlando's guide and companion. I'm not going to give you more of the plot, for those are not the reviews I give, and most other reviews here will offer adequate background as to the plot.
What I will offer is what none of these other reviews knew or offer: there are many details within this deceptively simple novel of the west that are all true. This is a novel from Louis that is a veritable treasure trove of facts.
For instance, the details of what a tinker was, his life and travels, is all true of the times. Jem Mace is mentioned as an English prizefighter of the time, and that is also true: he fought from 1855 through 1864, today classed as a welterweight. The gunfighters of the story: Cullen Baker, Bill Longley and Bob Lee are true characters drawn from this time and place. Governor Edmund Jackson Davis was a real reconstruction governor for the state of Texas, and during his time in office an unknown man, L. H. McNelly, who later became a legend in the Texas Rangers, was part of the governor's police force. Juan Cortina, born in Mexico on May 16, 1824, dying in 1894, also existed. The Bald Knobbers were an actual group of vigilantes around Forsyth, Missouri, who were later disbanded by force, some members being hung, due to their ruffian activities. The cities of Beeville from the 1830s and Oakville, a lawless city Captain McNelly later cleaned up, also existed, and still did at the time of Louis' novel. Finally the Henry Rifle is known to all western readers as a gun appearing during the American Civil War, eventually leading the way to developing the later and famous 1873 Winchester repeating rifles of the frontier. These are just some of the facts and historical notes tucked within this novel, there are more. But these will suffice.
I have all of Louis L'Amour's books in hardcover, and generally enjoy all of them. When I first encountered this one, however, I did not think much of it. But upon discovering the facts that lay behind it and tucked into it, I became more and more interested.
If you want an enjoyable western from Louis, though certainly not in the category of Hondo or Shalako let's say, but still a very interesting read, don't be shy of reading this one. It can be digested in only a few hours, but the facts will add to your western understanding.
Semper Fi.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Landois a Winner!, October 29, 2004
I was reading over some of these reviews and saw that some readers had given Lando a luke warm rating. Had to put in my own two cents.
I thought Lando was flat out terrific! This character is a bit different than many of Louis L'Amour's main men, and I liked the differences. Lando is full of action and the fist fighting scenes are top notch.... the best. I've read perhaps a hundred of L'Amour's books; have enjoyed all of them, some more so than others, but Lando is a winner. Darn good read.
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