Customer Reviews

The Stalkers

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As aslways Mr. Jonston uses a fictional person to carry his story. Seamus Donegon and fifty top notch army scouts after scouring the Colorado Territory for the mighty Cheyenne. At the junction of the Republican river and the Arikarre on an island the scouts find themselves surrounded by Cheyenne and they are out numbered 20 to 1. The battle lasts nine long days. This is a good book but as one reviewer said "why make this book fictional when the real story is just as fascinating" I agree. If you like good history of the Indian wars without reading 25 different books go to this isbn # 0803251866. The title is: GREAT WESTERN INDIAN FIGHTS.You'll love this book.

Terry C. Johnston makes history live. I discovered him several years ago while looking for something western to read. Having read many of Loius L'Amour's stories I happened upon T. C. J's trilogy about the life and times of Titus Bass. (Now at least five books.) I then started reading the 'Plainsmen series' of which 'The Stalkers' is book Three. The absolute finest historical fiction I've ever read. His stories are based on carefully researched history. Because he has such a unique story teller's ability bringing the reader 'in', sometimes I think I can smell the black powder and hear the arrows singing overhead. I buy em' as soon as he writes em'.

Terry C. Johnston has made me into a history lover. His versions are very authentic without being boring. Indeed, as he has demonstrated in all of his novels, history was indeed made of real people with with strengths and weaknesses. I can't get enough. Waitin' for his next!

I found Terry C. Johnston, to be one of the best damn authors I've read in a long time! He has done his research and knows the material as if he was there to witness it himself.

This is the third book in the plainsmen series. Once you pick it up you won't put it down. I highly recommend the whole series to anyone that is wondering about the old Indian war era. He has some fiction but a lot fact that many would be very interested in.

You are still thinking about it your wasting time get the book it starts with Sioux Dawn.

The adventures of Seamus Donegan continue to enthrall Mr. Johnston's readers in this the third book of "The Plainsmen" series. While a fictional work, this book clearly paints an historically accurate picture of what it must have been like during those "hot" September days in 1868 when Sandy Forsyth and the original "Rough Riders," fell into hell on the Arickaree Fork of the Republican River, in Eastern Colorado. From 1st page to last you will not put this book down as you too are sucked into this living hell of dust, smoke, blazing gunfire, screeching war-cries, pounding hooves, screaming curses, flies, unquenching thirst, endless hunger, putrifying stench of death and wondering who is next. Beecher Island happened and you are there...If you like Western American History then don't miss this book....

Great story, well told.... but what are we going to do now that Terry is gone? Will the series continue?

Author Terry C. Johnston spins a fine tale of a true story about one of the famous battles on the western frontier. Sandy Forsythe's band of scouts, after finally locating hostile Cheyenne Indians, are obliged to retreat to a small island in a creek bed and fight for their lives against heavy odds. The hostilities included fierce fighting for two days, a harrowing nine day siege by the Indians and a thrilling rescue mission by two scouts. All the major players are here, including Lt. Fred Beecher, Jack Stillwell, Pierre Trudeau and Roman Nose, the Cheyenne leader whose charge that day ranks as one of the great displays of bravery in the annals of military warfare. Also included is the fictional character Seamus Donegan, who is always at the center of the great moments of this engagement. The battle is also a great testament to the will and fighting spirit of the men who would shape the character of America by overcoming hardship and adversity through sheer force of will and determination.

Terry C.Johnston has been the highlight of my recreational time. I have read and bought all of his writings and have read each one 2-3 times. His insight into the Plains Wars has caused me to spend the last 2 years reading as many articles and books on this era of our past. My studies were broken up as follows" 1/3 of the books concentrate on military operations. 1/3 on government inter-action and 1/3 on the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians. Terry can engross you so deeply that you actually feel like you can hear the thundering hoofs of the Sioux, or the smell of coffee or the lack of sleep for the army. I hope to meet this man someday and have the pleasure of shaking his hand and saying "THANK YOU"

Great story about a true battle during the beginning of the Indian Wars. good picture of the kind of man who fought those wars and his enemy. A balanced account with none of the usual apologist junk of many current fictional accounts of the West.

This book puts together a bit of history in a light people can relate to. History is a story. The factual account of History often gets distorted. But the use of a bit of fiction, I believe, frees the writer to be more true to what happened. History books are always going to contain some bias one way or the other, when you start off by saying this is fiction based on fact, the story can come out. It is also a lot more interesting than your factual history book. A good read, and you learn something too.(Your having a good time so the larnin' is less painful!)