Customer Reviews

Long Ride Home

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

 

 

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.

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.

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

I love Michael Gear an d will read anything he writes. that also goes for his wife Kathleen Gear. This book was very good and it gave the reader an insight into exactly what western life was without sugar coating it and without the glamourization of the times. I recommend it but be sure you want to know the truth and not the fiction.

mr gear cannot write a bad book. i have read and have all his and wifes books. waiting for his next one to be printed and mailed to me i think in feb. 2011.

I couldn't get interested in the characters, especially Theo Belk. He didn't seem much better than the "evil" man he was hunting.

This book was a gift for someone. He couldn't stop bragging about how the history in these books is so authentic and correct. I will continue to send this person books by W. Michael Gear.

This book's first edition was in November 1988. I have read this same novel at least four times. Once you start reading, you can't put it down. If you love westerns, you must read this one.

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