Customer Reviews

The Sky-Liners (Thorndike Famous Authors)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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Flagan and Galloway are not only brothers, they are Sacketts. After crossing paths with Black Fetchen and coming out of the ordeal alive, they knew it was best to keep away from him. But when they are asked to escort young and pretty Judith Costello to her father's ranch, they couldn't refuse. Unfortunately, Black Fetchen has had his eye on Judith for a while and wants to marry her. Judith being young also wants to marry him, not knowing what is good for her. So when the Sacketts leave with Judith, Fetchen follows them along with his gang of hired guns and troublemakers. But Fetchen also has another reason for following them out west... and Flagan and Galloway are never the ones to stay away from trouble, no less back away from a fight.

One of my favorite Sackett novels, which is saying a lot since all of the books are fantastic! Louis L'Amour captures the West to perfection in all of his books, making you really get into the story and get to know each and every one of his characters. "The Sky-Liners" differs in some ways from the other Sackett novels in which it has some very humorous parts! From the very first page I guarantee you'll be laughing (I always do!). I'm serious, the first maybe three or four pages where Flagan and Galloway face the Fetchens is hilarious! But the book has its serious and grim parts, with plenty of action and gun fights.

If you loved "The Sky-Liners", I surely do recommend "Galloway", which continues the adventures of the Sackett brothers. But all-in-all, all of the Sackett novels should be read. A few other of my favorites are "Jubal Sackett", "Ride the River", and "Sackett". Other Louis L'Amour greats are "Crossfire Trail", "Westward the Tide", "A Man Called Noon", "North to the Rails", and "Hills of Homicide".

If you're a L'Amour fan all you need to know about this book (to want to read it) is that it's a "Sackett" story. If you like westerns in general this book can be your introduction to the world of Louis L'Amour, the greatest western writer of all time. The story, in itself, is not that unique but the telling of it is L'Amour gold. The Sacketts featured here, Galloway and Flagan, give you more laughs than other Sackett characters and even at their most serious, they entertain. This is a typical L'Amour read which is to say it is NOT a typical western. L'Amour's characters, and especially the Sacketts, show bravery, endurance, loyality and strength. Throughout this book, and any other by this author, you will find profound thoughts, wisdom and ideals to live by - all of this and more is in addition to an action oriented story that will keep you turning pages to the end. If you like this book, you'll want to read "Galloway" and all of the other Sackett novels. Louis L'Amour books become best friends to be revisted again and again. I've been reading his books for 35 years now and still find them exciting and somehow new.

The Sky-Liners is a gripping western audiobook by the celebrated author Louis L'Amour, about brave gunfighters from the Sackett clan who have their work cut out for them simply surviving against the deadliest and most expensive hired enemies. An exciting saga of danger dramatically narrated by Jason Culp, The Sky-Liners fully engage the listener in the thrill of combat, the taking of personal risks, and the determination to persevere no matter what. A "must" for all Louis L'Amour fans, as well as an ideal acquisition choice for community library audiobook collections, The Sky-Liners is a complete and unabridged, with four 1 hour cassettes in a sturdy book-size plastic shell casing.

According to Louis L'Amour the time period of this western novel is 1875 to 1879. Years back in April, 1967, this book was listed as #12 in the then 14 book Sackett saga. But today with fully 18 books in this far from finished series the book comes in at #17 in the series.

Returning from the western lands to repay their deceased father's debt, they start a series of adventures that leave a trail from Tazewell, Tennessee to Dodge City on into the Colorado mining area. Along the way the reader meets up with such real life characters as Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Bob Wright, and Chalk Beeson. But the most rewarding reappearance is that of Cap Roundtree, who comes to the boys' aid in Colorado. Along this trail the Fetchen gang not only murders but also become cattle rustlers. Much later in Colorado, around Walsenburg they also become stagecoach robbers. And they are dogging Flagan and Galloway's trail, they don't like the Sacketts and they want to kill them.

Since the era of Indian Fighting has lessened in Ute country the more dangerous aspect of this book is the Fetchen gang who follows Flagan and Galloway west. Since most law enforcement of the time is strictly local, they are put in position of "saddling their own broncs and stomping their own snakes" as L'Amour has said in several books. In this venture they are aided by many honest men, especially Cap Roundtree.

Louis L'Amour has written that both feuds and fighting as recalled in this western actually were quite commonplace. As examples he lists the Lincoln County War in New Mexico, the Tonto Basin War in Arizona, and Johnson Country war of Wyoming. In addition he mentions there existed dozens of others having the Regulators and Moderators, especially in Texas during the Taylor-Sutton feud. He goes on to mention fights of mining claims, the sheep and cattle wars, fights over land, and rights-of-way for both roads or railroad.

Though this is far from what I consider the better of his books, the involvement of trading posts, towns, cattle drives, gold and silver camps, and numerous shoot outs will give the reader much to enjoy.

Since I have all of Louis L'Amour books in hardcover, I enjoy them totally, including those that do not always represent his best. Though this is a very readable book, it does not rank with Hondo, or even two other Sackett books, The Daybreakers and Sackett. But since it adds to the Sackett saga, it is more than worth the read.

You will find more on Flagan and Galloway, brothers who are cousins to Orrin, Tyrel, and Tell, in other L'Amour books: FLAGAN can be found in Galloway, Treasure Mountain, The Sackett Brand, and of course The Sky-Liners. GALLOWAY can be found in the following books: Galloway, Treasure Mountain, The Sackett Brand, and again in this one, The Sky-Liners.

Semper Fi.

I happend to like Louis Lamour in general. He wrote in an era that can be a bit dated for attitudes (some of his female characters are a bit 2-dimensional), but he had a good turn of phrase and usually a good plot moving forward quickly. I have especially enjoyed his work on CD Audio, although David Straitharn is the best reader of the lot who record Lamour. (This book is done by Jason Culp, who is not bad at all). This is a short novel and not necessarily one of his best, but still fun. Most of the Sackett novels are centered around Tell and his family; this one picks up on two of his cousins.

"Everybody in our part of the country knew of Black Fetchen, so folks just naturally stood aside when he rode into town with his kinfolk."

With that great opening line, "The Skyliners" is off and running. A few lines later: "James Black Fetchen his name was, because the name suited. He was a dark, handsome man with a bold, hard-shouldered way about him, as quick with his fists as with a gun."
Of course within three pages Black Fetchen is on the scene in downtown Tazewell with brothers Flagan and Galloway Sackett. The Galloways get Fetchen and his followers to "shuck their artillery" peacefully, at first, but soon the bullets are flying.

"The Skyliners" is off and running. The story starts in Tennessee as the brothers agree to escort a young girl to Colorado in exchange for some horses. The trail is full of adventure, gun fights, cougar fights and knife fights. Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp show up as Flagan Sackett gets in the middle of a murder investigation in Dodge. The book ends in southern Colorado and L'Amour pulls the cinch tight on the plot. Throughout "The Skyliners" runs a gentle, brotherly humor. Flagan narrates this tale and he brings a wise, semi-cynical worldview--even as the big clash approaches.

"Galloway," I said. "I'm getting sort of peevish. Seems to me we've let those boys have at us about long enough. A time comes when a man just can't side-step a fight no longer. We've waited for them to bring it to us, and they'd done no such thing, so I figure it's up to you and me to take it to them."

"You give me time for another cup of coffee," Galloway said, "and I'll come along with you."

All of Louie Lamour's book are excellant. I wanted to read the Sackett series again and was missing this one. I have now read all 19,(I believe that is the number)and it was great ot readd them again

The book was shipped on time and the condition as described. I would gladly use this seller again in the future.

Like all the Louis L'Amour audio books, this one is also as good as it gets. No one can tell a story as well as Louis L'Amour. I particularly like the Sackett series, but his other audio books are also great. What a way to relieve the boredom of driving on a long trip.

My Son and his friends, cain't wait for me to send a new book. They love the whold series.