Long Ride Home [Mass Market Paperback]

W. Michael Gear (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 1991

Theo Belk is the quintessential gunfighter: rootless, ruthless, and deadly.  In the fierce and lawless Western frontier of 1874 these traits were what was needed to stay alive.  Haunted by the ghosts of the men he's killed, there is one man he has set out to destroy...Louis Gasceaux, the man who murdered his parents while a younger Theo watched. But the trail Theo's following is long and bloody...and Louis always seems to stay a few steps ahead.

This is how it was--from gritty buffalo and gold camps to brawling, building towns like Denver, Cheyenne, and Dodge City, populated with ambitious dreamers, deluded fools, and pragmatic women.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a warning to those looking for the Hollywood stereotpyed hero, he won't be found in Long Ride Home . . . Theo Belk is as tough as a boiled owl and sometimes just as unsavory. . . ".--Douglas C. Jones, author of Gone the Dreams and Dancing. Gear is the co-author of the nationally bestselling People of the Wolf and People of the Fire.

About the Author

W. Michael Gear, who holds a master's degree in archaeology, has worked as a professional archaeologist since 1978. He is currently principal investigator for Wind River Archaeological Consultants.

W. Michael Gear and his wife, Kathleen O'Neal Gear are co-authors of the First North American Series and Anasazi Mystery Series (USA Today bestsellers) and live in Thermopolis, Wyoming.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (February 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812513924
• ISBN-13: 978-0812513929
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,128,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

W. Michael Gear has co-written 23 international bestsellers which have been translated into 21 languages. His novel People of the Raven won the Golden Spur Award in 2005. Michael's solo novel Morning River was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in 1998. In addition to writing both fiction and non-fiction, the Gear operates an anthropological research company called Wind River Archaeological Consultants, and raises buffalo on his ranch in northern Wyoming.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe it was just like this, December 28, 2008

By 

R. CROSBY "jcrosbychi" (Northern, illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Long Ride Home (Paperback)

Wow! What a novel. I almost want to say this is to western novels what "Andersonville" is to Civil War novels. The story morphs several actual wild west gunmen into "Theo Belk." Maybe those guys were that looney, or walking contradictions as Theo is. It moves at a quick pace and does the job of showing "Regeneration through violence" that "Blood Meridian" is suppose to do. Except this book does not have the creepy psycos of Meridian, or the surrleaism nonsense.

As a side note. The author portrays the use and types of period firearms
correctly. Being a lifelong history buff, it always ruined the story for me in westerns when the post civil war period is seen has having all cartridge revolvers. Really! (Those guys used cap and ball revolvers and some people did have the newer design S&W cartridge guns.) Judging by the old photos and writings, gunmen used the Civil War period firearms-period. Not the Colt "peacemaker" which came along after the heyday of the big cattle drives.

A wonderful book any history buff would love. Well done, and done right. It grabs you and won't let go. It has the "you are there" affect. Very vivid.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down, March 21, 2008

By 

B. Laleman (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Long Ride Home (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked this book up many years ago out of curiosity because I have read all of the archaeological series by him and his wife. I began reading it and couldn't put it down. The main character is completely believable and makes you want to follow him through his many travels. It's a great character study and a great way to see all the parts that made up the Old West. The character and events in this book have come back to me many times over the years since I read the book. It is one of the very few books I have read in my life that affected me very deeply.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is magnificent., February 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Long Ride Home (Mass Market Paperback)

Gear has a talent.The way he uses vernacular is astounding.The characters are portayed as they would o' been back then.