Talons Of Eagles [Paperback]

William W. Johnstone (Author)

Book Description

Series: Eagles | Publication Date: April 1, 1996

Raised by the Shawnee and growing up on the gold-hungry American frontier, Jamie Ian MacCallister finds himself torn in half when the Civil War breaks out and his two sons are forced to fight on opposing sides. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This latest installment in Johnstone's series about frontiersman Jamie MacCallister (Eyes of Eagles, etc.) finds the former gunfighter, now 50, leading a serene life of retirement in Colorado even as his sons are fighting on both sides of the Civil War. Summoned to Washington, Jamie is offered the position of chief scout for the Union by Lincoln himself. But though the rugged Westerner loathes slavery, he loves states' rights more, and, after a meeting with Robert E. Lee, he signs up with the Confederacy as commander of a guerrilla band. Following the Confederate defeat, Jamie returns to Colorado, where his hopes for a peaceful existence are shattered by his old war foe, Aaron Layfield, who, in the war's waning days, had announced his plans to stamp out any lingering rebels and exterminate the Indians. Top on his hit list is Jamie, whose family he considers a "hotbed of insurrection." Despite some interesting period lore, the narrative is padded with lengthy historical discussions and further weakened by lackluster prose.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The third book in Johnstone's Eagles series continues the saga of Jamie MacCallister. Raised by Indians and a survivor of the Alamo (the scout who carried out dispatches), Jamie is forced to choose sides when the Civil War erupts. He declines Lincoln's offer of a Union commission and becomes the leader of MacCallister's Marauders. He nips at the Union's heels and is a factor in many Southern victories. But as the tide turns against the South and the Union troops rape and pillage, the Marauders become an agent of revenge. The most brutal Union troops will feel the wrath of Jamie's boys. Of particular concern is Aaron Layfield, a Union commander with a sadistic streak honed by religious fervor. With the war winding down, Jamie has a final mission in mind: get Layfield. Solid, page-turning entertainment featuring a larger-than-life, old-fashioned hero in MacCallister. Wes Lukowsky --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786002492
• ISBN-13: 978-0786002498
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #989,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ya Gotta Love It., February 5, 1999

By 

Kevin M. Cox - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talons Of Eagles (Paperback)

This book is just great. I can't really express in words of what this book did to me. Go ahead and call me an idiot or worse but this book dealt with a portion of history that I have studied over and over again. The Civil War and any person who was remotly interested in that war should like this book for it's accurate recounting of certain battles and of how it brings to life again the commanders of the armys once again. I believe you will like this book I know I have.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE WAR OF NORTHERN AGRESSION REVISITED, July 20, 2001

By 

Joseph A. Aycock (rome, georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Talons Of Eagles (Paperback)

AS A TRUE SON OF THE SOUTH, I APPLAUDE MR. JOHNSTONE'S VIEWS OF THIS TRAGIC PERIOD IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. TO A GREAT MANY PEOPLE. IT NEVER WAS A WAR ABOUT SLAVERY, BUT A FIGHT TO PRESERVE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THEIR HOMELAND. BEFORE THE WAR, THE STATE HAD FINAL SAY IN WHAT WAS DONE WITHIN ITS BORDERS. AFTER THE WAR, RIGHT, WRONG, OR INDIFFERENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD AND DID HOLD SUPREME. MANY SAW THAT AS A RETURN TO WHAT WE FAUGHT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO ESCAPE. SERMON OVER, AS USUAL, MR. JOHNSTONE DELIVERS A ROUSING GOOD TALE OF A LEGENDARY HERO, A SURVIVOR OF THE ALAMO AND A MAN DESTINED TO WALK WITH GIANTS. GREAT FUN AND MORE THAN A LITTLE HISTORICAL ACCURACY.

1.0 out of 5 stars Talons of eagles, June 22, 2011

By 

Carl Ecklund - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Talons Of Eagles (Paperback)

I guess if you are interested in the Civil War you might have some interest in this book. For me and my personal taste it left a lot to be desired. Very repetitive and boring. I finally got to page 162 and put it back on my library shelf.
I have read a lot of Johnstone and this is by far the worst.

Carl Ecklund
San Diego