If you’ve already ordered copies of Warriors of the Wildlands for your Yuletide gift giving or personal reading (*ahem* cough*), you might want to take a look at Eric Jay Dolin’s latest — Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates. Set against the backdrop of the Age of Exploration, Black Flags, Blue … [Read more...]

It’s dangerous walking into bookstores. Books jump of the shelves and force themselves upon me. There I was in Dudley’s in Bend, minding me own business, waiting for Marilyn to pick up her cooking oils at a little boutique shop she favors when BAM! I’m bitten in both hands by Wolves of Eden. I fought them off and escaped, but only … [Read more...]

By Captain Paul McNamee, Captain, Frontier Partisans New England Ranging Company On Monday, November 21, Haffner Press announced the coming of The Complete John The Balladeer. Frontier Partisans has touched on John the Balladeer and his silver stringed guitar before. John is a Korean War veteran who roams the backcountry mountains of … [Read more...]

Want to get an overview of the epic story of the trans-Appalachian frontier in the form of a thundering good read — and on the cheap? Dale Van Every’s four-volume history of the early frontier is available on Kindle for next to nothing. Forth to the Wilderness (1754-1774); A Company of Heroes (1775-1783); The Ark of Empire (1784-1803); and The … [Read more...]

Synchronicity is fascinating. I was casting about for an engaging, immersive — and most importantly fun — read for a business trip this week. The past 2-1/2 months or so have been pretty intense, with a move, a gratifying-but-demanding ramp up of activity at the newspaper, a demanding gig schedule and trips across the Misty Mountains tall to get … [Read more...]

Felonious Monk has brutalized my book budget. Again. This is what happens when you have capable scouts on point and out on the flanks — they catch things you’ve missed. The only responsible thing to do is to act. A UK scholar, Robert N. Watt, has produced a couple of volumes on the Victorio War that are going to find a place next to Hutton … [Read more...]

This is right in my wheelhouse, if not in my budget: With his new book Homage to Humanity photographer Jimmy Nelson and his team will be presenting an all immersive experience that invites you on an extraordinary journey. Next to Nelson’s established iconic photography, this new book will contain personal interviews with the portrayed individuals, … [Read more...]

“He doesn’t write for pussies and he doesn’t write for women. He writes for men. Because he’s a man.”  Sam Elliott said that about film writer and director John Milius; the words apply in spades to Tim Willocks. I know there are women who have devoured his novel of the 1565 Great Siege of Malta, The Religion, with as much gusto as any man, and I … [Read more...]

Rhodesia is one of my primary areas of interest in Frontier Partisans history. Tales of hunting, prospecting and pioneering in this rich and beautiful land rival anything from the Ohio River Valley frontier, the days of the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade or from the harsh borderlands of Apacheria. You can well imagine my delight when I discovered that … [Read more...]

What can I tell you: I’m addicted to Story. I didn’t mean to find another tale to dive into, especially right now, when I can barely run the traps I’ve got out there. But then, I also think it’s a sin — make that a SIN — to pass by a good tale. A SIN, BAD LUCK — nothing good. There I was, in the bookstore, minding my own business while my dad … [Read more...]