Customer Reviews

Panther in the Sky

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This novel is about the life and works of Tecumseh, the Shawnee chief who was at the center of Indian resistance to American expansion from the 1790s until the War of 1812.

Like other great Indian leaders before him (Pontiac, Joseph Brandt) and after (Crazy Horse), Tecumseh dreamed of uniting the Indian tribes and throwing back the white encroachment, carving out the space for the Indians to continue to practice their traditional way of life. He had many obstacles to overcome, not all of which were caused by the whites. In general, Indian societies were plagued by short-term thinking and an inability to grasp the big picture of what was really happening to their world. A number of Indian leaders were great tacticians, scoring big victories and then scattering while the whites regrouped and came relentlessly on. Only a few leaders were able to think strategically enough to actually slow the white advance. Tecumseh was one of these military geniuses.

The novel works as history, but it also works as a great story. Thom creates a sense of grief and regret about the loss of the Indians' world, but he doesn't whitewash the Indians. Tecumseh's brother, The Prophet, is depicted as a charlatan, and there are some brutal scenes of the torture that the Indians inflicted on their white captives. This low and cowardly behavior is a source of great despair for Tecumseh, who wants to elevate his people to a higher spiritual plane.

In a few spots in the book, Tecumseh appears too good to be true. I had a hard time believing that his goodness would have caused his arch-enemy, William Henry Harrison, to question the righteousness of his own cause. But overall the character of Tecumseh comes off as admirable but very human as he wrestles with spiritual questions, doubts, and vulnerabilites.

Panther In The Sky is historical fiction at its absolute finest. It details the life and times of the famous Shawnee war chief in a compelling and realistic fashion. The descriptions of the native American way of life, spirituality and bloody battles with the encroaching white man are riviting. This is an epic that I found impossible to put down. This was my first Thom book--I intend to read all of his work. A truly great book.

I have read extensively on the life of Tecumseh and this is the defintive novel. I feel it is best to read last, or reread once one feels he or she understands the settling of the Northwest. It takes knowledge to respct this novel. This is the book that tells the tale of Tecumseh, but one must understand the tale of Tecumseh before one appreciates this book. Thom is a thoughtful and dedicated writer. Outstanding.

I first read this book ten years ago, at the age of twelve. On average, I read it or another of Thom's books every year. What is wondeful about this particular one is the incredible amount of research he put into a "fictional" piece. As a member of the present-day Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band, I know firsthand how he studied with our chief and our elders and also pored over every piece of written history that he could get his hands on. Thus, though it is a fictionalized account of Tecumseh's life, it is very accurate in the events it describes, as well as the language, customs and costumes of the Shawnee. On top of all that, it is a wonderful story, told by a master. As a future high school history teacher, I plan to make parts of it required reading in American History class. Don't pass up this book!

and was late for many a class because I was so engrossed that I failed to hear the bell go off! I was taken by suprise when I got to the end, I hadn't noticed how fast the pages went by.
Loaded with historical facts but never gets the feel of a textbook, and gives us a vivid picture of the "backstory" of history, the little but important details that don't get into the textbooks.

Truly a work of art in literature format. Thom brings the Shawnee Nation to life again as it once was and evokes great feeling through his work, which has a depth of its own, almost unparalleled. He is a master at his particular craft. The thing which depressed me most about this book besides reading of the destruction of The People in seemingly all too vivid detail, was the fact that i think i shall never read a better book, for this would be hard to top. Understand though that i am a great admirer of Tecumseh, so bias may come into play. But also understand that being as i am, such works would endure intense scutiny, as this book has, and yet from me, it receives nothing but praise. Too often, i have witnessed history butchered by those unskilled in its telling, but Thom has shown through his work that he is truly a student of the past and is the teacher when it comes to its portrayal. 5+ stars!

In Panther, Thom did what he does best. He takes characters from history, erases them from the beautiful lithographs in our textbooks, and shows us their human side. Having done so, he then restores their demigod-like qualities by fitting them into the lifestyle of their era and showing us how they struggled and suffered to reach their goal. History books may say, for instance, that "they made an arduous journey...". Thom carries you every step of the way; the freezing, bloody, bare feet, the starvation & deprivation, the determination to reach the end that earned these people their places in history. To read Thom's works is to know his people, our icons.

I liked the book. I did not find it as 'gripping' as some of the other Thom works, but it was still a good read. A little long and sometimes slow and repetitive, but worth reading.

This book, like no others that I have read, truly brings Tecumseh and the Shawnee people to life. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. It was absolutely spellbinding. I could hardly wait to read the next page! James Alexander Thom gives us a perspective of Indian life that is truly fascinating and interesting and human. After reading this book I understand Tecumseh better and it makes me wish that I could have known him personally.

In "Panther in the Sky," James A. Thom has, perhaps, achieved the great American novel. If not, it certainly places him in the pantheon of American writers. He may even be the best writer we have.

Don't miss this book!