Customer Reviews

Walker Texas Ranger: Hell's Half (Walker, Texas Ranger, No 2)

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

 

 

Like a two hour movie on paper Walker, Texas Ranger by James Reasoner explodes across the page with enough detail and characterization to satisfy the most ardent Walker fan and enough action and suspense to keep the casual reader turning each page in anticipation of the next development. With a villain right out of a James Bond movie and an excellent supporting cast (but why did my favorite character have to die?), Reasoner keeps the pace at breakneck speed from beginning to end. My first impulse after reading this fine novel was to flip on the TV and wait for another Walker, Texas Ranger adventure.

Despite the nitpickings of some readers I found Hell's Half Acre to be the best of the Walker, Texas Ranger novels so far. A story worthy of a teleplay (and why isn't Mr. Reasoner on tap to write an episode?) with all the little touches that bring out the characters to the fans while not confusing new readers with meaningless trivia. The way Reasoner handles the storyline involving Ranger Cooper shows his knowledge of the old west and Fort Worth in particular. For those readers who enjoyed the Cooper sections and good old fashioned westerns I heartliy recommend the authors Judge Earl Stark series.

I bought the book for my 12 year old daughter...who's a BIG Walker fan...and she says it's a good book.

The second book in the "Walker, Texas Ranger" series featured a very good present-day story, strongly paralleled by an equally riveting 1901 "Hayes Cooper" story.

As with the first book, however, Mr. Reasoner continues to refer to C. D. Parker's business as "C. D.'s Place"; it's "C. D.'s Bar & Grill"!

Also, Mr. Reasoner continues to ignore the importance of "WAM's" (Walker & Alex Moments), although the 1901 sub-plot has Cooper with an Alex-type character.

Finally, Mr. Reasoner shows his lack of knowledge of poker: a full house ALWAYS beats a flush!!

A fantastic book with many ups and downs. This book is an inspiration for all. A book to be had in anyones own personal library of favorites. Perfect for sitting down and reading in front of a fire. You may be skeptical at first about this book from other reviewers saying that it isn't worth the money, but you shouldn't believe them. They are just people who don't understand literature like this filled with metaphors and secret meanings that aren't obvious through the first read-through. Literally every word is action-packed in this book whether the word is 'roundhouse' or 'and'. Go Chuck Norris go!

While the plot of "Walker, Texas Ranger: The Novel" is good, it seems that Mr. Reasoner would do well to watch the show a little more closeley. For example: 1)C. D. owns "C. D.'s Bar & Grill", not "C. D.'s Place"; 2)Past episodes have shown that Ranger Trivette has GREAT DIFFICULTY in riding a horse (an admirable acting job by Clarence Gilyard, whose biography indicates rodeo experience); 3)Likewise, Trivette had to learn to drive an 18-wheeler in one episode; and 4)Ranger Walker talks less on the show than he does in the book.

These are some of the things that caught my attention. Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed the book, and I hope Mr. Reasoner writes another one soon. (I'd just like to see things a little closer to the show's portrayals.)

After reading a section of this book at a time it reminds you of the TV show Walker Texas Ranger. This book is like a text-version of the TV Show.

GREAT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A fairly non-descript tie-in for Norris' morality/martial arts-lite tv vechicle. There is a great character submerged here, i.e Lone Wolf Gonzales upon whom the earlier incarnation of Walker was derived, but, heartbreakingly, here, in Reasoners novel as with the tv show, the grittiness and any much needed depth is absent. Perfuctionary stuff as it is, Walker is a difficult figure not to warm to, as this book demonstrates, but one gets to feel almost as frustrated as the real life Texas ranger may have, in the sense that his true colours and abilities, and ironically, those of Norris' are being diluted, understandably, for mass appeal. Walker needs to get down and dirty to make the character breathe, and unfortunately this offering barely touches the surface. Still, if Walker does it for you, great, but, for this reader and viewer Norris' original take on this theme, JJ McQuade holds far more creditable dimension and weight.