Lady Marilyn and I watched the first of the six episodes of Faraway Downs on Hulu last night, and just enjoyed the heck out of it. This is Baz Luhrmann’s mega-director’s cut of the 2008 film Australia, and it’s quite a different beast. Faraway Downs has an almost fairytale quality to it — and Frontier Partisan readers know I don’t use that term as … [Read more...] about Tales Of The Drovers
Major Wilson & The Shangani Patrol
Major Allan Wilson went down in a blaze of Frontier Partisan glory on December 4, 1893, when his Shangani Patrol was wiped out by a Matabele regiment in the forests along the Shangani River, during the First Matabele War in what would become Rhodesia. The Patrol was a flying column detailed to pursue the fleeing Ndebele King Lobengula, whose … [Read more...] about Major Wilson & The Shangani Patrol
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to all Frontier Partisans! May you enjoy feast and fellowship, and abundance of spirit. … [Read more...] about Happy Thanksgiving!
Worlds Turned Upside Down
I was a youngster in 1975-76, when the American Bicentennial celebrations were underway, and I was obsessed. I dove into the American Revolution with all the passion you might expect a 10-year-old to bring to say, Star Wars or some such. I have always been a history nerd. I watched Disney’s Johnny Tremain in school, the kids cheering when the … [Read more...] about Worlds Turned Upside Down
Working The Trapline — Staying On The Track
I hear tell that “living history” is a much-diminished endeavor these days. That may be true in comparison with the days when Rendezvous was all the rage or when Civil War reenactment was at its height. But there’s some really fine work being done by individuals out there on the frontiers of the interwebs. None better than The Deerskin … [Read more...] about Working The Trapline — Staying On The Track
Working The Trapline — Apaches, Treasure & Spanish Ladies
W. Michael Farmer has announced that his new series of Apache novels — this one focusing on the controversial Chato, will publish in December. Farmer knows the land and its history very well, and I expect this will be a good un. DESPERATE WARRIOR, DAYS OF WAR, DAYS OF PEACE, CHATO’S CHIRICAHUA APACHE LEGACY, VOLUME ONE, is based on a true … [Read more...] about Working The Trapline — Apaches, Treasure & Spanish Ladies
Wild Frontiers
For those of you trying to chase down Into The Wild Frontier, Season 2 has recently posted on Youtube. I provided commentary on Episode 4 on Jim Clyman’s epic 600- mile survival trek in which he kept his scalp but lost his hair, and on Episode 6, depicting Kit Carson’s duel with the French bully Choinard. I also provided commentary in Season 4, … [Read more...] about Wild Frontiers
The Captivity Of John Stark
The latest Tales of the Rangers podcast is up — this one detailing the captivity of John Stark at the hands of the Abenaki in 1752. The tough, young frontiersman was a hunter and trapper who would go on to serve as second-in-command of Rogers Rangers in the French and Indian War. He would later play a pivotal role in the Saratoga Campaign … [Read more...] about The Captivity Of John Stark
Blood & Steel
Paul McNamee, Captain of the New England Company of Frontier Partisan Rangers, has done committed another authorin’ — a short story in the anthology CONTACT 2: Blood & Steel by Screaming Banshee Press. Let me just go on the record that Screaming Banshee Press is one badass publisher name. Paul’s story ventures into the realm of Fennario at … [Read more...] about Blood & Steel
Folklore & Tall Tales
INSP, the network that brought us Into the Wild Frontier (I provided commentary in Season 2 and the upcoming Season 4) is venturing out onto yet another frontier — the one where history and folklore overlap. (Indian Land, SC – November 14, 2023) – Top 10 cable network INSP, the recognized leader in Western and Western-adjacent programming, … [Read more...] about Folklore & Tall Tales
