Customer Reviews

Roswell, Texas

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Roswell Texas is a spin off from L. Neil Smith's Probability Broach series.
It combines both historical (and hysterical) figures and fictional characters to create a story that is amusing, thought provoking and just great fun. If you share Mr. Smith's political ideals you will love this book. If you don't, the adventure, humor, and just plain fun of this book will still make it worth your time.
By me this book's only fault is that it is a graphic novel instead of a text novel. Perhaps if enough of us buy this book it will convince some publisher to release a text version.
You will notice I emphasize the word fun in describing this book. It is in fact more than thirteen dollars worth of enjoyment. Any serious thought this book may provoke is value added to the fun offered. A perfect summer book (and winter, spring, fall book.)
enjoy

Quick note: this story is NOT set in the North American Confederacy, but in yet another alternate world.

A fun series (I read it on-line) which tells of an Earth were Davy Crockett lived and Santa Ann didn't. And which Texas never joined the United Stated, but became a free proto-libertarian republic.

Many real people are used as the basis for several characters, as the agents of several foreign governments (US, Canada, Third and a half Reich, Vatican-in-exile, Rep of California, Franco-Mexican Empire, etc) invade Texas to find out what crashed there. Part of the fun is figurating out who is who in this story.

Hope at some point they publish a full color reprint, instead of gray scale, prehaps with added info on who is who...

Imagine an Earth where Texas stayed out of the Union, where California truly became a "Magical Kingdom" - complete with President Walt Disney - where it was Laurence of Albania, not Arabia, where Malcom X stay Malcom Little - and became a Texas Ranger. Yes, in Roswell, Texas, all this happens! And we find out the source of the Grays as well as just who was piloting the Roswell Saucer.

Don't miss this read!

Lneil and co have put together a great alternate universe tale of what having freedom is all about...something not recognized in today's environment...I've read about all of his books and really really enjoy the theme behind the story...the humor is dry and witty...keep them coming sensei!!!!

Everyone above has already described it well. The best cast of characters ever. I often laughed at the sets and who was cast as whom. The more SciFi you have read the more you'll like this. Many send-ups of SciFi cliches.

One complaint, it is printed in black & white. I would have gladly paid a few dollars more for color. I originally read the story on line and it was in color which made it more enjoyable.

Ya ready for a rocking ride, pohdnah? "Roswell, Texas" is a story by L. Neil Smith and Rex May that will leave you breathless. The fact that it is a graphic novel lusciously drawn by the incomparable Scott Bieser (with coloring by Jen Zach, although this is a black and white book) only means you get to *see* what the dickens L. Neil Smith's alternative history is like - and you will be amazed! Davy Crockett survives the Alamo, and as a result the Republic of Texas remains an independent nation (much larger than current Texas). President Charles Lindburgh sends his emissaries Wild Bill Bear, Malcolm Little, Meir Kahane, and Judah Benjamin Rockwell out west to investigate the 1947 crash landing of - something. Meanwhile, the Republic of California President for Life Walter Elias Disney sends his representative, Col. Mike Morrison, to do the same. Of course, the Americans, the British, and the Franco-Mexican Empire all follow suit! Get the picture? A rollicking ride through the Wild West that never was (but maybe is?), "Roswell, Texas" finds L. Neil Smith back in top form. And oh yeah - did I mention the aliens, the scantily-clad ladies, and the gun-toting smart aleck Amber-Rose Bierce? Half the fun is figuring out who is being lampooned (Mike Morrison is obviously The Duke, John Wayne) and the other half is turning the page to see what's coming next. Highly Recommended!

L Neil & Rex May (along with the art of Beiser & Co.) create another alternate history that fans wish that they could move to. A Texas that never joined the U. S. and developed into a magnificently free country.
The cast is great, a mix of fictional characters and historical ones living (sometimes radically) different lives embark on a wild adventure to find out what crashed near Roswell in 1947.
Lot of action and laughs make for a great read. *Note to any who aren't aware; a character from this Texas (not one from the graphic novel) plays a pivotal role in L. Neil's novel 'The American Zone'.*

I really enjoyed reading it online at bigheadpress.com and decided to buy it. The only thing different is that the print version is black&white and it's color online.

Normally I`m not a big fan of comic books, even fancy ones they call graphic novels, but in this case I have to make an exception.
The story is excellent and so is the art work. Filled with fun, humor, and the promotion of individual liberty.
It`s not as good as some of Smith`s novels, but it`s still good in its own right. I highly recommend it.

L. Neil Smith's last book I read, The Probability Broach, was exciting and gave someone what a dyed in the wool libertarian society could look like. The colored graphics was pleasing and engaging. Roswell, Texas is simply not as good in terms of story and graphics which is strictly black and white. Still worth reading but if you were to choose one, choose The Probability Broach.