The Big Sky

by A. B. Guthrie, Jr.

My 2nd western in the year of westerns!

First, I must tell you that The Big Sky is completely different from the western I read last month, Appaloosa. And not in a good way.

Our story begins when young Boone Caudill becomes tired of dealing with his father and leaves his Kentucky home. He’s aiming for St. Louis, where his uncle lives. Boone aspires to be free!

Along the way, he meets two men who will share in his adventures, Jim Deakins and Dick Summers. The men will travel together, trap together, fight Indians together, pick up squaws together, etc. Over the course of time, Boone becomes an untamed mountain man and a faithful partner to his squaw, Teal Eye.

Essentially, this is an adventure novel. There is very little character development, which hurts it immensely. The plot isn’t exactly compelling either. Still, readers will get a taste of adventure and attitudes of the west.

2/19/09